Alcoholic beverages in Sweden
Encyclopedia
Alcoholic beverages in Sweden
are as common as in most of the western world
. Sweden is historically part of the vodka belt, with high consumption of distilled beverages and binge drinking
, but during the later half of the 20th century, habits have been harmonized with western Europe, with increasing popularity of wine and weekday drinking.
(literally "burn-wine"), liquor distilled from fermented
grain or potatoes. Vodka
is the highest grade of brännvin, with brands like Absolut Vodka
and Explorer Vodka
. Brännvin seasoned with herbs is known as akvavit
. This is usually drunk as a snaps
, also known as nubbe, a small shot glass
to a traditional meal (especially pickled herring or crayfish
).
Lager beer is the most popular beer, both to meals and in bars. In restaurants and bars it is usually served as a stor stark (literally "large strong"), a glass usually containing 40 - 50 cL of starköl (see below).
Sweet cider
is also common. As of July 1, 2005, new rules established that only fermented juice from apple
or pear
is allowed to be called 'cider'. Before this change, any fruit-based beverage could be called cider, meaning that what would be considered alcopop
in other countries could be sold as cider in Sweden.
was the staple beverage in Sweden, drunk in extreme quantities to balance the salty food—pickled herring and (if affordable) salted pork
were the major protein sources for most people. Mead
was a common delicacy. Distilling was introduced in the 15th century. Prohibition
against production and/or sale of brännvin
—distilled alcohol—has been enforced during some periods.
As Sweden was industrialized and urbanized during the 19th century, industrially produced brännvin became more available, and alcohol caused increasing health and social problems. The temperance movement
rose, and since 1905, government has a monopoly on sales of liquor. The Swedish prohibition referendum in 1922 resulted in continued sales of alcohol. A rationing system, called Brattsystemet or motbok, was used until 1955. As Sweden entered the EU in 1995, drinking habits became more continental, and regulations were relaxed. Systembolaget
introduced box wine
and law allowed private enterprises to import and market alcohol—though the retail monopoly remained. Consumption of alcohol increased by 30 % from 1995 to 2005.
Sweden has a government alcohol monopoly called Systembolaget
for sale of all beverages stronger than 3.5% by volume. Minimum purchase age at Systembolaget is 20 years, but 18 at restaurants and bars with proper permission.
Beer is legally divided into three classes. Class I (maximum 2.25%), called lättöl ("light beer"), is sold without restrictions (although shops often set their own age restrictions). Class II (up to 3.5%), called folköl ("people's beer"), is sold in regular stores, but with the minimum purchase age of 18. Class III, starköl ("strong beer", over 3.5%) is sold only in Systembolaget stores.
Beverages are taxed by content of alcohol, heavier than in most other countries. The tax on vodka (40%) is SEK 200.56/litre, on Wine (14%) SEK 22.08/litre and on beer (4.5%) SEK 6.615/litre (2007). Beer with 2.8% alcohol or less is exempt from tax, except VAT. The VAT is 12% (food tax) for beverages sold in shops having up to 3.5% alcohol, and 25% above that, and at restaurants.
The import quota from other EU countries is unlimited for personal use. Due to the taxes many Swedes supply themselves in Estonia
or Germany
. Limited rations of duty free shopping
is allowed on the ferries between Sweden and Finland, provided they dock at Åland, which is an autonomous part of Finland, and has a special treaty with the EU.
Moonshining is common in rural areas.
Alcohol can be sold in bars and pubs if they are defined as restaurants, which means they have to offer warm food on location.
The alcohol must be for immediate consumption, meaning that the staff has to open bottles etc. After 10 PM the kitchen is allowed to close. Restaurants need permission to sell alcohol. Municipalities give such permissions.
is strong in Sweden, especially in agricultural areas, and often connected with the "free church
es" (non-conformists, that is Protestants outside the Church of Sweden
). The Straight Edge
movement spread among Swedish youth in the 1990s.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
are as common as in most of the western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. Sweden is historically part of the vodka belt, with high consumption of distilled beverages and binge drinking
Binge drinking
Binge drinking or heavy episodic drinking is the modern epithet for drinking alcoholic beverages with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. It is a kind of purposeful drinking style that is popular in several countries worldwide,...
