Bergen mayor challenges city’s own alcohol rules after May 17 chaos

Bergen’s mayor Marit Warncke (H) is speaking out against her own city council’s alcohol serving policy, reacting to the fact that venues can serve alcohol from 6:00 a.m. — including on May 17 — following a rule change adopted in 2024.

“Even though we know there is security and control at the venues, and we know it is hardly those who have a table there from 6:00 a.m. who end up as a raging problem in the city, the decision we made sends the wrong signal,” Warncke told Bergensavisen.

She confirmed to the newspaper that she is effectively going against a policy her own party has helped adopt. “As I said, I believe the early opening time sends a wrong signal, and that we as adults must lead by example. That also applies to those of us who adopt the rules in the city council,” she said.

Warncke is now asking the city council to reconsider the arrangement after this year’s evaluation together with the police and the May 17 committee.

The statement comes after a national day in which police reported alcohol, disturbances and violence in several parts of the country. In Tromsø, between 20 and 30 youths were involved in a mass brawl, while people in Oslo, Stavanger and Trondheim were knocked unconscious or sent to hospital after violence.

In Bergen, around 20 youths ended up in a fight in the city center. Former Bergen mayor Trude Drevland described the development in a Facebook post as making “my favorite city on the national day into a chaos of intoxication, alcohol and violence — where most of us have no enjoyment or pleasure in being.”

Warncke believes the signals from the municipality have an impact on developments, pointing out that increased availability leads to increased consumption, and that adults, including politicians, must lead by example for the young.