Alkoholmonopol och folkhälsa - Statens folkhälsoinstitut

12 alkoholmonopol och folkhälsa
Summary
Focus of the study
The study investigates the potential effects of replacing the Swedish alcohol retail monopoly,
Systembolaget, with a licensing system for alcohol sales. Two possible scenarios were
looked at: (1) replacing the current monopoly on retail sales with licensed private liquor
stores, selling only alcohol, or (2) allowing the sale of strong beer, wine and spirits in
grocery stores.
The authors would like to emphasize that the report has not been produced as a result
of any particular discussions in the media or Swedish Parliament regarding replacement
of the retail monopoly with a licensing system, even if the European Union (EU) and
the World Trade Organization (WTO) could, in future, constitute a threat to the alcohol
monopoly. There are at present no concrete proposals or active debate in the Swedish
media or the political parties in parliament concerning the privatization of the retail
monopoly on alcohol, but studying the effects such a change could have on public health
and safety is of general interest.
Introduction
Systembolaget has a national monopoly on the retail sales of all alcoholic beverages containing
more than 2.25 percent alcohol by volume, with the exception of beer with an
alcohol content of up to 3.5 percent by volume (known as ”medium-strength beer”). The
age limit for buying alcohol in Systembolaget liquor stores is 20 years. The age limit
for buying medium-strength beer in regular grocery stores is 18 years. The most common
business hours for Systembolaget stores is 10 am–6 pm, Monday–Friday, with the
exception of Thursdays, when the most common hours are 10 am–7 pm, and 10 am–2 pm
Saturdays. Systembolaget stores are closed on Sundays.
Estimates of the total alcohol consumption in Sweden are based on recorded alcohol
sales and estimations of unrecorded alcohol consumption. Total alcohol consumption for
2006 is estimated at 9.7 litres of 100 percent alcohol per person for people 15 years and
older. Between 2001 and 2004, consumption rose from 9.1 to 10.5 litres per person, and
has then fell in 2005 and 2006. The increase from 2001 is likely due to increased alcohol
imports by travellers and to Swedish alcohol taxes not having risen at the same rate as
inflation.
Recorded alcohol consumption, which includes Systembolaget sales, sales of
medium-strength beer in regular grocery stores and alcohol sales in restaurants,
accounted for 69 percent of the total consumption. The remainder is made up of unre-