Beer Day in Iceland

Celebrate Beer Day in Iceland, the March 1 tradition that marks the end of a 74-year beer ban. Learn why beer was illegal until 1989, where to buy it today, what a pint costs, and how the day is celebrated in Reykjavik. Read on to plan your visit.

Beer is a favorite drink in Iceland today, so it surprises many visitors to learn that it was illegal here until 1989. Every March 1, Icelanders raise a glass to the day the beer ban finally ended. They call it Bjordagurinn, or Beer Day.

If you are in Iceland around March 1, it is a fun time to experience Reykjavik's craft beer scene. You can join one of the food and drink tours in Iceland during the day, then head to a downtown bar in the evening, when the nightlife in Reykjavik is at its liveliest.

To explore the history behind Beer Day, we spoke with Unnar Rafn Ingvarsson, the Head of Digitization of the National Archives of Iceland and co-author of the book "Bruggid og bannarin: áfengisbannið á Íslandi 1915-1935", which tells the story of Iceland's alcohol prohibition years.

Keep reading to discover why beer was banned in Iceland, how the law finally changed, and how Icelanders celebrate Beer Day today.

Key Takeaways

• Beer Day (Bjordagurinn) is celebrated every year on March 1.

• It marks the end of a 74-year ban on strong beer that ran from 1915 to 1989.

• Strong beer (above 2.25% alcohol) can only be bought at Vinbudin, the state liquor store, or in bars, restaurants, and breweries.

• The legal drinking age in Iceland is 20.

• A pint in a Reykjavik bar usually costs 1,200 to 1,800 ISK (10 to 14 USD), or roughly 700 to 1,000 ISK (6 to 8 USD) during happy hour.

• There are no official parades, but bars run promotions and locals head out for a drink with friends.

What Is Beer Day in Iceland?

Beer Day, or Bjordagurinn, is observed informally across Iceland on March 1. It commemorates the lifting of the country’s long-running beer ban in 1989, after nearly 75 years.

The ban applied to “strong beer” containing more than 2.25% alcohol, including most standard lagers and ales. Beer Day is not a public holiday, and there are no official parades or large celebrations.

Instead, some bars offer promotions, while many Icelanders mark the occasion by meeting friends for a drink. For older generations, the date also recalls a freedom they personally remember regaining in 1989.

Why Beer Was Banned in Iceland: 1915 to 1989

The beer ban was the last piece of a much bigger ban on alcohol. It began with a push to get people to drink less. In a 1908 national vote, Icelanders chose to ban all alcohol, and the ban started on January 1, 1915. Iceland was not alone. Norway, Finland, Canada, and the United States all brought in similar bans around the same time.

Unnar Rafn Ingvarsson shares with us that the ban came from the mood of the country at the time. Iceland was moving toward independence, and two popular movements, a youth movement and the Order of Good Templars, promoted clean, healthy living. As he puts it:

Wine and Spirits Returned, but Not Beer

The full ban did not last long. Iceland sold most of its fish to Spain and Portugal, and those countries wanted Iceland to buy their wine in return. Under that pressure, wine was allowed again in 1922. Spirits came back after another national vote, becoming legal in 1935.

Beer, though, was left out. Lawmakers feared that cheap, easy beer would lead people to drink every day. But there was also a simpler reason: beer was not a big export for other countries, so no one pushed Iceland to allow it.

Beer also had an image problem. Icelanders linked it with Denmark, the country they wanted independence from. Iceland was still tied to Denmark then and only became fully independent in 1944.

How Icelanders Drank Around the Ban

The Icelandic people found ways around the ban. One was bjorliki, or “fake beer,” made by mixing weak legal beer with vodka, whiskey, or wine to make it stronger. Later, when bars opened in Reykjavik, some mixed alcohol-free beer with spirits to copy the taste. As Ingvarsson puts it:

Bjorliki was sold at Gaukur a Stong, one of Reykjavik’s first pubs, which still runs today as Gaukurinn. The government banned this mixture in 1985.

How the Beer Ban Ended on March 1, 1989

By the late 1980s, the ban made little sense. Strong spirits were legal, but normal beer was not, and the rule was hard to enforce.

After a long debate, parliament agreed to allow beer, and the change took effect on March 1, 1989. Icelanders went to bars and state liquor stores to buy beer legally for the first time in decades. That first legal pint is what Beer Day celebrates. A BBC feature covers the debate and the first celebrations in more detail.

