Reykjavik runs out of beer as its supply is drunk in a single weekend by 7,000 US troops in Iceland for NATO exercise
- A significant number of the bars were forced to make emergency beer runs
- Restaurateurs said they had never experienced anything like the situation
- Up to 50,000 troops from 29 NATO allies had participated in the NATO exercises
U.S. soldiers drank pubs and bars in Reykjavik, Iceland dry in a single weekend after the largest NATO military exercise since the Cold War.
A significant number of the bars were forced to make emergency beer runs under the onslaught of thirsty American sailors and Marines in town for the start of Trident Juncture 18.
Up to 7,000 U.S. military personnel left their mark on the Icelandic capital.
Up to 7,000 U.S. military personnel drank Reykjavik dry in a single weekend after NATO trip
A beer in the capital city typically sells for 1,000 to 1,500 ISK, which is roughly $8 to $12 USD.
They were also very willing to sample different microbrews as well as the more popular standard lagers, according to Iceland Magazine.
Blogger, Eiríkur Jónsson, spoke to restaurateurs who said they had never experienced a similar situation.
Helpless bar owners tried to resolve the issues by borrowing from bars which were better stocked while members of the delivery team from Ölgerðin were called out to help the bar owners cope, but ‘they were fighting an overwhelming force,’ as Eiríkur puts it.
Nearly 50,000 troops from 29 NATO allies including Sweden and Finland are currently participating in Trident Juncture 18, backed up by 65 naval vessels, 150 aircraft, and more than 10,000 vehicles — all of which makes for thirsty work.
A significant number of the bars were forced to make emergency beer runs under the onslaught of thirsty American sailors and Marines in town for the start of Trident Juncture 18