Norway 🖨️ Print / Save PDF Food, Alcohol and Water

Food

Provisioning

The cost of groceries is high in Norway and so, if you are coming from another country where costs are lower, you may wish to stock up prior to leaving. However, please be aware that strict personal importing limits are in place, e.g. for importing meat from EU/EEA and there is a strict ban on all personal consignments of meat, milk and their products from countries outside the EU/EEA.

For topping up with fresh provisions once you are in Norway, you won’t have any problems getting what you need in the larger centres. Even most villages will have a small shop with a good supply of basic groceries.

Hunting and Gathering

If you like hunting and gathering you will have a great time in Norway since there are berries galore and the fishing is easy.

Berries

Blåbær (blueberries) are plentiful in August.

Multebær (cloudberries / bakeapples) look like pale orange raspberries and are a Norwegian delicacy that is also available in August. We suggest you do not pick multebær without asking; some patches are privately owned and we know of at least one area where u-pick fees may be charged.

Tyttebær (lingonberries / partridgeberries) are small cranberry-like berries that grow on shiny green leaves. They are plentiful in the fall.

Mushrooms

In autumn mushrooms are omnipresent in the woods. Of course you have to know how to identify edible species but Bjørkerørsopp (birch bolete), Steinsopp (porcini mushroom) and Kantareller (chanterelles) are very common and the locals keep the best spots a family secret.

Fishing

No license is required to fish in salt water for personal consumption, but there are a few things to know. The further north you head the richer the sea is in fish. Torsk (cod), Sei (saithe, pollock), Kveite (halibut) and Rødfisk (red fish, ocean perch) are abundant. In the right place we never spend more than 10 minutes without a bite…

It is possible for non-residents to obtain a freshwater fishing license.

Alcohol

Alcohol can be purchased from the government liquor store Vinmonopolet (to find a store, click on Butikker on the top menu).

Norwegian law mandates that you are not allowed to handle a boat under 15m LOA with a blood alcohol level greater than 0.08%. The limit for handling boats greater than 15m LOA is 0.02%. We have heard of fellow sailors who were given a breathalyser test while underway in a pleasure boat, the law is enforced and fines will be levied.

Water

Water is usually available on pontoons, quays and at fuel stations throughout Norway and is potable. Note that particularly in the far north due to freezing temperatures the water supply to pontoons will be shut off during the winter months. Some places, particularly those with winter fishing activity may be equipped with a frost protected water supply. We do not recommend that you fill in water from streams or lakes as giardia and other parasites may be present in untreated water.