Farm sales allowed – “Sweden becomes a little more like the rest of Europe”

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Stockholm – After the green light from Brussels, the Swedish government is aiming to introduce farm sales of alcohol on June 1st.

The deadline passed on the night of Thursday. The European Commission had no objections to the proposal to allow small-scale sales of beer, wine, and spirits in connection with visits to a microbrewery, distillery, or vineyard.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has called the law a freedom reform and that “Sweden becomes a little more like the rest of Europe”.

The issue of sales outside Systembolaget is sensitive because Sweden’s model is unique in the EU. Only in Finland and Sweden is a company allowed to have a monopoly on selling alcohol.

The government, however, believes that Systembolaget’s role is not threatened by the new rules.

But the EU process has taken extra time, because Portugal formally filed a protest in the fall. Also, Spanish wine producers, the European industry organization for wine producers, and several organizations that protect public health have submitted critical comments.

Even if the government now gets the green light to proceed with the legislation, the European Commission writes in a comment that it will continue to monitor the development when the law comes into effect.

(January 9)

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