We often imagine Viking feasts as wild scenes of endless mead and roaring laughter, but the reality was far more disciplined. Archaeological and saga evidence shows that in many Norse communities, “Ale Laws” (öl-lög) regulated drinking at gatherings. These laws weren’t about sobriety; they were about honor and hierarchy. At a feast, drinking was ritualized: cups passed in a specific order, toasts were made to gods and ancestors, and each guest was expected to match the chieftain’s pace. Drinking