Norway’s Constitution Day marred by public drunkenness and violence

Norway’s 17 May celebrations descended into widespread disorder, with police reporting drunkenness, brawls, and violent clashes in multiple cities, Dagbladet reports.

Trude Drevland, former mayor of Bergen, expressed dismay at the chaos in her city, writing on Facebook that the holiday had become “an unbearable, restless, and violent arena” due to excessive drinking. She described young people “scattered” across streets while emergency services struggled to cope, urging Norwegians to reclaim the evening as a time for “celebrating a different kind of freedom than intoxication.”

Samfunnsdebattant Sanna Sarromaa, a social commentator and former teacher, blamed alcohol for the unrest and suggested Norway adopt Finland’s approach. “Norwegians should learn from the Finns, who drink alone at home in their underwear,” she said, referencing the Finnish concept of kalsarikännit (“pantsdrunk”). She proposed moving Norway’s national day to January to discourage public drinking, citing Finland’s winter celebrations as “serious and solemn.”

Police in Tromsø and other regions reported mass brawls and disturbances continuing past midnight. In Western Norway, operations manager Jan Børge Misje confirmed to Dagbladet that officers were still handling “aftershocks” well into Monday morning.