A Norwegian politician has sparked debate by suggesting that pensioners and people with disabilities should receive the same discounts on beer that students enjoy in many bars across the country. The idea, presented by Svein Otto Nilsen from the Pensioners’ Party (Pensjonistpartiet) in Møre og Romsdal, has gained attention in local and national media.
A call for fairer discounts in bars
Nilsen, the top candidate for his party in the region, voiced his frustration over what he sees as unequal treatment. Speaking to the Norwegian News Agency (NTB), he noted that beer discounts are widely offered to students, but not to pensioners or people with limited income due to disability. “Perhaps they also want to go out for a drink,” he said, adding that such discounts could help attract new customers to bars and restaurants.
His comments were first published in the Sunnmørsposten newspaper and have since spread to other regional outlets in Møre and Trøndelag. The issue was also discussed on NRK’s national debate programme Dagsnytt 18.
A personal initiative, not party policy
Nilsen clarified that his proposal is a personal initiative rather than an official policy of the Pensioners’ Party. He emphasised that lower prices for pensioners and people with disabilities could be seen as a social measure, encouraging participation in public life. He also dismissed concerns that such discounts would lead to increased alcohol misuse among older people.
“Of course I want to prevent abuse,” he said. “But not everyone who goes out for a beer is an abuser.”
Public health concerns from prevention groups
The idea has met resistance from public health advocates. Hanne Cecilie Widnes, Secretary General of the alcohol prevention organisation IOGT, argued that cheaper alcohol is not the answer to social isolation or broader public health challenges in Norway. “More alcohol and cheaper alcohol are absolutely not the solution,” she said during the NRK debate.
In many Norwegian cities, bars and pubs operate with varying beer prices depending on the day of the week or whether the customer is a student. While student discounts are common, there has been little discussion about extending similar benefits to other groups with limited incomes. Nilsen believes that the first venue to introduce a pensioner discount could gain a substantial new customer base.
