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Monday, June 9, 2008

Swedish alcohol monopoly down the hatch

Published: 6 Jun 08

Mark Majzner looks at how two landmark EU decisions have affected the alcohol retail trade in Sweden.

It is one year since Systembolaget lost its complete monopoly on alcohol sales to consumers. The June 5th 2007 Rosengren decision by the EU Court of Justice legalized our right to import wine from other EU countries using a freight transport service.

It took Klas Rosengren and crusading lawyer Ulf Stigare seven years to win the right for Swedish consumers to choose where and how they buy alcohol within the EU. One year on and a lot has changed but it is not widely understood exactly what.

Systembolaget retains its retail store monopoly, but as it sells less than 50% of all alcohol consumed in Sweden, it is no longer a true monopoly. Swedes can now shop online, order a case of wine and have it home delivered. A few e-commerce companies such as mine have started offering a range of mid to high priced wines and quality of service that far surpasses Systembolaget’s.
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