In an effort to curb teenage drinking, many campsites are going to implement an age limit this coming weekend. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />
The first weekend of August, verslunarmannahelgi (merchants’ weekend), is the biggest traveling weekend of the summer. These have often been characterized by excessive alcohol and drug consumption by teenagers and young people, sometimes with tragic consequences such as assaults and rapes.
Unlike previous years, a record few festivals geared towards teenagers will be held this year and many campsites around plan to implement an age limit. Morgunbladid daily reports that the site in Laugarvatn in south of Iceland will not allow people under 30 years old to camp unless they’re accompanied by their parents or guardians. The town council of Akureyri has decided that the campsites of the town will be closed this weekend for people aged 18-23 years.
In an interview with Fréttabladid daily, Bragi Bergmann, director of a festival taking place in Akureyri this weekend, lashed out at the town council saying that earlier this summer a deputy mayor had promised not to implement such a ban. This festival has in the past been geared towards younger people and therefore Bergmann fears he will face a loss of money.
