Alcohol industry in Sweden - Statistics & Facts
Did you know that in Sweden, the sales of alcoholic beverages are strongly restricted by the government? Beverages with an alcohol content higher than 3.5 percent are only allowed to be sold by Systembolaget, a government-owned chain of liquor stores. Within the past years, the revenue of alcoholic beverage retail sales increased overall in the Scandinavian country, amounting to roughly 50 billion Swedish kronor in 2022.
Trade in alcohol Among the alcoholic drinks sold, many were imported into Sweden. The import value grew strongly to roughly 11 billion Swedish kronor in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic started. Recently, it has grown again and is higher than ever. In 2022, exports were valued at around seven billion Swedish kronor. In general, alcohol prices in Sweden remain relatively stable between months; the consumer price index (CPI) of alcoholic beverages did not change significantly from January 2022 to May 2024. In May 2024, the index value of alcoholic beverage prices was measured at 371.42, where the year 1980 equals 100. This index measures changes in the average costs of most consumer goods and services. It records inflation and deflation (rising and falling prices).
Sales of alcohol In the domestic retail trade, sales revenue of beer, wine and spirits increased overall recently. Annual wine sales revenue rose year-on-year from 2009 to 2022, peaking at around 26 billion Swedish kronor. By comparison, for beer, sales revenue amounted to roughly 14 billion Swedish kronor that same year and for the sales of spirits, the retail trade generated around ten billion Swedish kronor. Most of the sales were made in Systembolaget stores - in the first quarter of 2024, beer was the most-sold, reaching a volume of roughly 62 million liters. Wine followed, ahead of spirits. Cider and alcopops were the categories with the least sales in the stores of the Swedish beverage retailer.
Beer was not only the most-sold alcoholic drink in Systembolaget stores, but it also seemed to be the favorite beverage containing alcohol among consumers, based on a consumption volume of about 476 million liters as of 2022. In second place came wine, reaching a volume of approximately 258 million liters and in third place followed spirits with a consumption volume of more than 32 million liters.
When looking at the consumption of alcohol, for example beer, in Sweden compared to other European countries, it is quite low. On the one hand, this may be due to the smaller population, but on the other hand it may also be due to stricter laws.
Trade in alcohol Among the alcoholic drinks sold, many were imported into Sweden. The import value grew strongly to roughly 11 billion Swedish kronor in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic started. Recently, it has grown again and is higher than ever. In 2022, exports were valued at around seven billion Swedish kronor. In general, alcohol prices in Sweden remain relatively stable between months; the consumer price index (CPI) of alcoholic beverages did not change significantly from January 2022 to May 2024. In May 2024, the index value of alcoholic beverage prices was measured at 371.42, where the year 1980 equals 100. This index measures changes in the average costs of most consumer goods and services. It records inflation and deflation (rising and falling prices).
Sales of alcohol In the domestic retail trade, sales revenue of beer, wine and spirits increased overall recently. Annual wine sales revenue rose year-on-year from 2009 to 2022, peaking at around 26 billion Swedish kronor. By comparison, for beer, sales revenue amounted to roughly 14 billion Swedish kronor that same year and for the sales of spirits, the retail trade generated around ten billion Swedish kronor. Most of the sales were made in Systembolaget stores - in the first quarter of 2024, beer was the most-sold, reaching a volume of roughly 62 million liters. Wine followed, ahead of spirits. Cider and alcopops were the categories with the least sales in the stores of the Swedish beverage retailer.
Beer was not only the most-sold alcoholic drink in Systembolaget stores, but it also seemed to be the favorite beverage containing alcohol among consumers, based on a consumption volume of about 476 million liters as of 2022. In second place came wine, reaching a volume of approximately 258 million liters and in third place followed spirits with a consumption volume of more than 32 million liters.
When looking at the consumption of alcohol, for example beer, in Sweden compared to other European countries, it is quite low. On the one hand, this may be due to the smaller population, but on the other hand it may also be due to stricter laws.
