A former member of parliament has proposed that Iceland’s homebrewing laws allow people to brew their own alcohol to a strength of up to 15%.
Vísir reports that former Liberal Party chairman Guðjón Arnar Kristjánsson broached the subject on the radio show Reykjavík Síðdegis yesterday. As it is now, Icelanders are allowed to brew their own alcohol – provided it is no stronger than 2.5%. Nonetheless, there are numerous stores in Iceland selling homebrewing equipment, and Icelanders have been brewing their own beer and wine at regular strength, with little to no consequences.
Given this, Guðjón believes Iceland’s homebrewing laws need to be reformed. He proposes that Icelanders be allowed to brew their own alcohol, so long as it does not exceed 15% in strength, which is about as strong as most wines. Selling homebrewed alcohol would require a special permit.
Currently, only the Icelandic government – through the agency ÁTVR – has the right to sell alcohol retail, although it does give permission to private brewing companies to sell alcohol to bars, cafés and restaurants.
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