Day:177, Words:177

A little something towards the holiday costs today with most receiving money back from their 2011 taxation return. The unlucky ones will have to wait until October before they welcome the long awaited kroner into the account. Those few who owe money back to the government have three weeks! Can everyone say 'Double Standards'?

Once again, stone-age politics and narrow minded thinking is restricting the hospitality industry in Northern Norway. As the cosy and delightful 'Dattera til Larson' bar received its alcohol licence, several politicians are weighing in with restriction proposals.

Only wine and beer is allowed to be consumed outdoors, which means no sipping martinis or gin and tonics, while overlooking the midnight sun hovering over the fjord. A glass of chardonnay with lunch on a Saturday is also a mere fantasy. There might be a drinking problem in Northern Norway but it has nothing to do with its accessibility. It has everything to do with a hidden, binge drinking, culture that has developed from decades of too little education and too many rules and restrictions.