Please find below the Swedish Country Report produced by the Swedish Council on Alcohol and Drugs, September 2003

Consumption

The alcohol consumtion has risen heavily the last 12 month, June 2002-2003. The increase is 4% and during the last 24 month the number is 13%. During this period has the taxfree quota raised every half year and from the 1st of January 2004 is the taxfree based on the regular EU-level. Special awareness must be raised on the issue on Alco pops. Many young people use this drinks in big quantity.

Advertisement ban lost

The main alcohol debate 2003 has been related to the decision in the Market Court, February 2003, in the Gourmet Case, which won the case towards the Consumer Ombudsman, which has sued the Gourmet Magazine for alcohol ads. After the judgement, it was an open field for ads, but it was just a few news papers/magazines, which used the possibility to publish alcohol ads. There are new regular ads in the newspapers but it hasn't been an explosion yet. May be all are waiting for the new law.

From the 15th of May the Government, after a very quick preparation, a new law was established, which make it illegal to ad for alcohol beverages stronger than 15 % in newspapers and magazines. At the same time a one-person investigation was point out to prepare a more regular law on alcohol advertisements.
The result was meant to be ready June 30th.

Since a year ago, another investigation has worked on the theme of "Sponsoring of sports by the industry and some problem with drinking among young people". Both of these investigations was delivered to the Government on June 30 and will be prepared for a government bill during eastern and the final result will be official in November.

The new law is expected to come into force, the 1st of January 2004.

Alcohol Taxes

The boarder market between Denmark/Sweden and Germany/Sweden is still on a high level. From the 1st of October 2003 the alcohol taxes on spirits in Denmark will be decreased with 45 % and about 100 SEK per bottle spirits.

And on the other side of the Baltic Lake in Finland is the same discussion to try to eliminate the border market towards Estonia, which is a real low tax country and they will join the EU in May next year. Both this actions will be a threat towards the Swedish alcohol tax policy.

So there are of course forces in Sweden who want to follow our neighbours, but still there is not any proposal from the Government for a tax decrease.