The data on availability of alcohol is presented on the website of the Swedish Public Health Agency in the Swedish language. The series of documents provides statistics in tabular form as well as a description of what is included in the statistics and how the data is retrieved.
Availability of alcoholic beverages
- Number of wholesalers for alcoholic beverages, 1995–2020 table shows, the total number of wholesalers manufacturing license increased from 210 to 1839 in the time period.
- Number of permanent serving permits, 1992–2020 indicates, the total number of serving permits increased from 6437 to 13,302 during the time period. The majority of permits is for liquor serving.
Alcoholic beverage handling in liters
Manufacture of alcoholic beverages, 1995–2020 indicates that the manufacturing of alcoholic beverages, including wine and other fermented alcoholic beverages has increased (category ‘alcoholic beverages’: from 59 million liters to 93 million liters and category ‘wine and other fermented alcoholic beverages’: 48 million liters to 104 million liters) albeit decreases in recent years; the category ‘strong beer’ manufacturing is decreasing in recent years but has overall increased between 1995 and 2020; folk beer manufacturing has decreased largely over the years.
Import of alcoholic beverages, 1995–2020 indicates that imports of all categories have increased during the time period:
- ‘alcoholic beverages’ from 11,993 liters to 21,184 liters;
- ‘wine and other fermented alcoholic beverages’ from 106,220 to 200,972 liters; and
- ‘strong beer’ from 15,350 to 67,910 liters.
Export of alcoholic beverages, 1995–2020 shows that exports of all categories have increased during the time period albeit decreases in recent years:
- ‘alcoholic beverages’ from 39,011 liters to 90,946 liters;
- ‘wine and other fermented alcoholic beverages’ from 1676 to 79,197 liters; and
- ‘strong beer’ from 6300 to 25,910 liters.
Registered sales of spirits in retail and at restaurants, 1995–2020 indicates that total retail sales for spirits through Systembolaget was on a decreasing trend till 2019 and increased in 2020. In 1995 sales were at 27,918 liters with the lowest level in 2014 at 19,484 and increasing up to 23,461 in 2019. In 2020 sales have surpassed 1995 levels at 28,258 liters. Meanwhile in restaurants registered sales of spirits were increasing, but decreased sharply in 2020 (1995: 1779 liters, 2019: 3100 liters, 2020: 1646 liters).
Registered sales of wine and other fermented alcoholic beverages in retail and at restaurants, 1995–2020 shows that total retail sales through Systembolaget was increasing during the time period and with a very large increase between 2019 and 2020 (1995: 103,123 liters, 2019: 223,388 liters, 2020: 242,944 liters). Meanwhile in restaurants, sales decreased sharply between 2019 (18,882 liters) to 2020 (12,253). The total wine and other fermented alcohol sales both on and off trade show a steady overall increase over the years.
Registered sales of beer in retail and at restaurants, 1995–2020 show a similar trend to wine and fermented alcoholic beverages with sales through Systembolaget increasing generally and sharply between 2019 and 2020 and sales in restaurants decreasing between 2019 and 2020. The total registered beer sales show a steady increase over the years.
Registered alcoholic beverage sales in retail and at restaurants in liters of alcohol per inhabitant 15 years and older, 1950–2020 show that while spirits, and folk beer sales have reduced during the time period, wine and other fermented alcohol and strong beer sales have increased. Between 2019 and 2020 all categories including spirits and folk beer have shown small increases in sales.
Registered alcoholic beverage sales in retail and at restaurants in liters 100% alcohol per inhabitant 15 years and older, 1950–2020 indicates alcohol sales have overall increased over the time period from 4.7 liters 100% alcohol per inhabitant to 7.4 liters. The increase is driven by wine and other fermented alcohol and strong beer.
Alcoholic beverage handling in Swedish Crowns
The Public Health Agency (Folkhälsomyndigheten) provides more charts to depict statistics at the national level (in Swedish Crowns and by type of alcoholic beverage) on the ongoing sales of alcoholic beverages divided into retail (Systembolaget) and at service points (service points that may serve alcoholic beverages). A more detailed version is presented over the sales that take place at the service points that have a permanent service permit.
- Ongoing sales of spirits in the retail trade and at restaurants, 1995–2020
- Ongoing sales of wine and other fermented alcoholic beverages in the retail trade and at restaurants, 1995–2020
- Ongoing sales of strong beer in retail and restaurants, 1995–2020
- Total current sales of various types of goods at restaurants, 1995–2020
Overall the charts show sales revenues increasing in all categories over the time period. Notably, all sales revenues have decreased between 2019 and 2020 – likely as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.