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February 14, 2012
Temperance society slams proposal for new alcohol laws
Published: 16 Jan 10 11:53 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24420/20100116/
Restaurants serving cold food, such as sushi, will be able to obtain alcohol licenses if a proposal for new alcohol laws is accepted. The move has been branded deplorable by Sweden’s temperance society.
- 'Vodka-mobile' selling booze to Swedish kids (10 Feb 12)
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- 86 charged after massive booze smuggling probe (18 Jan 12)
Anna Carlstedt, chair of Sweden's temperance society (IOGT-NTO) is highly critical of the suggestion which will make more alcohol licenses available.
”It’s deplorable,” she said.
“The laws and rules that existed were in need of modernization,” she continued.
”But that it will become easier for caterers, trade fairs and restaurants serving only cold food to sell alcohol leads to thousands of more outlets for it to be sold.
”It’s not what we need in Sweden today,” she added.
An earlier government inquiry made recommendations to restrict drinking hours in bars and clubs to 3am, which would have affected around 50 bars and clubs in bigger cities, which stay open until 5am.
The proposal submitted by Larsson, however, concluded that drinking hours should remain unchanged.
Social Democrat MP and former government-appointed alcohol investigator Kent Härstedt is disappointed after anticipating the capping of drinking time to 3am.
He believes it would have contributed to less trouble on the streets in the early hours.
”It is those that drink between 3am to 5am that account for much of the unprovoked violence that happens both out in the city and in people’s homes.” he said.
”Intoxication and tiredness are a very bad combination.”
In a further revision to existing laws, businesses selling medium strength beer (folköl) would be required to join a local authority register.
TT/Christine Demsteader
news@thelocal.se
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I don't oppose monopolies like SB, I just hate abusive monopolies. If they could have better hours, home deliveries, that would be a smart move. As somebody who lived near a nightclub, I would like to see more accountability for license holders. If a guy gets served drink and then goes and defecates in the street (yes it happened on our front door) the license should be revoked.
The more you restrict peoples alcohol the MORE problems you get.
Take a look at Denmark and Germany, you can buy alchol practically anywhere. Do they have anywhere near as many problems, no.
The problem in the UK is more a cultural one, rather than the "relaxing of the rules"
You can't cherry pick a country like UK and say that relaxing the rules immediately leads to the problems UK has.
Binge drinking amongst youngsters is a big problem. In most Western European countries, including Germany.
Two things might help in Sweden.
Firstly, better alcohol education in the schools. Not just the message that "alcohol is bad for you". Alcohol abuse in Sweden is a not a new cultural problem; it has being going on for generations. Why can't the government start a big awareness campaign? It feels as if the topic is taboo.
Secondly, a "closed door" system for the bars after midnight or 1 a.m. If you're in, you're. If you're out, you're out. That means no more moving from one bar to another after the agreed time.
I lived in Holland nextdoor to a bar for some years. Thanks to the closed door system we never had any trouble. The exploitants cleaned up outside their bar every night before going home.
The ferry lines to Finland will be praying that Mrs. Larsson's bill is rejected!
If you want people to act like adults you have to treat them like adults, educate them, give them freedom to chose and punish people who act inappropriately (public indecency, selling alcohol to minors or selling alcohol to overly drunk persons) and for goodness sake don't make something taboo - that is a sure fire way to get people to do the taboo thing :-)
”It’s deplorable,” she said. (But she gives no reason why?)
“The laws and rules that existed were in need of modernization,” she continued. (Boy did she continue!)
”But that it will become easier for caterers, trade fairs and restaurants serving only cold food to sell alcohol leads to thousands of more outlets for it to be sold.(so what?)
”It’s not what we need in Sweden today,” she added (Says who? Only you Anna Carlstedt; only you)
What you get here is a prime example of intolerance disguised as beneficent do-goodery. It's basically religious cr*p hiding behind a "do as I say doctrine". Fortunately no-body in the fair country of Sweden is remotely impressed by this rubbish.
Sweden needs to get adult about alcohol, and no, being adult doesn't mean being like an overbearing and strict parent that doesn't want their kids to have as much fun as they did when they were young, rather it means to promote honest and nuanced information about alcohol - not just the idea that it's bad and that in a perfect world it wouldn't exist, which seems to be the Swedish justification for gradually but constantly increasing restrictions on alcohol.
The other main proposal that the temperance society is up in arms about is the proposal to allow cafés and restaurants selling cold food to apply for alcohol licences. The current law is absurd
- If you order a cheese salad in a pizzeria - you can have a glass of wine or beer as it is a hot food establishment
- If you order a cheese salad in a café you CANNOT have a glass of wine or beer as it is a cold food establishment
- not saké with sushi either
Some relaxation of the SB monopoly would be good as well for those of us living in rural areas - currently a 36 km round trip to the nearest SB - although a local store has an ombud service you have to order 3-4 days in advance
I was a bit shocked to see what IOGT acronym stands for. I thought these quasi-religious organisations died out decades ago. Yes, alcohol can be a problem - but people need to be responsible for their own actions.
Interesting use of the word "modernization". I guess they see North American prohibition of the 19th and early 20th centuries as the way forward. Lycka till!
Well done people, well done. I just hope that the powers that be are so competent in their abilities in policy change. In my experience they are not, but I will cross my fingers.
I can sum up the argument in one short sentence, "Adults are exactly like children, tell them NO and they just want to do it more".