Alcohol Serving Licence in Norway: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wondering how to get an alcohol serving licence in Norway? Here is a calm, step-by-step overview of the requirements and how to apply, so you are well prepared before you submit.

What is an alcohol serving licence?

An alcohol serving licence (in Norwegian, skjenkebevilling) is the municipality's permission to serve alcohol for consumption on the premises, such as in a restaurant, bar or hotel. It is granted under the Norwegian Alcohol Act, and the municipality where your venue is located handles the application. Regulating who may serve alcohol, and where, is a recognised public-health measure, as the World Health Organization notes. If you instead want to sell alcohol for customers to take home, you need a sales licence.

A serving licence and an alcohol licence are not the same

Many people mix these up. A general serving licence lets you serve food and drink at all, and it requires the general manager to pass the establishment exam. The alcohol serving licence is additional and covers alcohol only. If your venue serves alcohol, you usually need both.

Requirements you must meet

Before you apply, you should have these in place:

• Manager and deputy. The venue must have a designated manager and a deputy who are responsible for serving alcohol in line with the rules. Both must be over 20 years old.
• Knowledge test. The manager and deputy must pass the knowledge test on the Alcohol Act, which you take at the municipality.
• Good conduct. The licence holder, manager and deputy must have what the law calls unblemished conduct. The municipality gathers statements from the police and tax authorities, among others.

How to apply, step by step

1. Find the application form at your municipality. Most municipalities publish a dedicated alcohol licence form on their website.
2. Take the knowledge test. Sign the manager and deputy up for the test on the Alcohol Act in good time.
3. Gather documentation. Common attachments include the company certificate, lease or proof of ownership, floor plans of the serving area, and an overview of owners and the operating company.
4. Submit the application. Send the form with all attachments to the municipality.
5. Wait for processing. The municipality collects statements from the police, tax authorities and social services. Expect anything from a few weeks to a couple of months.

Once approved: keep your internal control ready

An alcohol licence comes with a duty to keep internal control routines for alcohol. You must be able to document routines for things like age limits, preventing over-serving and staff training. This is exactly what inspectors look for during a control visit.

A digital system makes this far easier. With Runwell you gather internal control, training and routines in one place, so your documentation is ready when the inspection comes. For venues with several locations, it gives you the same overview across departments. Learn more about how Runwell supports internal control and food safety.