Iceland Review by Michael Chapman, December 20, 2024
Opinions are mixed as to the Icelandic Football Association’s (KSÍ) appeal for a permanent license to sell alcohol at Laugardalsvöllur stadium during matches, as reported by mbl.is.
As it stands currently, these licenses are given on a match by match basis.
The City of Reykjavík received KSÍ’s application last summer, leading the Culture, Sports and Leisure Council to seek out the opinions of relevant organisations.
As part of this information gathering, they contacted: the Reykjavík Sports Association (ÍBR), the Office of the Director of Health, the Human Rights and Violence Prevention Council, and the Icelandic Youth Association and the Welfare Council , among others.
Would allowing alcohol sales be good for Icelandic football ?
The Reykjavík Sports Association (ÍBR) is pro the idea, stating: “Alcohol sales are well-known at cultural events in this country and have been for a long time. There is evidence that the sale of alcohol at sporting events could become an important source of income for the operation of competitive sports activities.”
The Icelandic Sports Federation was also positive, provided that clear stipulations were in place to ensure the safety and protection of children and adolescents.
As detailed in RÚV, some believe that selling alcohol at games goes against the core values at KSÍ. Namely, a focus on health and mentoring youth players.
Spurred by this news, youth affairs expert, Árni Guðmundsson, has called for a review into KSÍ’s funding, telling RÚV, “It is quite clear that preventive values and public health considerations in the sports movement entail certain obligations, and that is not to have a beer mug in one hand and a prevention plan in the other.”
“Goes against all existing knowledge”
The Office of the Director of Health also rejects the idea of a permanent license on the basis that people should be making a distinction between alcohol consumption and sporting events.
The Director of Health stated, “normalising alcohol consumption in connection with sporting events therefore goes against all existing knowledge in the field of prevention and would reduce the positive effects of children and parents being together at such events.”
Meanwhile, the abstinence agency, IOGT á Íslandi, commented: “We suggest that everyone unite to free all parts of society from the impenetrable encroachment of the alcohol industry, which only wants to increase consumption and thereby its profits.”