THE SWEDISH RETAIL INSTITUTE August 2009 SWEDISH ALCOHOL POLICY - AN EFFECTIVE POLICY? Foreword In this report, commissioned by The Brewers of Europe, the Swedish Retail Institute, HUI, has analysed the success and failures of Swedish alcohol policy. The Swedish Retail Institute, HUI, was founded in 1968 and is owned by The Swedish Trade Federation. Through market and customer analysis on different levels, our consultants help our clients make better business by improving their understanding of consumers, consumer behaviour and marketplaces. Our consultants also deal with issues on a social-economic level, business cycle analysis as well as procurement and processing of retail related data. HUI is the leading organisation for research regarding the retail and wholesale industry and the publications of our researchers can be found in numerous international scientific journals. HUI conducts its research activity together with several external researchers and in cooperation with a number of Swedish universities. HUI is well-known in the Swedish society for its seriousity, integrity and independence. The Brewers of Europe, founded in 1958 and based in Brussels, is the voice of the European brewing sector to the European institutions and international organisations. Current members are the national brewers’ associations from EU Member States, plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. This report is written by Jonas Arnberg and Sofie Lord, both economists at The Swedish Retail Institute, HUI. Questions about the report will be answered by Jonas Arnberg, HUI +46-8-7627290,
[email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 8 2 BACKGROUND ON THE SWEDISH ALCOHOL SITUATION ............................................................................. 9 3 ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN SWEDEN......................................................................................................