Iceland kept beer completely illegal until the year 1989, even though citizens were allowed to freely consume hard liquor and strong wines during that exact same time period.

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Iceland kept beer completely illegal until the year 1989, even though citizens were allowed to freely consume hard liquor and strong wines during that exact same time period. The government originally believed that legalizing beer would lead to a massive spike in laziness and depravity among the working class because it was so cheap and easy to drink. When the ban was finally lifted on March first, the entire nation celebrated what is now known as Beer Day by chugging previously forbidden pints in every tavern across the capital. Imagine living in a freezing, dark, volcanic wasteland for decades and your government tells you that vodka is perfectly fine, but a light pilsner is exactly what will completely destroy the moral fabric of society