Swedish parliament approves law allowing small-scale alcohol producers to sell direct to customers from June 1; law permits sales of up to 0.7 liters of spirits or 3 liters of wine and beer per transaction

April 24, 2025 (just-drinks) –

Byline: Fiona Holland

In a break from state-run monopolies, small brewers, vintners and distillers in Sweden will be allowed to sell alcoholic drinks to customers under a new law.

Despite the development, there will still be restrictions under new regulations passed by the Swedish parliament.

Approved by a majority in the Riksdag legislature yesterday (23 April), such entities will be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages “on a small scale” through so-called “farm sales”, according to an official statement.

“The purpose is to improve conditions for the local tourism industry,” parliament said in the statement.

It added the law would enable small businesses to sell their alcoholic beverages to customers “who have paid to participate in knowledge-enhancing activities organised by the producer”.

Quantities of alcohol permitted for sale are also restricted. In “one and the same occasion”, producers are prohibited from selling more than 0.7 litres of spirits, while sales of wine, beer and other fermented drinks must not exceed 3 litres.

The law comes into effect from 1 June and will be in place for six years before it is revaluated.

Sales of products with more than 3.5% alcohol by volume are currently managed in Sweden by the state-owned retailer Systembolaget .

Sweden’s government put forward plans to allow the sale of alcohol at small-scale wineries, breweries and distilleries in June last year.

The proposal sought to enable “artisinally” produced alcoholic drinks to be sold in small volumes at the point of source.

Parliament initially proposed that artisanal alcohol producers would be allowed to sell drinks to visitors based on conditions: volumes of up to 75,000 litres of spirits, 400,000 litres of up to 10% abv fermented beverages, and 200,000 litres of fermented beverages above 10%

In a statement on X, member of parliament Jan Ericson said: “The Riksdag just voted through the proposal to allow farm sales of alcohol. In my opinion, a proposal that is too cautious, but a clear step in the right direction. I voted yes with joy!”

Finland also announced plans to relax its alcohol laws last year. In early June, the local parliament voted to raise the maximum alcohol content limit for drinks sold in supermarkets from 5.5% to 8% abv. The law came into effect later that month.

Like Sweden , Finland also has an alcohol monopoly, managed by state-owned retailer Alko.

In October, the Finnish government also proposed to amend regulations to permit the online sale of alcoholic drinks in the country.

The shift allows Finns to order alcoholic drinks online from Alko. Licensed shops, kiosks, petrol stations and restaurants are also permitted to deliver wine, beer and spirits to a customer's doorstep under the amendment.

This article was originally published on just-drinks.com on 24 April 2025 . For authoritative and timely drinks business information visit http://www.just-drinks.com.