Alkoholmonopol och folkhälsa - Statens folkhälsoinstitut

alkoholmonopol och folkhälsa 13
corded consumption from various sources, primarily imports by travellers, smuggling
and homemade alcohol.
Previous studies on privatization of an alcohol retail monopolies
Earlier studies of actual changes from a retail monopoly have examined the effects of
replacing a retail monopoly with a system of private licences. While all have not reported
an increase in total consumption, the majority of studies have found this type of increase.
Helping to limit sales is an intrinsic feature of a monopoly.
By its very definition, a monopoly eliminates competition in the alcohol market. In
a monopoly setting, demand at the retail level does not stimulate availability and convenience.
In a free market, the number of sales outlets and availability increases when
demand increases.
Scenario 1. Specially licensed liquor stores
The first scenario the study looked at was that a system of licensing private retailers. Stores
would obtain a licence to sell alcohol and operate their business as specially licensed
liquor stores in accordance with licensing regulations. The following elements can be
expected to characterize this type of scenario and form the basis for the assumptions upon
which the estimates in the study are based:
The number of stores would increase, from Systembolaget’s current 400 to over 1000
sales outlets.
The total assortment of alcoholic beverages in Sweden would be larger than at present
while individual liquor stores would, on average, carry a smaller range than a Systembolaget
store, and would include discount products not currently sold.
It is not expected that average prices for alcoholic beverages would increase if current
Swedish alcohol tax levels are maintained. Specially licensed liquor stores would be
permitted to use different pricing systems and prices could therefore be expected to
be higher in less densely populated areas than in larger cities. It is possible that such
liquor stores would use discount offers on alcohol to attract customers, which could
mean a reduction in prices of about 5 percent.
It is expected that marketing, in the form of radio commercials and other advertising,
would increase consumption by about 5 percent, in addition to the effect of other pricerelated
promotions.
Business hours would be longer than at present, increasing by an estimated 10 hours
per week.
Age verification could be just as effective as in Systembolaget stores, provided that
training of liquor store staff was similar to that of Systembolaget and was carried out as
consistently. However, studies from other countries, in particular the Nordic countries,
suggest that monopoly stores are better at enforcing legislated minimum age requirements
for buying alcohol. Systembolaget’s stores appear, moreover, to be particularly