The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR) is a
state owned company that is the
sole legal retail vendor of alcohol in
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
.
It runs a chain of 51 retail stores named Vínbúðin ''(the wine shop),'' known colloquially as Ríkið (The State)''.
'' In addition it distributes
tobacco
Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
to other retailers and assesses and collects
tobacco tax.
Iceland has very high
taxes on alcohol to curtail consumption and as a government revenue source. Tax rates are proportionate to the
alcohol content.
The state run company is under the
Ministry of Finance.
See also
*
Alcohol monopoly
*
Prohibition in Iceland
*
Beer in Iceland
References
External links
Vínbúðin's website
Alcohol monopolies
Food and drink companies of Iceland
Tobacco in Iceland
Alcohol in Iceland
Retail companies established in 1961
1961 establishments in Iceland
Government-owned companies of Iceland
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