, but during the later half of the 20th century, habits have been harmonized with western Europe, with increasing popularity of wine and weekday drinking.
Beverages and brands
The main Swedish specialty is brännvinBrännvin
Brännvin is a Swedish word for liquor distilled from potatoes, grain, or wood cellulose; it may be flavored or unflavored. The term includes vodka and akvavit, but akvavit is always flavored....
(literally "burn-wine"), liquor distilled from fermented
Fermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
grain or potatoes. Vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
is the highest grade of brännvin, with brands like Absolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, Skåne, in southern Sweden. Since July 2008 the company has been owned by the French firm Pernod Ricard who bought V&S Group from the Swedish government....
and Explorer Vodka
Explorer Vodka
Explorer Vodka is a Swedish vodka brand manufactured by the V&S Group, formerly owned by the Swedish government. It was developed in the 1950s, targeted for customers in the United States, but failed...
. Brännvin seasoned with herbs is known as akvavit
Akvavit
Akvavit or aquavit is a traditional flavoured spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century....
. This is usually drunk as a snaps
Snaps
Snaps is a Danish and Swedish word for a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal. A ritual that is associated with drinking snaps is a tradition in Scandinavia, especially in Denmark and Sweden, where it is very common to drink snaps at holidays such as...
, also known as nubbe, a small shot glass
Shot glass
A shot glass is a small glass designed to hold or measure spirits or liquor, which is either drunk straight from the glass or poured into a mixed drink....
to a traditional meal (especially pickled herring or crayfish
Crayfish
Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
).
Lager beer is the most popular beer, both to meals and in bars. In restaurants and bars it is usually served as a stor stark (literally "large strong"), a glass usually containing 40 - 50 cL of starköl (see below).
Sweet cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
is also common. As of July 1, 2005, new rules established that only fermented juice from apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
or pear
Pear
The pear is any of several tree species of genus Pyrus and also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued by humans for their edible fruit, but the fruit of other species is small, hard, and astringent....
is allowed to be called 'cider'. Before this change, any fruit-based beverage could be called cider, meaning that what would be considered alcopop
Alcopop
Alcopop is a colloquial term describing certain flavored alcoholic beverages, including:#malt beverages to which various fruit juices or other flavorings have been added...
in other countries could be sold as cider in Sweden.
History
Since prehistory, beerBeer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
was the staple beverage in Sweden, drunk in extreme quantities to balance the salty food—pickled herring and (if affordable) salted pork
Salt pork
Salt pork or white bacon is salt-cured pork. It is prepared from one of three primal cuts: pork side, pork belly, or fatback. Depending on the cut, respectively, salt pork may be lean, streaky or entirely fatty. Made from the same cuts as bacon, salt pork resembles uncut slab bacon, but is...
were the major protein sources for most people. Mead
Mead
Mead , also called honey wine, is an alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water. It may also be produced by fermenting a solution of water and honey with grain mash, which is strained immediately after fermentation...
was a common delicacy. Distilling was introduced in the 15th century. Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
against production and/or sale of brännvin
Brännvin
Brännvin is a Swedish word for liquor distilled from potatoes, grain, or wood cellulose; it may be flavored or unflavored. The term includes vodka and akvavit, but akvavit is always flavored....
—distilled alcohol—has been enforced during some periods.
