the Researchers Andréasson, Gripenberg, Norström and Ramstedt explains how the deregulation of the Systembolaget, and that a sale of alcoholic beverages over 3.5 alkoholprocent in grocery stores would lead to a sharp increase in alcohol consumption and 1,400 more deaths per year. Sweden’s Breweries share the view that a liberalisation is liable to increase the addiction and hazardous use of alcohol.
A restrictive alcohol policy with limited opening hours, age-checks, and responsible marketing is completely in line with the bryggeribranschens interest. Alcohol is not a commodity like any other and should not end up in the wrong hands, especially among young people. Systembolaget is a good partner to our breweries, maintains a high level of service and the engages in responsible sales.
For our members, it is important that any changes of the alcohol policy is done in consultation with industry stakeholders.
For the Swedish Breweries, it is crucial that any farm is compatible with Wine försäljningsmonopol. We agree with the wording of the Januariöverenskommelsen in the matter of an investigation of the farm: ”A prerequisite is that the Systembolaget monopoly is secured”. Sales should not be at the expense of the service as a Monopoly in the day, local breweries by selling products in the local Systembolaget.
. Today, sold only 63 percent of all alcohol in Sweden at Systembolaget, the minimum prices could lead to even greater problems with smuggling and dealing. Illegal importation feeds organised crime, which costs the community big money. Therefore, we instead want to see increased resources to customs and the police. In addition, more should be done to change the attitudes and perceptions of the responsible use of alcohol from an early age.
Here, we believe that the industry has much to contribute, among other things, we have for several years given out a training program, Talk about Alcohol, for students of school age. The material is scientifically evaluated and provide clear impacts in terms of reduced drinking and risk-taking behaviour. We can now gratifying to see that the alcohol consumption of young people is steadily going downhill. We need to continue to work to change attitudes, and it should be done in consultation with the expertise, policies and industry players.
Addiction and the hazardous use of alcohol is a problem not just for individuals, when alcohol is abused, it leads also to problems for the whole society. For the Swedish Breweries is a regulated sale, reasonable economic policies and a focused work with people’s attitudes to drinking quite crucial for a responsible consumption of alcohol and a living american bryggerinäring.
