Cider and strong beer now available in breweries

The two Faroese breweries, Føroya Bjór and Okkara, will now allowed to sell some of their stronger beverages directly from their stores.

The Alcohol Act states that breweries are only allowed to sell beverages with a maximum alcohol content of 5.8 percent.

However, in September independent MP Magni Laksáfoss submitted a bill requesting that by changing the word ‘beer’ in the Alcohol Act to ‘own production’, this requirement may be bypassed, and it could make it possible for breweries to sell all their products, which in the case of the two Faroese breweries includes beer, cider, gin, vodka and aquavit.

This bill was passed at the second reading yesterday, but only after it had been amended so that it does not include strong spirits like gin, vodka and aquavit.

The main point of disagreement in Parliament was whether or not this change to the Alcohol Act will make alcohol more accessible to the public.

Magni Laksáfoss argued that it changes nothing in this respect.

“If you want these stronger types of beer, you simply have to go to Rúsan (the Alcohol Monopoly). Now you have alternative places where you can buy it. That’s the only difference,” he said.

MP Jákup Mikkelsen, of Fólkaflokkurin (the People’s Party), disagreed, saying all studies and guidelines indicate that easier access to alcohol leads to increased consumption.

The new amendment is good news for the breweries.

“Obviously, this will increase our profits somewhat,” said Petur Petersen, CEO of Okkara brewery. “Up to now, Rúsan has had a monopoly on selling our stronger beverages, and they need to make a profit on it. Now we can sell our own products directly from our stores, which is great.”

Translated by prosa.fo