Published: Just now
This year’s National Day celebration was a complete mess.
Both politicians and police testify to chaotic scenes when Norwegians took to the streets to celebrate the country’s birthday with drunkenness and brawls.
– What the police patrol experienced on May 17, we have not experienced before, says local policeman Ole Bjørn Sveen to NRK.
For several years, the police have raised the alarm that the residents’ high alcohol intake during the National Day celebrations in Norway has been a major problem for the country.
Now this year’s celebration, which was held just over a week ago, is described as extra tough for the police in the big cities.
Several politicians have also weighed in on the debate about the disturbances.
“It is enough to admit that Bergen has a collective alcohol problem”, writes the party leader of Röda Bergen, Hege Mikkelsen, in a debate article in The Bergen newspaper.
Calls for action
Mikkelsen found herself in the middle of what she calls a “fillet tsunami” during the celebration on May 17.
“Already early in the day there were post-apocalyptic scenes in the city centre. It is about a social acceptance of drunkenness”.
Furthermore, she believes that one should look at what the party actually costs the residents with all the police reinforcements, emergency medical visits and vomit clean-up required to handle the 24-hour celebration.
The police ask parents to take responsibility
In total, the police worked with 348 incidents, of which 229 took place in Bergen. There, the police describe the drunken beating as the worst.
The police also take a critical view of the alcohol permit in Bergen’s pubs being brought forward one hour during National Day – from eight o’clock to seven o’clock.
Which is a full five hours earlier than in the capital Oslo, where for some years now the alcohol permit has been moved forward to 12 o’clock in the day in order to curb the disturbances.
– What the police patrol experienced on 17 May we have not experienced before, says Ole Bjørn Sveen who is a local police officer in Bergen to NRK.
The police also state that they experienced that more children than usual participated and became intoxicated with alcohol and drugs.
– May 17 is supposed to be children’s day, and my impression is that more adults should be more aware of their own behavior and alcohol use. There is no doubt that parents are important role models, says the newspaper.