A press release published on May 8 (2026) from the Swedish Public Health Agency announces that “as of June 1 this year, the requirement to verbally inform about the harmful effects of alcohol at cellar
Just in time for the summer of 2025, sales of wine at the winery became possible in Sweden, even though Sweden has a state monopoly on all sales of alcoholic beverages; cellar-door sales or in
There was a dramatic profit decline for Systembolaget in 2025. Operating profit for the full year was 30 million SEK, compared to 338 million SEK in 2024 (-91.1%), net profits 24 MSEK (92.7%). Sales, however,
Yes, cellar-door sales of wine, spirits and beer are still illegal but will become legal on June 1. But… In mid-April, the Riksdag voted yes to “farm sales”. This means that from June 1, it
Support for “farm sales” (cellar-door sales at wineries, currently forbidden), a current hot-potato issue in Sweden, has increased in Sweden, according to the recent “SOM survey” conducted at the University of Gothenburg. Despite the intensive
It is no surprise that the best-sellers at Systembolaget are bag-in-box wines. More than half of all wine is sold in bib in Sweden. But it is surprising that the first bottled wine comes in
Last month we wrote that in Finland, since June 5, it is legal to sell wine (and other alcohol drinks) below 8% alcohol in regular grocery stores. (Finland seems a bit more advanced and liberal-minded
As of June 5, Finland, which has an alcohol state monopoly, allows the sale of wine up to 8% alcohol in grocery stores (previously 5.5% was the limit). A certain loosening up of the monopoly,
We can hardly believe it, but sales of alcoholic beverages directly from the producer are several steps closer to being a reality in Sweden. This country has a die-hard alcohol monopoly, so this is big
Systembolaget’s report for the third quarter of 2023 has some interesting figures: Turnover Q3 was SEK 9.8 billion, an increase of almost SEK 200 million In volume, however, sales fell to 147 million litres, down
Systembolaget increased its turnover in the first quarter of 2023 and reached SEK 7,868 million / 689 M eur (7,756 million / 679 M eur for Q1 2022). This amounts to SEK 973 / 85
“Sustainable choice” was launched with a lot of advertising by Systembolaget last year, but according to information in DN (a Swedish daily paper), it is already time to scrap it. Sustainable choice has been widely
This is about Swedish alcohol politics, about how the Swedish monopolist Systembolaget is attacking the emergent online wine retailers selling to the Swedish market. But since I know some of our readers are interested in
Customers want to make sustainable choices, and therefore Systembolaget (the Swedish alcohol retail monopoly) will introduce its own sustainability label in 2022. This was announced by Ulf Sjödin, category manager at Systembolaget, during a digital
This is a book review of a Swedish book called ”Så roligt ska vi inte ha det – En historia om svensk alkoholpolitik” which translates as in the heading. Why publish a review of a
On my bedside table is a brick-size book with the title “Wine & Spirits – From Politics to Market” (”Vin & Sprit – Från Politik till Marknad”). On almost 450 pages, the author Hans De
We have just returned from this year’s wine tour in South Africa and as usual we have tasted fantastic wines that show the ambition that exists in the country. But we should not forget the
A true story Systembolaget, the Swedish wine and spirits monopoly, usually boasts its wide range of products, but as is well known, the majority of all their listed products, especially quality wines, are the result
Systembolaget, the Swedish alcohol monopoly, has published its financial statements. It had a turnover in 2016 of 28.5 billion SEK (3 bn euro), an increase of 3%. The profit (operating profit) amounted to SEK 217
No, I am not kidding. The very small company called Mjödhamnen is threatened with a law suit by the very big monopoly retailer Systembolaget in Sweden. Mjödhamnen means “the port of mead” and is a
No, it’s no April Fool’s joke. From 1 April 2015, it will be allowed for grocery stores to sell alcohol, wine and liquor, according to a recent decision by the government. In order to sell
No, not yet. It is likely to happen in Pennsylvania in the autumn but not in Sweden. In Sweden it will take more time. But there is quite a lot of discussion at the moment,
Sometimes winemakers ask us about the rules around sending wines to Sweden. Most know that there is a monopoly in Sweden but they also have customers from Sweden asking for shipments. In fact, although there
I wish this heading would be about Sweden but it is not. It is about Pennsylvania where a new law was almost passed that would abolish the existing monopoly on alcohol (wine, beer spirits) sales
How Systembolaget subsidises luxury wines From time to time a few bottles of Romanée Conti, Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC), arrive in Sweden. This Thursday Systembolaget will launch this wine in a “new” vintage
There are currently several ways for Swedes to buy wine, although there is supposedly a monopoly. “Direct import”, where you order wine from another country, from a winery or a wine shop, is one. Here