How Icelanders Celebrate Beer Day Today

Beer Day is a casual night out rather than a large organized event. Most people simply meet friends at a bar for a drink or two.

Some Reykjavik bars run Beer Day or happy-hour deals, and a few stay open later than usual. If you’re looking for ideas, guides to Reykjavik’s best bars and best rooftop spots can point you in the right direction. It’s also ideal to check current happy hour listings before you go.

People who remember 1989 still talk about that first legal night. Ingvarsson, who was 21 at the time, recalls buying his share of beer at the state store and drinking most of it the same evening.

The Icelandic Beer Festival and Beer Events

Travelers visiting Reykjavik around March may also find organized beer events. The Independent Craft Brewers of Iceland typically hosts a festival featuring beers from local breweries, giving visitors a chance to sample Icelandic craft beer and meet some of the people who make it.

The venue and dates can vary each year, so confirm the latest details before planning your trip around it. More seasonal celebrations and cultural events are covered in our guide to the top festivals in Iceland.

Where to Buy Beer in Iceland

This confuses a lot of visitors. Supermarkets only sell alcohol-free and low-alcohol beer with no more than 2.25% alcohol. To buy full-strength beer to take home, you need Vinbudin, the state-run liquor store. Icelanders often call it Rikid, meaning “the government.” It is the only shop allowed to sell alcohol above 2.25%.

You must be 20 to buy alcohol in Iceland. Many Vinbudin shops have limited evening and Sunday hours, especially outside Reykjavik, so plan ahead.

Bars, restaurants, and licensed breweries also serve beer directly. To save money, you can buy within your duty-free limit at Keflavik Airport when you land.

How Much Beer Costs in Iceland

Beer is fairly expensive in Iceland, mostly in bars and restaurants. High alcohol taxes are the main reason.

In a Reykjavik bar, a draft beer usually costs 1,200 to 1,800 ISK (10 to 14 USD), with craft and imported beers at the higher end. Happy hour brings it down to about 700 to 1,000 ISK (6 to 8 USD). A bottle from Vinbudin is much cheaper, around 300 to 500 ISK (2 to 4 USD).

Prices change with the venue, size, brand, taxes, and exchange rate, so treat these as rough 2026 figures.

Icelandic Beers and Breweries to Try

Iceland’s beer scene has grown fast since 1989. The best-known Icelandic beer abroad is Einstok, brewed in Akureyri and sold in many countries.

At home, the classic lagers are Gull and Viking, along with Boli, Thule, Kaldi, and Brio, plus special Christmas and summer beers. For craft beer, breweries like Borg Brugghus, Aegir Brugghus, and RVK Brewing Company make popular brews such as Ulfur and Surtur. To learn more, read this guide to local breweries around Iceland.

For a shortlist to try, see our guide to the top beers in Iceland, and find out where to drink them at the best craft beer pubs in Reykjavik.

Beer Tours and the Icelandic Beer Spa

Joining a guided beer tasting tour is one of the best things to do in Reykjavik for beer lovers. These tours offer an easy way to explore Icelandic beer while learning about the ban and the growth of local brewing after 1989. Options range from bar walks and food pairings to brewery visits and a beer-filled spa experience.

• Beer and schnapps walking tour: Visit bars in downtown Reykjavik, sample Icelandic beers, and try Brennivin, the country’s traditional spirit.

• Food and beer walking tour: Pair local beers with Icelandic dishes and snacks at several stops around the city.

• Brewery tour: Learn how Icelandic beer is made and sample different styles directly from the producer.

• Private brewery and distillery tasting: Enjoy a more personal introduction to local beer and spirits while seeing the production process up close.

• Beer Spa experience: Visit Bjorbodin in Arskogssandur, North Iceland, to soak in a warm bath of young beer, water, hops, and live yeast. Each tub also has a beer tap beside it, making this a distinctive stop on a road trip through the north.

Plan Your Beer Day in Iceland

Beer Day is one of Reykjavik’s most relaxed annual traditions, combining an unusual chapter of Icelandic history with a simple night out. It is easy to join, whether you visit a craft beer bar, try a local lager, or book a tasting that explains how Iceland’s beer culture changed after 1989.

If you are in Reykjavik around March 1, leave some time free in the evening and check which bars are running Beer Day events or happy-hour offers. Arriving early can help you find a table, especially at smaller craft beer pubs. Raise a glass to the end of one of Iceland’s longest-lasting bans and say, “Skal!”