European Alcoho... / Resources / Country Profiles / Sweden
Sweden
Sweden is not a major producer of alcoholic beverages. A large percentage of distilled spirits consumed in Sweden and almost all wine are imported (Hurst, Gregory & Gussman, 1997). The production of beer reached its peak in 1994 ay 5.4 million hectoliters in the mid-1970s. In 1980 there were 71 breweries operating in Sweden, employing around 4.000 people (Davis & Walsh, 1983). By 1998 the number of breweries had decreased to 37. Since the 1980s, the Swedish brewing industry had been dominated by one company, Pripps, at times owned by the state.
Sweden has been predominantly a spirits drinking country since the beginning of the nineteenth century. The high level of alcohol consumption led to alcohol-related problems, and the support for the temperance movements grew, making it a powerful actor in the development of Swedish alcoholic beverage policies.
ALCOHOL POLICY
In the twentieth century, alcohol control policies in Sweden have been founded upon the principle of limiting private profitability by establishing alcohol monopolies and enforcing other strict regulations. Profits from the sales of distilled spirits are public funds. In 1917, instead of prohibition, a unique system was introduced in Sweden, based on the principle that people who are able to drink without negative social consequences should be allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages off-premises, while those who could not avoid abusing alcohol were not permitted to buy them. This system became known as the Bratt System, but was eliminated in 1955.
All these alcohol control policies have been dramatically changed in Sweden during the last fifteen years. The lattest major changes have been associated with Sweden's membership in the EU in 1995.
Still in the early 1950s, during the last years of Bratt system, strong beer was not sold at all in Sweden. The sale of strong beer started in 1955 but only in the monopoly stores.