How does the fact of having a monopoly on retail sales influence the range of products on sale in Sweden? A few years back a new range of wines was introduced, the so called “On
It is easy to believe that the USA is the pinnacle of market economies. In the alcohol sector that could not be farther from the truth. The rules around selling alcohol vary much from state
Internet wine shops can sell directly to Swedish consumers and bypass the monopoly The Swedish wine market is dominated by the monopoly retailer, Systembolaget (just like Alko in Finland and Vinmonopolet in Norway). Since a
This will give you yet another curious view on the Swedish wine scene and the Swedish journalist community. In Sweden there is a retail monopoly. But since a few years back, thanks to EU regulations,
A press release published on May 8 (2026) from the Swedish Public Health Agency announces that “as of June 1 this year, the requirement to
Just in time for the summer of 2025, sales of wine at the winery became possible in Sweden, even though Sweden has a state monopoly
There was a dramatic profit decline for Systembolaget in 2025. Operating profit for the full year was 30 million SEK, compared to 338 million SEK
Yes, cellar-door sales of wine, spirits and beer are still illegal but will become legal on June 1. But… In mid-April, the Riksdag voted yes
Support for “farm sales” (cellar-door sales at wineries, currently forbidden), a current hot-potato issue in Sweden, has increased in Sweden, according to the recent “SOM
It is no surprise that the best-sellers at Systembolaget are bag-in-box wines. More than half of all wine is sold in bib in Sweden. But
Last month we wrote that in Finland, since June 5, it is legal to sell wine (and other alcohol drinks) below 8% alcohol in regular
As of June 5, Finland, which has an alcohol state monopoly, allows the sale of wine up to 8% alcohol in grocery stores (previously 5.5%
We can hardly believe it, but sales of alcoholic beverages directly from the producer are several steps closer to being a reality in Sweden. This
Systembolaget’s report for the third quarter of 2023 has some interesting figures: Turnover Q3 was SEK 9.8 billion, an increase of almost SEK 200 million
Systembolaget increased its turnover in the first quarter of 2023 and reached SEK 7,868 million / 689 M eur (7,756 million / 679 M eur
“Sustainable choice” was launched with a lot of advertising by Systembolaget last year, but according to information in DN (a Swedish daily paper), it is
This is about Swedish alcohol politics, about how the Swedish monopolist Systembolaget is attacking the emergent online wine retailers selling to the Swedish market. But
Customers want to make sustainable choices, and therefore Systembolaget (the Swedish alcohol retail monopoly) will introduce its own sustainability label in 2022. This was announced
This is a book review of a Swedish book called ”Så roligt ska vi inte ha det – En historia om svensk alkoholpolitik” which translates
On my bedside table is a brick-size book with the title “Wine & Spirits – From Politics to Market” (”Vin & Sprit – Från Politik
We have just returned from this year’s wine tour in South Africa and as usual we have tasted fantastic wines that show the ambition that
A true story Systembolaget, the Swedish wine and spirits monopoly, usually boasts its wide range of products, but as is well known, the majority of
Systembolaget, the Swedish alcohol monopoly, has published its financial statements. It had a turnover in 2016 of 28.5 billion SEK (3 bn euro), an increase
No, I am not kidding. The very small company called Mjödhamnen is threatened with a law suit by the very big monopoly retailer Systembolaget in
No, it’s no April Fool’s joke. From 1 April 2015, it will be allowed for grocery stores to sell alcohol, wine and liquor, according to
No, not yet. It is likely to happen in Pennsylvania in the autumn but not in Sweden. In Sweden it will take more time. But
Sometimes winemakers ask us about the rules around sending wines to Sweden. Most know that there is a monopoly in Sweden but they also have
I wish this heading would be about Sweden but it is not. It is about Pennsylvania where a new law was almost passed that would
How Systembolaget subsidises luxury wines From time to time a few bottles of Romanée Conti, Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC), arrive in Sweden. This
There are currently several ways for Swedes to buy wine, although there is supposedly a monopoly. “Direct import”, where you order wine from another country,
How does the fact of having a monopoly on retail sales influence the range of products on sale in Sweden? A few years back a
It is easy to believe that the USA is the pinnacle of market economies. In the alcohol sector that could not be farther from the
Internet wine shops can sell directly to Swedish consumers and bypass the monopoly The Swedish wine market is dominated by the monopoly retailer, Systembolaget (just
This will give you yet another curious view on the Swedish wine scene and the Swedish journalist community. In Sweden there is a retail monopoly.
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