Beer classification in Sweden and Finland
Encyclopedia
The beer classification in Sweden and Finland sorts beer
s into classes based on their alcohol content. The classes vary slightly between the two countries.
into the European Union
and the consequent harmonization of tax law, and is now merely kept as a convention. However, drinks containing under 2.8% alcohol (Class I) are still favorably taxed, and the retail sale of any drinks containing more than 4.7% alcohol (Class IV) is still limited to state retailer Alko
.
s, while class III can only be purchased in places licensed to do so, such as pubs. Class II beer is loosely divided into two sub-groups, normal "Folköl" ("People's Beer") with a maximum ABV of 2.8% and "Extra Brew", with a maximum ABV of 3.5%. Class III beer is also, unofficially, divided into two sub-groups, "Mellanöl" ("in-between beer"), with ABV between 3.6% and 4.5%, and normal "strong beer" with ABV above 4.5%. There is no real maximum amount of how much alcohol Class III beer may contain, and amounts of 10%+ are common. Mellanöl used to be available in supermarkets between October 1, 1965 and July 1, 1977, but was removed from the supermarkets due to heavy consumption by Swedish teenagers. Today "Mellanöl" does not exist as a class of its own, but "Mellanöl style beer" is available at Systembolaget
.
Beer
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...
s into classes based on their alcohol content. The classes vary slightly between the two countries.
Finland
While previously enforced by law, the beer class legislation was repealed in 1995 with the accession of FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
into the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and the consequent harmonization of tax law, and is now merely kept as a convention. However, drinks containing under 2.8% alcohol (Class I) are still favorably taxed, and the retail sale of any drinks containing more than 4.7% alcohol (Class IV) is still limited to state retailer Alko
Alko
Alko is the national alcoholic beverage retailing monopoly in Finland. It is the only store in the country which retails beer over 4.7% ABV, wine and spirits. Alcoholic beverages are also sold in licensed restaurants and bars but only for consumption on the premises...
.
| alcohol content (abv Alcohol by volume Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide.... ) |
available in pubs | available in supermarkets | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class I | 0.0% - 2.8% | yes | yes | no alcohol retail license necessary, can be sold to the underaged |
| Class II | 2.8% – 3.7% | yes | yes | never used in practice |
| Class III | 3.7% - 4.6% | yes | yes | the most popular beer type |
| Class IVA | 4.7% - 5.2% | yes | no | prohibitively taxed before 1995 and largely limited to export sales |
| Class IVB | 5.2% - 8.0% | yes | no | prohibitively taxed before 1995 |
Sweden
Only classes I and II can be purchased in supermarketSupermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s, while class III can only be purchased in places licensed to do so, such as pubs. Class II beer is loosely divided into two sub-groups, normal "Folköl" ("People's Beer") with a maximum ABV of 2.8% and "Extra Brew", with a maximum ABV of 3.5%. Class III beer is also, unofficially, divided into two sub-groups, "Mellanöl" ("in-between beer"), with ABV between 3.6% and 4.5%, and normal "strong beer" with ABV above 4.5%. There is no real maximum amount of how much alcohol Class III beer may contain, and amounts of 10%+ are common. Mellanöl used to be available in supermarkets between October 1, 1965 and July 1, 1977, but was removed from the supermarkets due to heavy consumption by Swedish teenagers. Today "Mellanöl" does not exist as a class of its own, but "Mellanöl style beer" is available at 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...
.
| alcohol content (ABV Alcohol by volume Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide.... ) |
available in pubs | available in supermarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class I | 0.0% - 2.7% | yes | yes |
| Class II (Folköl) | 2.8% | yes | yes |
| Class II (Extra Brew) | 3.5% | yes | yes |
| Class III (Mellanöl) | 3.6% - 4.5% | yes | no |
| Class III (Starköl) | 4.6% + | yes | no |