Prohibition

====Nordic countries====<!-- This section is linked from many places -->
The [[Nordic countries]], with the exception of [[Denmark]], have had a strong [[temperance movement]] since the late-1800s, closely linked to the [[Christian revival]] movement of the late-nineteenth century, but also to several worker organisations. As an example, in 1910 the temperance organisations in [[Sweden]] had some 330,000 members,<ref>[http://www.iogt.info/106_Historia-2.html IOGT history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426091646/http://www.iogt.info/106_Historia-2.html |date=2012-04-26 }} (in Swedish) Retrieved 2011-12-08</ref> which was about 6% of a population of 5.5 million.<ref>[http://www.scb.se/Grupp/Hitta_statistik/Historisk_statistik/_Dokument/BISOS_A/1910/Befolkning%20A%20Historisk%20statistik%201900-talet%201910.pdf SCB Population statistics for 1910] (in Swedish) Retrieved 2011-12-08</ref> This heavily influenced the decisions of Nordic politicians in the early 20th century.

In 1907, the [[Faroe Islands]] passed a law prohibiting all sale of alcohol, which was in force until 1992. Very restricted private importation from Denmark was allowed from 1928 onwards.

In 1914, Sweden put in place a rationing system, the [[Bratt System]], in force until 1955. A [[1922 Swedish prohibition referendum|referendum in 1922]] rejected an attempt to enforce total prohibition.

In 1915, [[Prohibition in Iceland|Iceland instituted total prohibition]]. The ban for wine was lifted in 1922 and spirits in 1935, but beer remained prohibited until 1989 (circumvented by mixing light beer and spirits).

In 1916, [[Norway]] prohibited [[distilled beverage]]s, and in 1917 the prohibition was extended to also include [[fortified wine]] and beer. The wine and beer ban was lifted in 1923, and in 1927 [[1926 Norwegian continued prohibition referendum|the ban of distilled beverages was also lifted]].

[[File:Alkoholin salakuljettajilta kieltolain aikaan takavarikoitua saalista (musketti.M012-HK10000-2663).jpg|thumb|Confiscated alcohol in Finland c. 1920s]]
In 1919, [[Finland]] enacted prohibition, as one of the first acts after independence from the [[Russian Empire]]. Four previous attempts to institute prohibition in the early twentieth century had failed due to opposition from the [[Nicholas II of Russia|tsar]]. After a development similar to the one in the United States during its prohibition, with large-scale [[smuggling]] and increasing violence and crime rates, public opinion turned against the prohibition, and after a national [[1931 Finnish prohibition referendum|referendum]] where 70% voted for a repeal of the law, prohibition was abolished in early 1932.<ref>{{Cite journal |jstor = 1017701|title = Finland's Prohibition Experiment|journal = The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science|volume = 163|pages = 216–226|last1 = Wuorinen|first1 = John H.|year = 1932|doi = 10.1177/000271623216300123|s2cid = 143783269}}</ref><ref>S. Sariola, "Prohibition in Finland, 1919–1932; its background and consequences," ''Quarterly Journal of Studies in Alcohol'' (Sep. 1954) 15(3) pp. 477–90</ref>

Today, all Nordic countries except Denmark continue to have strict controls on the sale of alcohol, which is highly taxed (dutied) to the public. There are [[alcohol monopoly|government monopolies]] in place for selling spirits, wine, and stronger beers in Norway ([[Vinmonopolet]]), Finland ([[Alko]]), Sweden ({{lang|sv|[[Systembolaget]]|italic=no}}), [[Iceland]] ([[Vínbúð]]in), and the Faroe Islands ([[Rúsdrekkasøla Landsins]]). Bars and restaurants may, however, import alcoholic beverages directly or through other companies.
{{See also|Alcoholic beverages in Sweden|Algoth Niska}}

[[Greenland]], which is part of the [[Kingdom of Denmark]], does not share its easier controls on the sale of alcohol.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefourthcontinent.com/2013/07/26/imagine-drinking-water-only-alcohol-and-greenland/|title=Imagine drinking water only: alcohol and Greenland|work=The Fourth Continent|access-date=29 November 2015|date=2013-07-26}}</ref> Greenland has (like Denmark) sales in food shops, but prices are typically high. Private import when travelling from Denmark is only allowed in small quantities.