That excellent play on words aside, THIS IS ÖUTRAGEÖUS. Motörhead’s quite delicious Australian Shiraz will not be sold in Iceland because the band is synonymous with being a bit naughty. The fear is that the sale of Lemmy & co’s fruity number could result in leading our North Atlantic friends into a life of angry, speed-fuelled debauchery. Cripes.

The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland (ÁTVR), which is government-owned and is also the only shop you can buy alcohol from (not including pubs and bars), has decreed that it will not stock the rockers’ booze. They said something like this, according to Google Translate:

“The name of the band is referring to the users of illicit narcotic drug amphetamine as well as texts of songs the band frequently mountain of war, abuse of authority, irresponsible sex and drug abuse. “

The bloke who was trying to distribute Motörhead Shiraz, Hjörleifur Árnason wrote a piece for Vísir about his woes. He basically said it was bollocks and that loads of other booze should be banned as well, which is probably fair enough.

If it seems weird that the state is so involved with what the Icelandic people are allowed to drink and the ban itself seems rather Draconian, bear in mind that beer was only legalised in Iceland in 1989. NINETEEN EIGHTY-NINE. Yeah. I was six years old. I was already pickled. Pickled like a yummy, barely-hatched egg.

Basically, the Icelandic people can not be trusted with booze. When they drink, they end up making wicked music. If you don’t believe me, read what we had to say about Muck and also about Minus.