A new report from CAN shows that Swedes' alcohol consumption has decreased by 6.5 percent over five years. At the same time, purchases at the state monopoly Systembolaget have increased. Fewer Swedes buy alcohol abroad, partly due to the pandemic and changed habits.
According to a report from the Central Association for Alcohol and Narcotics Information (CAN), as reported by Ekot, Swedes' total alcohol consumption has decreased by 6.5 percent over the past five years. Despite this, the share of alcohol purchased from Systembolaget has increased significantly. Purchases from abroad have decreased in recent years, while Systembolaget has strengthened its position in the domestic market.
Björn Trolldal, a researcher at CAN and author of the report, points to several explanations. "The pandemic lasted quite a long time, and many acquired new habits, such as shopping at Systembolaget," he says. He adds: "But then we also have this that travel imports have decreased, it has become less profitable to buy alcohol in other countries. So there are various reasons."
Wine remains Swedes' favorite drink, followed by strong beer and spirits. The distribution between drink types has been stable in recent years, with a general decrease in consumption of all types.