Anyone know the reasoning? I'm assuming its attempting to prevent alcoholism? I know Greenland and Iceland (to a lesser extent) suffer somewhat perhaps due to the light and isolation being contributing factors.
Alcohol stronger than beer can only be purchased at the state-run "wine monopoly", alcohol percentage stronger than 60% classified as narcotics and illegal, opening hours for alcohol sale (beer included) are mandated to be much shorter than for stores in general, no alcohol sales allowed on public holidays, Sundays or Saturdays after 3pm/6pm (wine+ and beer, respectively), etc.
Culturally, you can trace this back to the Protestant Christian heritage, where excessive alcohol consumption was considered both sinful and destructive. I'm certain there was something to the heavily negative view on the health- and socioeconomic effects of alcohol at the time (combined with poverty, hunger, cold, dark winters, isolation and the need for cooperating to thrive in such a climate), so I don't think it just boils down to unsubstantiated religious feelings.
There is still consensus that this is a good way of doing things, although the minority Christian conservative political wing are loudest about it.
However I don't think it's fair to punish everyone for this. Many people have no issues limiting their alcohol and a once-in-a-while binge is not an issue.
But anyway I would never want to go near Svalbard, wayyy too cold for me anyway :) And I couldn't cope with 3 months of continuous darkness.
Thanks for correcting my mistake.
I paid $20 apiece for shots at a bar in Reykjavik. I paid (IIRC) $5 for a bottle at the airport.
(The bars are especially expensive. I'm told that all the Icelanders pre-game before going out drinking. If you plan to drink while in Iceland, pick it up on your way in.)
Good one.
> but feeling "fully self-actualized" is equally accomplished by achieving your goals or lowering your goals until they're easily achievable.
It's more correlated with finishing what you set out to do. But there's definitely a useful component of comparing yourself with others - if your bar is too low you'll know it even if you don't have the courage to raise it.
> Those with healthy self-esteem feel self-actualized, those with poor self-esteem will feel as though they're never at their best.
Why with the worst way to interpret this? Those who feel accomplished build self-esteem. Yes, it is circular, but it needs to start with something real. You can't just wait to feel good without doing anything to cause it.
The testosterone effect is not true (it went down in Finland and then went back up), and might've been positive (getting married causes both low testosterone and more children). Less children is due to being less religious.
Remember, eugenics isn't real!
This is not even remotely true I don't know what you're basing this on.