No Brews for the Road

November 1, 2007 By Susan Zimmerman

The laws in Norway are the strictest in Europe—way tougher than those in the United States. Even one glass of wine or beer can put a driver over the legal limit, since anything over 0.02 percent blood alcohol content can mean trouble (the BAC limit in the United States is 0.08 percent).

If you’re caught driving under the influence, a heavy fine, loss of driver’s license and some jail time awaits lawbreakers. First time offenders can get twenty-one days behind bars and lose their permit for two years. Pub owner Gerlitz was drinking non-alcoholic beer as the designated driver on his night out. Getting caught is too high a price to pay for a beer.