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Norway - that great Brexit example

PragueAddickPragueAddick
edited February 2016 in Not Sports Related
I keep reading on here Norway as a Brexit example . It happens that one of my very best mates is a Swede who has been living in Norway the last 10 years, and complained about it to me on a daily basis. So I thought I would share with you some of the things that piss him off.

Now none of the things that follow are directly connected to their non_EU membership, but I promise you a sting in the tail, so read on

1. In Norway, everyone's tax return is public, on-line. You can read your neighbour's tax return.So can your kids. Stop and think about that for a minute ( admittedly this is true in Sweden too)

2. No shops are open in Norway on Sundays. None.

3. Due to tax, alcohol is hugely expensive. £8/pint in Oslo, easily. As a result there is a huge cross border trade on the Swedish border, but the allowance for bringing it in is like it was in the UK in the 70s. 2 bottles of wine.

4. It is prohibited for a Norwegian citizen to pay for sexual services anywhere in the world. A Norwegian politician's career ended after a tabloid snapped him leaving a brothel in Bangkok.

5. It is also prohibited for a a Norwegian credit card to be used for gambling purposes anywhere in the world. This is my buddy's best story. He was on a management week bash in Switzerland and that evening it was his turn to pay the restaurant bill. One by one his cards were all declined. He managed to get through to his bank. The call centre girl asked him if he was in a casino; he replied there was one in the same building. That's when she reminded him of the law.

6. This does not happen in Norway itself, as casinos are banned.

7. Norway has many roads in excellent condition given the climate. The maximum speed is 90km/hour (about 56mph).

Ok, none of this is because they are not in the EU. But it shows that it is not just the EU that invents laws that piss off many citizens. Any country can do it, and does. Anyone who thinks Brexit will put an end to Health & Safety excesses and make Britain a carefree regulation free place, is kidding themselves.

And if we stay in, you now know not to emigrate to Norway....
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Comments

  • SlartibartfastSlartibartfast
    Apart from Numbers 1 & 7 Norway looks ok.
  • SlartibartfastSlartibartfast
    Oh, forgot it's bloody cold there.
  • AddicktedAddickted
    Wow! You almost convinced me Prague.

    Will all this be added to the first Queens speech after Brexit?

    Nah.

    Everyone knows the Norwegians, Finns and Swedes have slightly strange laws, rules and regulations.

    Mind you, I've always been impressed how the Swedes managed to stay out of both World Wars and make significant profits from both sides.
  • Henry IrvingHenry Irving
    Norway also has a huge sovereign wealth fund (they didnt spend their north sea oil money straight away like we did in the 70s) so have lots of money to spend on those roads and other infrastructure, education, etc.

    There are lots of other problems they do have as a result of not being in the EU but that is another argument.
  • ThreadKillerThreadKiller
    Don't know what was wrong with Danelaw anyway
  • DaggsDaggs
    Total irrelevence as to whether Britain 'remains' or 'leaves'
  • FumbluffFumbluff
    When I was last in Norway the times that alcohol was available in shops had some weird restrictions on it, like if the shop was open from 9-5 they would only sell the hugely expensive alcohol from 10-11 and then 3-4pm or some weird times like that...at least that was what I figured whilst I queued for hours and hours...
  • LincsaddickLincsaddick
    Does not Norway, along with the other Scandinavian countries, have a 'Church Tax' paid to the Lutheran protestantswhich can only be opted out of if you're a registered member of a non Christian religion/organisation ?
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  • lancashire ladlancashire lad
    edited February 2016
    I used to have an office in Oslo and there is a lot that is good about Norway with an excellent health and social system, their public transport system is clean and efficient, all the Norweigans I have met have been proud, friendly with a very balanced outlook on life. None of the above has anything to do with being in or out of the EU.
  • charltonkestoncharltonkeston
    I don't drink (much), gamble and only drive occasionally at weekends. I think I might be Norwegian.
  • FumbluffFumbluff
    charltonkeston said:

    I don't drink (much), gamble and only drive occasionally at weekends. I think I might be Norwegian.

    If you don't drink then you can't be Scandinavian
  • killerandflashkillerandflash
    Plenty of whale meat on sale last time I was in Norway (10 years ago). And yes I did try it (well it was hardly going to make a difference)
  • SlartibartfastSlartibartfast
    Do they have half-day closing on Wednesdays?
  • Covered EndCovered End
    "None of the things that follow are directly connected to their non_EU membership."

    You said it. What a total irrelevance.
  • queensland_addickqueensland_addick
    Quite refreshing to read that a country has laws and enforces them. My impression from my recent trip "home" was that the UK has become almost lawless and people seem to do whatever they want with no prospect of being apprehended. In fact in six weeks I counted only 2 police cars on the road. I encountered numerous people driving on the phone, people turning right at roundabouts, approaching from the left lane etc, I won't even bother talking about my experiences with the healthcare system on behalf of my elderly mother who has been treated absolutely appallingly for 4 years. It has become a mad house and I was so pleased to get out of it, I really think I'd lose the will to live very quickly if I still had to live there.
  • Stu_of_KunmingStu_of_Kunming
    They all seem like decent laws to me.
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  • GreenieGreenie
    Well that's a minute of my life I'm not getting back.
    Still voting to leave when we get the chance.
  • shine166shine166
    In England everyone is going batshit at 5p shopping bags, really think people will be happy paying £9 a pint ?
  • iaitchiaitch
    And they want to extend sunday shopping hours.
  • alan dugdalealan dugdale
    A contender for most pointless post of the year.
    Anyway, there's norway I'd move there now.
  • Big_Bad_WorldBig_Bad_World
    I'm quite partial to a Sunday shop as it means I can steer clear of all the retards that shop on Saturdays.
  • Vinnie V.Vinnie V.
    I'm quite partial to working on Sundays as it means I can earn money when I want.
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