State liquor store Vínbúðin could be open on Sundays, with a proposal to expand the opening hours of the alcohol retailer having been submitted to Alþingi.
Progressive Party MP Hafdís Hrönn Hafsteinsdóttir stated to Vísir that although there is no general will to sell alcohol in grocery stores, expanding Vínbúðin’s opening hours could be a possibility.
In Focus: Relaxing Legislation on Alcohol Sales
The bill proposes removing the legal ban on selling alcohol on certain days. The proposed change comes in response to the recent expansion of limited private alcohol sales, including home delivery through online ordering. According to Hafdís, it’s preferable for individuals to be able to purchase their alcohol at Vínbúðin, instead of navigating other ways. For Hafdís, the proposed change is a way that Vínbúðín can accommodate the needs of its customers.
“We are submitting this now in order to answer a demand […] We are facing changes in the spirit of the times and want consumers to have a choice. That they can buy alcohol, for example, on Sundays,” Hafdís stated to Vísir.
She continued: “This will include authorization that Vínbúðin can be open on Sundays. This would not be mandatory and would be left to the stores to evaluate in what way they use their new freedom.”
Hafdís recognised that although there may be more pressing tasks on the docket, the proposed legislation could be an instance of practical cooperation between both progressive and conservative factions in Alþingi.
