Believes Tourists Being Tricked Into Buying Near-Beer

The Consumers’ Association of Iceland (CAI) has received numerous tips and complaints about shops downtown displaying non-alcoholic “beer” as actual beer.

As many may be aware, the sale of alcohol anywhere but at a bar or the government’s alcohol stores is strictly forbidden in Iceland. Vísir reports that the CAI has reason to believe some shops are either deliberately marketing non-alcoholic beer as real beer, or are at the very least not indicating that these products are not what they appear to be.

“We’ve also received tips from downtown residents who have experience with this,” CAI vice director Teitur Atlason told reporters. “When cheated tourists come happily strolling out with a case of beer or wine, but it was maybe not what they intended to buy.”

The CAI therefore encourages local shops to put up signs near their non-alcoholic beverages to more clearly indicate for consumers what these products actually are.

Readers are advised to keep in mind that anything that looks like beer or wine that you might find at a grocery store or cornershop is actually the non-alcoholic version thereof. If you want real beer, wine or liquor, you need to buy it from the state, or from a bar.