This is SystembolagetSystembolaget, the Swedish Alcohol Retail Monopoly, exists for one reason: To minimize alcohol-related problems by selling alcohol in a responsible way, without profit motive.
The first alcohol monopoly ever started in the mid 1800s in Sweden. It worked so well that the model was spread all over the country. In 1955, the local companies were merged to form a single, national Systembolaget company, a concept which still works.
Systembolaget's product range is actually one of the most comprehensive in the world. It is being developed continuously to match changes in trends and in the consumers' tastes.
http://www.systembolaget.se/Applikationer/Knappar/InEnglish/
Because of this monopoly and the fact that EVERYTHING in Sweden is expensive alcohol costs twice as much as it does in the United States. Below are some examples... 70kr is approximately $10, so 140kr is $20, 210kr is $30 etc.
350ml of Absolut Vodka (which is Swedish) costs 129kr or about $19
350ml is very small... less than a pint... I believe at home $20 is the price for a 750ml bottle
139kr for a 350ml bottle of Jägermeister... $20... which is the price of a 750ml bottle in the US
225kr for 750ml of Smirnoff Vodka...$33... in the US it is usually around $14
700 ml of Gordon's Gin is 239kr or $36
I couldn't find how much this costs in the Us but I would assume less than $20
As you can imagine I don't do much drinking in Sweden. We went there today to get some wine and there was a line out the door....
isn't this crazy!?!
waiting in line....
people getting let in
lines inside
lots of empty shelves from the crowds
Wine in a weird cardboard bottle
Swedes drink a lot of alcoholic cider... this is one shelf of it
(Erin would love this!)
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