← Prøvetolk · Kunnskapsprøven in English

Kunnskapsprøven glossary: Norwegian–English word list

The Norwegian words that trip people up on kunnskapsprøven (the alcohol act test for shops, bars and restaurants), with plain English and the rule behind each word. Free, no sign-up. Checked 2026-10-21 against alkoholloven (AL), alkoholforskriften (AF) and Helsedirektoratet. Prøvetolk is independent practice material, not an official source.

Tip: on kunnskapsprøven a dictionary is the only aid you may bring, and it does not have these legal meanings. Learn the words below first; they are the ones a normal dictionary gets wrong or misses. (Etablererprøven is different: no dictionary at all. See etablererprøven in English.)

No match. Try a shorter word.

Licences and people

bevilling

licence (from the kommune) to sell or serve alcoholAL § 1-6

salgsbevilling

sales licence: a shop selling beer and cider (at most 4.7%)AL § 3-1 · the "shop test"

skjenkebevilling

serving licence: bar, pub, restaurant, caféAL § 1-6 · the "bar test"

bevillingshaver

licence holder (the company or person the licence is given to); carries the legal responsibility

styrer

manager named on the licence; must be at least 20 and have passed kunnskapsprøvenAL § 1-7c

stedfortreder

deputy manager; same rules as the styrerAL § 1-7c

uklanderlig vandel

clean record (no serious breaches of alcohol, tax or accounting law)AL § 1-7b

ambulerende skjenkebevilling

mobile licence for serving at a closed private party, not tied to one venueAL § 4-5

bevilling for en enkelt anledning

licence for one single event (a concert, a festival day)AL § 1-6

sluttet selskap

closed party: the guest list is set before serving starts (wedding, company party)AL § 4-2

kommunestyre

municipal council; licences run at most until 30 September the year after a new council startsAL § 1-6

prøvebevis

certificate you get when you pass; it does not expire

kunnskapsprøve

knowledge test: 30 questions, 60 minutes, 24 correct to pass

Drinks and strength

alkoholholdig drikk

alcoholic drink: more than 2.5% alcohol by volumeAL § 1-3

volumprosent

percent alcohol by volume (ABV), written e.g. "4,7 volumprosent"

gruppe 1

group 1: over 2.5% and at most 4.7% (beer, cider)

gruppe 2

group 2: over 4.7% and under 22% (wine, strong beer)

gruppe 3

group 3: 22–60% (spirits)

brennevin

spirits (vodka, whisky, gin…), 22% or more

lettøl

light beer, 0.7–2.5%; not an "alcoholic drink" under the act, but special rules for who may sell itAL § 1-5

alkoholfri / alkoholsvak

alcohol-free / low-alcohol

Vinmonopolet

the state retail monopoly; an ordinary shop may not sell drinks over 4.7%AL § 3-1

rusmidler

intoxicants: alcohol and other drugs

Age and ID

aldersgrense

age limit: 18 for drinks under 22%, 20 for 22% or moreAL § 1-5

legitimasjon (leg)

ID; whoever sells or serves has the right and the duty to ask for it when in doubtAL § 1-5

mindreårig

minor (under 18)

langing

buying alcohol to pass it on to someone under age; forbiddenAL § 8-8

fagbrev

trade certificate (e.g. waiter or chef); lets a minor serve all alcoholic drinksAL § 1-5

under tilsyn

under supervision (by someone over 18)

Intoxicated guests

åpenbart påvirket

obviously intoxicated: judged from behaviour, not from blood alcoholAF § 4-1

atferd

behaviour (speech, balance, mood): what you judge intoxication by

promille

blood alcohol level (per mille); not what the rule is based on

bistandsplikt

duty to assist: a guest who can't look after themselves must get helpAF § 4-1

nekte / avvise

refuse / turn away (at the door or at the bar)

dørvakt

door staff / bouncer; the server is still responsible even if the dørvakt let the guest in

forsvarlig drift

responsible operation of the venue (e.g. staff may not drink at work)AF § 10-3

Times and days

salgstid

sales hours (shop): standard 08:00–18:00 on weekdays, max 20:00AL § 3-7

skjenketid

serving hours (bar): standard 08:00–01:00 for beer and wine, 13:00–24:00 for spiritsAL § 4-4

normaltid

standard time: what applies when the kommune hasn't decided otherwise

maksimaltid

legal maximum time the kommune cannot go beyond (no serving 03:00–06:00)

konsumtid

drinking-up time: 30 minutes after serving time endsAL § 4-4

hverdag

weekday (Monday–Friday)

søn- og helligdager

Sundays and public holidays: no beer sales in shopsAL § 3-7

dager før søn- og helligdager

days before Sundays and public holidays (incl. Saturdays): shop standard until 15:00, max 18:00

utvide / innskrenke

extend / shorten (what the kommune may do with the hours)

In the shop or venue

salg / skjenking

sale (to take away) / serving (to drink on the spot)

skjenkested

licensed venue (bar, restaurant, pub)

skjenkeareal / skjenkeområde

the serving area the licence covers; guests may not take alcohol out of itAF § 4-4

medbrakt alkohol

alcohol guests bring themselves; may not be drunk at the venueAF § 4-4

forveksles

be mistaken for (beer must be placed so it can't be mistaken for alcohol-free drinks)AF § 3-3

rabatt / særskilt tilbud

discount / special offer: banned in shops ("buy 3, get 1 free")AL § 8-12

reklameforbud

advertising ban: no alcohol ads anywhere, social media includedAL § 9-2

alkoholfrie alternativer

alcohol-free options a venue must offer and list on the menuAF § 4-6

Control and penalties

prikk / prikker

penalty point(s) for breaking the rulesAF kap. 10

toårsperiode

two-year period: 12 points within two years = licence suspended for one weekAF § 10-2

inndragning / inndras

suspension / is suspended (the licence is taken away for a time)

kontroll / kontrollør

inspection / municipal inspector; refusing an inspection gives 8 points

internkontroll

internal control: the venue's own written system for following the rulesAF § 8-1

tilsyn

supervision / oversight

overtredelse / brudd

breach / violation

Small words that change the answer

høyst / inntil

at most / up to

minst / tidligst / senest

at least / at the earliest / at the latest

som hovedregel

as a general rule (an exception exists)

kan / skal / må ikke

may / must / must not: read these slowly

ikke noe av det ovennevnte

none of the above

Try the words on real questions

Prøvetolk's free test asks in Norwegian, like the exam, with an English translation and the legal paragraph under each answer. No sign-up.

Start the free test

Also: shop test or bar test? · po polsku · українською · lietuviškai · în română

Written with help from AI and checked against alkoholloven, alkoholforskriften and Helsedirektoratet's guidance. Rules can change; your kommune sets its own hours within the limits above.

Sold by SVENDSEN MEDIA, org.nr. 933 395 987 MVA · jo@svendsenmedia.net · Terms of sale and privacy