Obeying Norwegian Laws
The legal age for drinking in Norway is 18[1] years for wine and beer and 20 years for hard liquor. If you are under 18 you are not allowed to enter a café where alcohol is served, a bar or a nightclub, nor can you purchase alcohol. You are likely to be asked to show identification before you enter a bar, café or a nightclub and you must show your passport, driving licence with your photo on it or another identification card. It is against the law to drink or have alcohol in your possession in a public place (e.g. on the streets).
It is illegal to drink and drive in Norway and there are heavy penalties for doing this including instant fines, confiscation of the vehicle, and jail terms. The current legal blood limit for driving is 0,2 % (pro mill). Remember
the other drivers and passengers on the road before drunk driving.
Our police-force regularly monitors the roads for drink-drivers so we suggest that if you drink, don’t drive.
In Norway the penalties for importing and/or selling illegal drugs are severe. It is also illegal to be in the possession of or to consume/smoke drugs (cannabis, heroin, LSD, etc). These give some of the highest penalties in Norwegian court system. Don’t bring drugs into Norway, and don’t get involved with drugs. Violators may be deported from the country.
The smoking of cigarettes or tobacco is legal in Norway, but Norway has some of the strictest regulations in the world. After July 1st you cannot smoke in restaurants, cafés, nightclubs and/or bars. Many estrictions exist as to where you can and cannot smoke. Non-smoking areas are usually marked with “no smoking” signs. The legal limit for smoking and purchasing cigarettes is 18 years. You should also ask before smoking in people’s houses because it is normal in Norway to go outside to smoke.
Driving in Norway
We recommend that you purchase a copy of the Norwegian traffic laws which details all the driving rules and laws. If you have any question, contact The Directorate of Traffic.
To drive in Norway you must:
You must carry that licence or permit with you whenever you are driving. If you forget you driver’s licence, you’ll get an instant fine of NOK 500.
If you do not have a legal driving licence you are not permitted to drive in Norway.
Driving on the right hand side of the road
If you are used to driving on the left-hand side of the road it may take some time to adjust to the Norwegian system. Driving to intersections and roundabouts can be dangerous for foreign drivers. Norwegians blink when they are on their way out of a roundabout, whereas in Australia they blink on their way into a roundabout. Another thing is where you place yourself in a roundabout with more than one file. Please make sure you know how to drive in those areas before start driving.
You must wear you seatbelt at all times while driving or sitting in a car. The drivers are responsible for making sure that all passengers under 18 are wearing one as well (and children under 4 must be in safety approved child seats). You or your passenger will be fined if caught not wearing a seatbelt.
Norwegian speed limits are low compared to many other countries; this is because the weather conditions and types of countryside can make roads treacherous. The open road speed is a maximum of 100 kilometres per hour (kph), with the lower speed of 30 kph in the cities/towns and built-up areas.
Please keep the speed limit and drive to the conditions. Speed and alcohol are the greatest killers on the Norwegian road.
You need to insure your car, and we recommend you to insure yourself as well. For further information about driving in Norway, contact the nearest Directorate of Traffic.
In Norway it is unlawful to discriminate against people, or treat them differently. Discrimination means conduct that results or is likely to result in less favourable treatment, or creates or is likely to create a less favourable environment, for a person or group of people on any prohibited grounds set out in section 21 of the Human rights Act of 1993. The grounds on which discrimination is prohibited under section 21 of the Human Rights Act of 1993 are many, but includes things like; sex, religious beliefs, colour, race, disability, etc.
Harrassment means serious or persistent interference in the pursuit of work or study of another person, by behaviour that is unwelcome, uninvited and unwarranted.
Sexual harassment means verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual nature that is unwelcome, uninvited and unwarranted.
Racial harassment means the use of language (whether written or spoken), or visual material, or physical behaviour that expresses hostility towards, or brings into contempt or ridicule, any other person on the grounds of the colour, race or national origin of that person, is hurtful or offensive to that other person, or is either repeated, or of such significant nature that it has a detrimental effect on that other person.
Contact the International Office if you have questions or are being subjected to this kind of crime.
Assault carries harsh penalties. It is not acceptable in Norway to physically assault anyone. This is true of verbal assault as well. Be careful even with supposedly “innocent” touching or suggestions.
Please be careful and courteous. Realize that many things that may be acceptable in your home country are not acceptable in Norway.
[1] This age was correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
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| Published by Tine Viveka Westerberg 07.09.2004 |
| Bodø University College, International Office, NO-8049 Bodø, Norway
Phone: +47 755 17803 (direct), +47 755 17200 (switchboard) , fax +47 755 17551, email: international@hibo.no |