As Sweden was industrialized and urbanized during the 19th century, industrially produced brännvin became more available, and alcohol caused increasing health and social problems. The temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
rose, and since 1905, government has a monopoly on sales of liquor. The Swedish prohibition referendum in 1922 resulted in continued sales of alcohol. A rationing system, called Brattsystemet or motbok, was used until 1955. As Sweden entered the EU in 1995, drinking habits became more continental, and regulations were relaxed. Systembolaget
Systembolaget
Systembolaget is a government owned chain of liquor stores in Sweden. It is the only retail store allowed to sell alcoholic beverages that contain more than 3.5% alcohol. Systembolaget also sells non-alcoholic beverages. To buy alcoholic beverages at Systembolaget one has to be 20 years of age or...
introduced box wine
Box wine
A box wine is a wine packaged as a Bag-In-Box. Such packages contain a plastic bladder protected by a box, usually made of corrugated fiberboard.- History :...
and law allowed private enterprises to import and market alcohol—though the retail monopoly remained. Consumption of alcohol increased by 30 % from 1995 to 2005.
Regulation and taxation
Systembolaget
Systembolaget is a government owned chain of liquor stores in Sweden. It is the only retail store allowed to sell alcoholic beverages that contain more than 3.5% alcohol. Systembolaget also sells non-alcoholic beverages. To buy alcoholic beverages at Systembolaget one has to be 20 years of age or...
for sale of all beverages stronger than 3.5% by volume. Minimum purchase age at Systembolaget is 20 years, but 18 at restaurants and bars with proper permission.
Beer is legally divided into three classes. Class I (maximum 2.25%), called lättöl ("light beer"), is sold without restrictions (although shops often set their own age restrictions). Class II (up to 3.5%), called folköl ("people's beer"), is sold in regular stores, but with the minimum purchase age of 18. Class III, starköl ("strong beer", over 3.5%) is sold only in Systembolaget stores.
Beverages are taxed by content of alcohol, heavier than in most other countries. The tax on vodka (40%) is SEK 200.56/litre, on Wine (14%) SEK 22.08/litre and on beer (4.5%) SEK 6.615/litre (2007). Beer with 2.8% alcohol or less is exempt from tax, except VAT. The VAT is 12% (food tax) for beverages sold in shops having up to 3.5% alcohol, and 25% above that, and at restaurants.
The import quota from other EU countries is unlimited for personal use. Due to the taxes many Swedes supply themselves in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
or Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Limited rations of duty free shopping
Duty-free shop
Duty-free shops are retail outlets that are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country...
is allowed on the ferries between Sweden and Finland, provided they dock at Åland, which is an autonomous part of Finland, and has a special treaty with the EU.
Moonshining is common in rural areas.
Restaurant and bars
Alcohol can be sold in restaurants. The age limit is 18, though many nightclubs voluntarily require a minimum age at the door above 18 (usually 20 or 23, occasionally up to 30).Alcohol can be sold in bars and pubs if they are defined as restaurants, which means they have to offer warm food on location.
The alcohol must be for immediate consumption, meaning that the staff has to open bottles etc. After 10 PM the kitchen is allowed to close. Restaurants need permission to sell alcohol. Municipalities give such permissions.
Temperance movement
The temperance movementTemperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
is strong in Sweden, especially in agricultural areas, and often connected with the "free church
Free church
The term "free church" refers to a Christian denomination that is intrinsically separated from government . A free church does not define government policy, nor have governments define church policy or theology, nor seeks or receives government endorsement or funding for its general mission...
es" (non-conformists, that is Protestants outside the Church of Sweden
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
). The Straight Edge
Straight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
movement spread among Swedish youth in the 1990s.
See also
- Swedish cuisine
- Swedish festivitiesSwedish festivities-Life of Swedish people:Over 70% of Swedes belong to the Lutheran Church of Sweden, but seldom go to church. Attendance is a bit higher among members of free churches such as Pentecostalists and the Salvation Army. Christenings, weddings and funerals are usually made in church, although civil...
- Beer classification in Sweden and FinlandBeer classification in Sweden and FinlandThe beer classification in Sweden and Finland sorts beers into classes based on their alcohol content. The classes vary slightly between the two countries.-Finland:...