Bergen lifts ban on alcohol sales at strip clubs

The city of Bergen’s ban on serving alcohol at strip clubs has been overturned by the county governor, following a two-year legal review, Dagbladet reports.

The prohibition, introduced in 2024 as part of the city’s alcohol policy guidelines for 2024–2028, was ruled unlawful in a decision published on 7 April. The county governor determined that the ban lacked sufficient legal basis under Norway’s Alcohol Act, which does not permit restrictions on alcohol sales solely to discourage otherwise lawful businesses.

Venstre party representative Ole Martini, who had long opposed the ban, welcomed the reversal. “The left-wing majority in the city council passed something that simply wasn’t legal,” he told Dagbladet. “I’ve waited two years for this.” Martini framed the issue as a matter of principle, arguing that local authorities cannot prohibit businesses based on moral disapproval.

The ban had drawn criticism from multiple parties, including the Green Party (MDG), while the Centre Party’s deputy mayor, Thomas Flesland, defended the original policy, stating that some alcohol-free venues could be “a good thing.” The Progressive Party (FrP) and the Conservative Party (Høyre), which initially supported the ban as part of broader negotiations on licensing hours, now acknowledge the legal flaws. Høyre’s group leader, Chris Jørgen K. Rødland, told Dagbladet the party “does not support banning lawful businesses based on moral taste.”

Though the blanket prohibition is lifted, Bergen’s local government retains the right to reject individual license applications. The city currently has no permanent strip clubs, though touring shows like Chippendales and Magic Men have performed there in recent years. The last dedicated venue, Dreams, closed in 2020 due to pandemic-related financial struggles.