Before Sweden became a member of the European Union (EU), Sweden had two monopolies on alcohol. First, a wholly state-owned company held the import monopoly on all alcoholic beverages to Sweden, and second, Systembolaget (the Swedish Alcohol Retail Monopoly), a wholly state-owned company, was the holder of the alcohol retail monopoly in Sweden. After Sweden became a member of the EU on 1 January, 1995, only the second, the retail sale monopoly, survived.
The monopoly and Systembolaget have been criticised for the high prices of alcoholic beverages, limited opening hours and limiting individuals’ options.
