Snus in Bergen

[Craig de Tering]

But yes, it is expensive. Everything really is in DK. I'm absolutely NOT a rich man, but still I have yet to visit a country or capitol that I find over-priced.

Copenhagen this year ranked 6th in the world's hierarchy of most-expensive-cities, beaten only by Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, London, and the most expensive city - Moscow! :shock:

Yeah but I guess that study takes into account an average of products bought locally whereas we're only talking booze here.

Also, I'm plenty sure there are mega-Ikeas in China. If only because most things Ikea I have are all "made in China" ;-)

Oh, here's my contribution to the discussion about high-price grievances: gasoline/petrol prices in the Netherlands: it's already the highest in the world (been that for like ages) and today the gov't announced thay're hiking it another €cent. Here's a detailed list of prices in NL updated daily (vrijdag 31 augustus 2007) in €/l (second column):
http://www.unitedconsumers.com/link....tion=showframe

[Zero]

Hard to believe Beijing beats Stockholm, eh? I guess if you wanted to live in Beijing "like" you lived in Stockholm...maybe. Are there Ikeas in China?

[Subtilo]

What? Moscow? Had no idea :shock:

Also, I would have thought that Stockholm (or at least one Swedish city) would've been in top20.

[Zero]

But yes, it is expensive. Everything really is in DK. I'm absolutely NOT a rich man, but still I have yet to visit a country or capitol that I find over-priced.

Copenhagen this year ranked 6th in the world's hierarchy of most-expensive-cities, beaten only by Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, London, and the most expensive city - Moscow! :shock:

[Zero]

Well, it could be worse. In Greenland you pay in the neighborhood of 90 USD for a bottle of booze!

:shock:

Same in the far north of Canada. Economies of scale working against you and all that.

[Subtilo]

... around here the alcohol is still 'free',

You mean "free" as in "available in any old supermarket or convenience store yet still priced for heart attacks" ??
How about special opening times in DK?

Yes, more or less. 'Free' as in not controlled by the government and available in most shops. Sorry for being unclear about that.

Special opening times ... yes, the older version of the 'Lukkelov' (literally Closing law) we had some years ago said that you couldn't purchase any alcohol between 8 pm and 6 am. But not anymore. Today you can get beer, booze and wine anytime (and almost anywhere).
Funny though, it's not that long ago that I met someone who still thought that getting something to drink in the night was impossible

Oh, guess I should mention that of course you could get some beers in those days if you really wanted. It was - well, at least in Copenhagen - easy to find a kiosk owner who didn't gave a flying f*** about 'the man'.

But yes, it is expensive. Everything really is in DK. I'm absolutely NOT a rich man, but still I have yet to visit a country or capitol that I find over-priced. And I've been around :wink:

[Craig de Tering]

... around here the alcohol is still 'free',

You mean "free" as in "available in any old supermarket or convenience store yet still priced for heart attacks" ??
How about special opening times in DK?

[Subtilo]

Well, it could be worse. In Greenland you pay in the neighborhood of 90 USD for a bottle of booze!

:shock:

[Zero]

Depending on province, Canada is the same way. In ontario, for example, all alcohol comes from one of two stores - the LCBO or "The Beer Store" - both government-run and savagely taxed. That said, they're reasonably good stores, but like Scandinavia one has to plan ahead of time because of the cripplingly anti-party hours.

[phish]

I should have said Sweden and Norway I'm not that familiar with Denmark's situation but from what you've said it seems much more favourable

[Subtilo]

Hm, yes, drinking in bars IS really expensive up here - and yes, when we drink we drink, it's (as Craig also stated) simply a bad deal just to drink a couple of beers.

And Phish ... well, you're right about the spirit situation in Scandinavia - up to a certain point! Yes, in Norway and Sweden the alcohol sale is controlled by the government (Vinmonopolet (N) and Systembolaget (S)), which means that you have to buy your (strong) alcohol in special shops ... thats if the weaker beers that you can purchase anywhere is not enough. Danes often think of it as sort of blasphemy that Carlsberg actually produce variants of well known Danish strong beers with only 3,5 % alcohol for the Swedish market! Needless to say ... around here the alcohol is still 'free', and I guess thats why cities like Copenhagen and Helsingør (both with either ferry or bridge connection to Sweden) are packed with brothers and sisters from the other side of Øresund who travel here for the beer only.

Oh yes, moonshining is very commen in both Sweden and Norway.

[phish]

A lot of people make their own booze, especially out in the country. The spirit situation in Scandinavia is so strange. All sales are controlled by a government monopoly and each shop is only open to 3pm!

[Craig de Tering]

50 NOK for a tin of snus is not that bad considering the price of Norway in general. A pint of beer is around 50-60 NOK and a pouch of tobacco is 150 NOK and above.

So all in all not too bad but Sweden would be a better place for tourists to pick up cheap snus

I'd never buy alcohol in a bar in Scandinavia. It's just against my principles.
The politicians up there USED to make it that expensive to curb the massive consumption. TODAY though their coffers are seriously dependent on the tax incomes.
PLUS the high prices had the opposite effect on the scandinavian psyche; IF a scandinavian ever drinks, he or she drink to get completely wasted because otherwise they consider it wasteful to just drink a little bit.

If I can't savor a drink for what it is, instead of constantly thinking I'm aiding an undeserving government policy, then I can't enjoy it.

If I were to ever move over there I'll be a champion home brewer.
[/rant]
Damn, I can really get worked up over this crap. :evil:

[Zero]

yeah, snus in sweden was around 25 SEK (~21 NOK) in shops when I was there, probably a bit more now that the taxes have gone up. A tin of general from a pub vending machine was only 35 SEK... way cheaper than Norway by far.

[phish]

Damn, that's the same price for a pouch of hand-rolling tobacco (also 50 grams here in NL). I guess in that case no matter how you view it, ordering via internet is cheaper for most of us.

50 NOK for a tin of snus is not that bad considering the price of Norway in general. A pint of beer is around 50-60 NOK and a pouch of tobacco is 150 NOK and above.

So all in all not too bad but Sweden would be a better place for tourists to pick up cheap snus