Expert does not believe that the monopoly has to be sacrificed

The government does not assess that doorstep sales threaten the Swedish alcohol monopoly. Finland's system for doorstep sales has previously been tested and accepted by the EU Court of Justice. However, there are uncertainties.

» Updated:

» Published:

Expert does not believe that the monopoly has to be sacrificed
Photo: Christine Olsson/TT

Share this article

The government does not assess that farm sales threaten the Swedish alcohol monopoly.

Finland's system for farm sales has been tested and accepted by the EU Court of Justice earlier. However, there are uncertainties.

A bill proposal on farm sales will be laid before the government this summer. If it becomes a reality, it will no longer be just Systembolaget that can sell alcohol, but also hundreds of small-scale Swedish beer, wine, and spirits producers.

Some argue that it would mean a risk for the Swedish alcohol monopoly to be broken up and that Sweden would have to allow also larger and foreign producers to sell alcohol.

Jörgen Hettne, professor of commercial law at Lund University, does not assess that the Swedish alcohol monopoly is threatened, and leans towards Finland, which has had farm sales since 1995.

In Sweden, it is proposed that everything from beer and cider to spirits should be available. In Finland, only fruit and berry wine and "craft beer" can be sold on farms.

The government assesses that around 600 Swedish producers are covered, and the relatively large number could lead to uncertainty about the issue ending up in the EU Court of Justice, according to Hettne.

Jörgen Hettne does not believe that a dispute in the EU Court of Justice would mean that Systembolaget's monopoly would be re-evaluated.

Instead, it would be a separate review of the conditions for farm sales, he says. That's what happened when Finland's system was tested. Had the Finnish conditions for farm sales been deemed invalid, the permit system for farm sales would have needed to be changed, not the alcohol monopoly Alko, Hettne means.

This has to do with the fact that the monopoly is mainly governed by Article 37 of the EU Treaty, while farm sales are regulated by Articles 34 and 36.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Two Seriously Injured in E4 Bus Accident Near Linköping

Two Seriously Injured in E4 Bus Accident Near Linköping

Busch Criticizes Stegrud's Actions as Incompatible with Swedish Values

Busch Criticizes Stegrud's Actions as Incompatible with Swedish Values

92-Year-Old Man Detained for Murder in Staffanstorp

92-Year-Old Man Detained for Murder in Staffanstorp

Kiruna's Strength Endures Amid Housing Challenges, Says Councilor

Kiruna's Strength Endures Amid Housing Challenges, Says Councilor

Kebnekaise's South Peak Continues to Shrink Amid Glacier Decline

Kebnekaise's South Peak Continues to Shrink Amid Glacier Decline

Teachers to Gain More Planning Time Under New Government Reform

Teachers to Gain More Planning Time Under New Government Reform

14 Drownings Reported in August, Highest Summer Toll Since 2018

14 Drownings Reported in August, Highest Summer Toll Since 2018

Örnsköldsvik Braces for More Rain Amid Rising Floodwaters

Örnsköldsvik Braces for More Rain Amid Rising Floodwaters

Police Initiate National Crackdown on Online Phishing Scams

Police Initiate National Crackdown on Online Phishing Scams

Storm Hits Stockholm: Thousands Face Power Outages

Storm Hits Stockholm: Thousands Face Power Outages

Social Media's Impact on Youth: Uncensored Violent Content Concerns

Social Media's Impact on Youth: Uncensored Violent Content Concerns

Sweden Summons Russian Ambassador Over Polish Airspace Violation

Sweden Summons Russian Ambassador Over Polish Airspace Violation

Bus Overturns on E4 in Linköping: Two Seriously Injured

Bus Overturns on E4 in Linköping: Two Seriously Injured

Fungal Disease Candida Auris Spreading Rapidly in Europe

Fungal Disease Candida Auris Spreading Rapidly in Europe

No Arrests Made After Elderly Man's Murder Near Skurup

No Arrests Made After Elderly Man's Murder Near Skurup

New Prison and Detention Facilities Approved in Halltorp and Kalmar

New Prison and Detention Facilities Approved in Halltorp and Kalmar

Sweden Considers Support for Poland After Russian Drone Attacks

Sweden Considers Support for Poland After Russian Drone Attacks

Rapid Flooding in Kubbe: Water Levels Reach Century-High

Rapid Flooding in Kubbe: Water Levels Reach Century-High

Elderly Man Dies in Torsås Drowning Accident

Elderly Man Dies in Torsås Drowning Accident

Sweden to Review Self-Defence Laws Amid Crime Concerns

Sweden to Review Self-Defence Laws Amid Crime Concerns