https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Sweden in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Buying booze in Sweden isn't as simple as in most other European countries: there are strict rules, a monopoly on sales and social rules that are hard for foreigners to get used to. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.se/20200524/buying-alcohol-in-sweden-what-you-need-to-know Sun, 24 May 2020 16:26:34 +0200 buying-alcohol-in-sweden-what-you-need-to-know Systembolaget is the only place shoppers can buy alcohol over 3.5 percent in Sweden. Despite its strict rules, it's an institution beloved by many Swedes, but certainly not without its critics. The Local finds out what Swedes love and hate about the state-run monopoly. https://www.thelocal.se/20190611/understanding-systembolaget-swedens-state-owned-alcohol-monopoly Wed, 12 Jun 2019 00:39:26 +0200 understanding-systembolaget-swedens-state-owned-alcohol-monopoly Sweden's new ban on alcohol sales after 10pm comes into force this Friday. But it's being interpreted slightly differently in different places. Here's what to expect. https://www.thelocal.se/20201120/explained-what-to-expect-when-swedens-alcohol-ban-comes-into-force Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:00:14 +0100 explained-what-to-expect-when-swedens-alcohol-ban-comes-into-force Do you think Sweden should relax some of its strict laws around the sale of alcohol? https://www.thelocal.se/20201113/poll-should-sweden-allow-bars-and-restaurants-to-serve-takeaway-alcohol Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:59:47 +0100 poll-should-sweden-allow-bars-and-restaurants-to-serve-takeaway-alcohol Sweden's state-run alcohol monopoly Systembolaget has accused a Danish app for rating and reviewing wines of breaking the country's strict laws around sale and advertisement of alcohol. https://www.thelocal.se/20200220/systembolaget-calls-to-ban-danish-wine-selling-app Thu, 20 Feb 2020 12:26:44 +0100 systembolaget-calls-to-ban-danish-wine-selling-app Almost one in every ten beers sold in Sweden is alcohol-free, and it's young people in cities who are the biggest consumers. So what's driving the popularity of the booze-free beverage? https://www.thelocal.se/20190816/why-alcohol-free-beer-is-having-a-moment-in-sweden Fri, 16 Aug 2019 09:39:50 +0200 why-alcohol-free-beer-is-having-a-moment-in-sweden Sweden's first permanent system for automatic alcohol checks has been introduced in Gothenburg port. https://www.thelocal.se/20190813/swedens-first-automatic-alcohol-checks-introduced-at-gothenburg-port Tue, 13 Aug 2019 11:01:25 +0200 swedens-first-automatic-alcohol-checks-introduced-at-gothenburg-port After a long trial period, Sweden's state-run Systembolaget chain will be able to deliver alcohol home to customers across the entire country. https://www.thelocal.se/20190617/systembolaget-sweden-opens-up-alcohol-home-delivery-to-everyone Mon, 17 Jun 2019 18:07:13 +0200 systembolaget-sweden-opens-up-alcohol-home-delivery-to-everyone An unprecedented heatwave last year hit Swedish farmers hard, but for the country's wine-producers it was good news. https://www.thelocal.se/20190516/a-record-number-of-new-swedish-wines-are-expected-this-year Thu, 16 May 2019 09:46:14 +0200 a-record-number-of-new-swedish-wines-are-expected-this-year Swedish vodka brand Absolut is produced using only ingredients from southern Sweden. But this year, there is one problem. https://www.thelocal.se/20190211/theres-one-key-ingredient-missing-from-your-absolut-vodka-this-year Mon, 11 Feb 2019 08:58:14 +0100 theres-one-key-ingredient-missing-from-your-absolut-vodka-this-year The extreme and unusual heatwave across Sweden this summer was good news for winemakers in the country. https://www.thelocal.se/20181102/swedish-wines-achieve-record-year-thanks-to-summer-heat Fri, 02 Nov 2018 15:29:51 +0100 swedish-wines-achieve-record-year-thanks-to-summer-heat Bottles of a rare Scottish whisky have been sold to some lucky customers by Swedish alcohol monopoly Systembolaget for less than 15 times the drink's estimated market value. https://www.thelocal.se/20181012/systembolaget-sells-rare-whisky-to-lucky-shoppers-at-bargain-price Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:51:44 +0200 systembolaget-sells-rare-whisky-to-lucky-shoppers-at-bargain-price The bar with the most varieties of whisky in the world is located in Öland, an island off Sweden’s southeast coast which has become the first outside Scotland to ever hold the record. https://www.thelocal.se/20180912/the-bar-with-the-worlds-biggest-whisky-collection-is-on-a-swedish-island Wed, 12 Sep 2018 11:06:09 +0200 the-bar-with-the-worlds-biggest-whisky-collection-is-on-a-swedish-island Sweden's government wants to extend the home delivery options from the state-run alcohol monopoly Systembolaget, so that everyone in the country can use the service. https://www.thelocal.se/20180629/sweden-wants-to-bring-home-alcohol-delivery-to-the-whole-country Fri, 29 Jun 2018 15:37:52 +0200 sweden-wants-to-bring-home-alcohol-delivery-to-the-whole-country Booze buyers in Sweden are leaning towards the pricier bottles when it comes to wine, according to new figures from state-run alcohol monopoly Systembolaget. https://www.thelocal.se/20180213/swedes-opt-for-more-expensive-bottles-of-wine Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:48:35 +0100 swedes-opt-for-more-expensive-bottles-of-wine A Scandinavian airlines crew member was seized by police at Arlanda Airport after a long-haul flight, after colleagues raised the alarm about the person being under the influence of alcohol. https://www.thelocal.se/20170926/sas-crew-member-suspected-of-being-drunk-on-long-haul-flight-hong-kong-stockholm-arlanda Tue, 26 Sep 2017 10:38:30 +0200 sas-crew-member-suspected-of-being-drunk-on-long-haul-flight-hong-kong-stockholm-arlanda In an opinion piece, food author Bo Hagström argues that the Swedish alcohol monopoly's one goal is to sell as much wine as possible. https://www.thelocal.se/20170404/opinion-systembolagets-image-is-based-on-a-bluff Tue, 04 Apr 2017 08:59:00 +0200 opinion-systembolagets-image-is-based-on-a-bluff Young Swedes are becoming stricter in their attitudes towards alcohol, with social media use and a love of fitness contributing to a less permissive attitude – the opposite of their older compatriots. https://www.thelocal.se/20170302/young-swedes-are-swapping-alcohol-for-social-media-and-the-gym-study Thu, 02 Mar 2017 12:22:22 +0100 young-swedes-are-swapping-alcohol-for-social-media-and-the-gym-study A newly launched beer from a Swedish microbrewery has proven to be an overnight sensation, selling out within a day and leading some Swedes to ponder whether the success could be to do with its unusual name. https://www.thelocal.se/20170215/swedish-horny-beer-is-a-smash-hit-sells-out Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:39:13 +0100 swedish-horny-beer-is-a-smash-hit-sells-out The arrival of the new year in Sweden means many new laws are coming into effect, and for the general public that will lead to several changes, both big and small. https://www.thelocal.se/20170103/drinking-costs-more-repairing-things-costs-less-swedens-2017-law-changes Tue, 03 Jan 2017 15:54:16 +0100 drinking-costs-more-repairing-things-costs-less-swedens-2017-law-changes