Norway is an expensive country to say the least. The government grip is felt in a simple grocery reciept. I want to try to explain this process as compared to the United States......so I may ramble a bit.
Anyways, in the States, more specifically in Cincinnati OH, beer can be purchased at a variety of places; convenience stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and even Chipotle. Not only that, but it can be purchased until 2 a.m. six days a week and until midnight on Sundays.
In Bergen, Norway beer can be purchased at.......... grocery stores. Liqor is sold at a seperate government owned entity, and I have yet to see one of these establishments. Beer can be purchased until 8 p.m. on weekdays and until 6 p.m. on Saturday............At what time does the average person start drinking? Well for me it's usually past the time you can buy beer in Bergen.
So, i've been in Bergen for about 2 weeks and I officialy have found their cheapest beer for sale. Its called Seidel and in runs 9.90 Kroner (about $1.65) for one. How do I know the price of one bottle of beer at the grocery? Well in Bergen, you can buy 1 beer at a time tearing one poor little beer away from its five other family members. Who would do such a thing? Since one beer in not enough for me, I purchased 8 for 87.20 Kroner and I later realized, 87.20 Kroner= $14.53 = 14.53/8 = $1.81 per beer.......how did 1.65 per ber turn into 1.81.....the bottling fee/tax is 25%!
So drinking here involves preparation, first get you beer early. Second, buy a bunch of individuals because there are no 18, 24, or 30 cases. And third, the beer I drink (the cheapest here I can guarentee you) doesn't come in any kind of carrying case, so get a bag to put them in. If you're in Cincy, think of me the next time your carrying a conveniently filled 30 case of your favorite cheap pilsner........I envy you. It's not all bad, every bottle returned in Bergen= $0.17.
Anyways, in the States, more specifically in Cincinnati OH, beer can be purchased at a variety of places; convenience stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and even Chipotle. Not only that, but it can be purchased until 2 a.m. six days a week and until midnight on Sundays.
In Bergen, Norway beer can be purchased at.......... grocery stores. Liqor is sold at a seperate government owned entity, and I have yet to see one of these establishments. Beer can be purchased until 8 p.m. on weekdays and until 6 p.m. on Saturday............At what time does the average person start drinking? Well for me it's usually past the time you can buy beer in Bergen.
So, i've been in Bergen for about 2 weeks and I officialy have found their cheapest beer for sale. Its called Seidel and in runs 9.90 Kroner (about $1.65) for one. How do I know the price of one bottle of beer at the grocery? Well in Bergen, you can buy 1 beer at a time tearing one poor little beer away from its five other family members. Who would do such a thing? Since one beer in not enough for me, I purchased 8 for 87.20 Kroner and I later realized, 87.20 Kroner= $14.53 = 14.53/8 = $1.81 per beer.......how did 1.65 per ber turn into 1.81.....the bottling fee/tax is 25%!
So drinking here involves preparation, first get you beer early. Second, buy a bunch of individuals because there are no 18, 24, or 30 cases. And third, the beer I drink (the cheapest here I can guarentee you) doesn't come in any kind of carrying case, so get a bag to put them in. If you're in Cincy, think of me the next time your carrying a conveniently filled 30 case of your favorite cheap pilsner........I envy you. It's not all bad, every bottle returned in Bergen= $0.17.
1 comment:
This was one of your best written blogs. However, you should of rehashed the expense of average beer. Isn't it like $11.00? And how does that cheap beer taste? I imagine something that cheap is expensive!
Love,
LA
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