Alcohol and health

Alcohol raises the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, among other conditions. Over time it can damage the brain and nervous system and contribute to high blood pressure, stroke, liver disease, inflammation of the pancreas and disturbances of heart rhythm. In the short term it raises the risk of injury, accidents and violence.

The risk grows with the amount consumed. At the same time, the Norwegian health service states that no safe lower limit can be established — for healthy adults the risk from small amounts is low, but it is not zero.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the advice is to abstain entirely. The same applies before driving, operating machinery, or in any situation where your attention matters for someone else’s safety.

Alcohol can also affect how medicines work. If you are in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

The legal age for buying wine in Norway is 18. The content of this site is not intended for anyone under that age.

There is nothing strange about wondering. In Norway, RUSinfo answers anonymously by telephone on 915 08 588 and by chat — both for those who drink and for those worried about someone else. Your own doctor is also a good place to start.

helsenorge.no has more on alcohol and health, a self-assessment tool called Drikkestatus, and a digital treatment programme for anyone who wants to cut down or stop. For relatives, Ivareta can be reached on 800 40 567.

We do not market alcohol to consumers. This site gives factual product information about the wines we import, as Norwegian regulation permits, and we do not sell directly to private individuals.

Consumer sales go through Vinmonopolet, the state retail monopoly, which enforces the age limit and does not sell to anyone who is visibly intoxicated.