The so-called food requirement for serving alcohol was abolished on June 1. Since then, 102 businesses have received permits that would not otherwise have been granted, according to calculations by the industry organization Visita.
"It's everything from specialty shops to smaller stores. There will be more natural meeting places," says Visita CEO Christer Fogelmarck.
Peo Wahlin had an alcohol license for a previous business. But he would not have been able to sell beer in his current record store if the food requirement had remained in place, because it has no kitchen.
When we saw the prime minister sitting with a cold beer in front of him and declaring that the food requirement would disappear, my wife said that we were missing this social aspect for our customers, says Peo Wahlin.
No rock bar
Wahlin got the green light a couple of weeks after submitting his application in early June.
There are several hundred pages to read. In principle, you are not allowed to have a traffic ticket from the past three years. But I think that's great - it would be terrible if you could open a bar without having that "driving license".
He had prepared seating and outdoor dining.
The inspector joked with me and said I could build a rock bar.
But there are no spirits on the menu, and customers can enjoy their drinks while seated.
We have records from 100 kronor up to "the sky is the limit", so you can't go around spilling things with a beer glass in your hand.
What can a record go for, 10,000 kronor?
Yes, it can cost 100,000 kronor too. Right now we have a unique Elvis collection that we have purchased - it is absolutely incomparable stuff.
With alcohol on the menu, Wahlin wants to create a new atmosphere in the store.
“Cultural gathering place”
You pick up a bunch of records, sit down and have a coffee or a beer and discuss. It becomes more like a cultural gathering place.
The change opens up new opportunities.
We have many ideas about this. When we get new record collections, we are thinking of collaborating with a café and serving some sandwiches, beer and wine, while you walk around and chat and get a first taste of the collection. A bit like a vernissage in the art world.
Visita believes the abolition of the food requirement will lead to several new business ideas in the future.
"It unleashes creativity. We will have many new businesses and new environments," says Fogelmarck.
