Since the requirement for food service to serve alcohol was abolished on June 1, several new businesses have applied for permits.
In Stockholm, for example, a gallery, padel clubs and bakeries have applied. In Gothenburg, a flower shop has applied, and in Visby, a clothing store.
In the big cities, the number of applications for liquor licenses is higher than last year. However, in tourist municipalities such as Visby, Åre and Simrishamn, the municipalities have not yet noticed any major increase.
The government's investigators assessed before the legislative change that so-called entertainment restaurants, such as sports bars that focus more on drinks than food, would increase by 85 permits per year.
We had expected a larger increase, says Lotta Persson, head of alcohol permits in the city of Stockholm.
Went fast
Maybe the processing of the abolished food requirement went a little too quickly, so that business owners didn't really keep up, she thinks.
In Malmö, more people have applied, says Lisa Olsson, section manager for the permit unit in Malmö.
"Of course we have an increase. We have about ten applications that clearly would not have gone through if the rules had not changed," she says.
She mentions a course business and interior design stores that have applied now. But there are still fewer than expected.
"We had prepared for a sharp increase. Restaurateurs may not really believe that the rules have changed now. We believe there will be more after the summer," says Lisa Olsson.
There are still a lot of requirements that must be met, and the permit also costs money, so not just anyone can get it, she explains.
In Stockholm, it had been expected that even more new businesses, which were previously completely unthinkable, would apply.
Take the turns
We would have expected greater creativity, that companies would take more risks, says Lotta Persson.
In Gothenburg, according to Emil Holmsten, head of the permit unit, there have not been many more applications for permanent permits. However, a flower shop is now allowed to serve alcohol, as is a convenience store.
The question is what the effects of the regulatory change will be in the long term. Lotta Persson explains that it is not the municipalities' task to shape alcohol policy, but rather to convey signals about possible effects.
"The alcohol service will probably be more noticeable in the street environment now," says Persson.
Facts: Food requirement for alcohol serving abolished
On June 1, the Riksdag decided to abolish the requirement for food to be served when alcohol is served.
This means that even businesses that do not have a kitchen can obtain a liquor license.
The requirement for seating at bars was also abolished.
The growth rate of pubs, bars and sports bars is expected to double.
The number of such so-called entertainment restaurants is expected to increase by 85 per year and by approximately 190 for other restaurants.
Source: Government Bill 2025/26:221
