Norway is one of the most desirable countries in the world when it comes to the quality and organization of life. A high standard of living, pleasant intercultural and interpersonal relations, and amazing nature are only some of the many reasons why people go to this Scandinavian gem.
But if you’re only planning to visit Norway for a couple of days, there are some legal specifics you should know. So, hop on this law-seeing tour from Oslo to Svalbard.
Let’s start with the matter of payments. In theory, all vendors are obliged to accept cash for any kind of payment in Norway. Be it hotels, restaurants, gas stations, or general stores, there’s no legal difference in terms of the type of facility.
In practice, however, card and digital payments are preferred payment options. Local Norwegians know that and they typically don’t use cash to pay anything in their daily errands. Tourists, on the other hand, are more likely to take cash with them and pay for the purchased goods and services that way.
While you can still do that, it might take a few minutes longer to complete the purchase, or shop assistants/waiters will be stunned for a moment. Again, paying with cash is perfectly legal in Norway, but bear in mind that digital wallets and bank cards are simply more welcome.
Moreover, tourist travels and country tours often include various leisure endeavors, from doing sports activities and visiting amusement parks to enjoying gambling games. As for the latter, be careful when it comes to offline gambling and betting. There are no registered commercial gambling and betting providers in Norway.
Norsk Tipping is a state-owned company that offers sports betting, lottery games, scratch tickets, and some other, less popular games. Norsk Rikstoto is another public company, in charge of handling horse racing betting. Also, home card parties are allowed, as long as they’re not arranged for profits, i.e., as a business.
Of course, as a tourist, you can also go to the Web and finn et norsk casino på norskecasinoeronline.com to spice your stay up when you want to have more fun. These online casinos are ideal for those you love variety and a big choice of games. They also come with some excellent jackpots and bonuses.
Just FYI: Be careful with withdrawals because local banks won’t pay out money won on iGaming platforms. However, as a foreign tourist, you’re unlikely to use Norwegian bank cards anyway.
As for the regulations related to alcohol consumption in Norway, some are common sense, while others are unusual.
Everyone must be 18 years old to buy alcohol, which is a usual rule in most countries, but we have a special twist: no one can buy hard liquor until the age of 20.
To legally get into bars, people must be at least 20 years old, with some nightclubs and specific bars banning everyone under the age of 21 from entering their premises.
In grocery stores, you can buy only cider and beer with up to 4.7% alcohol. Also, it’s not possible to buy even such drinks after 8 pm on weekdays, and after 6 pm on Saturdays. Finally, grocery stores mustn’t sell any kind of alcoholic drinks on Sundays and numerous religious and public holidays.
Before you set off for a Norwegian trip, check out the other relevant regulations, as well, to properly prepare for this tour and enjoy your stay.
