Swedish alcohol intake hikes after EU entry
Published: 28 Apr 12 09:10 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40524/20120428/
Contemporary Swedes drink significantly more alcohol and eat more meat since the country joined the European Union in 1995, according to a new report by the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket).
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One of the key points of negotiation during Sweden's EU membership application process concerned the issue of the state-controlled alcohol retail monopoly Systembolaget.
Sweden secured the right to retain the monopoly until 2004 after which time import restrictions were eased for private individuals. The board's report notes that the easing of import restrictions has led to an increase in consumption.
The report shows that the consumption of alcoholic beverages increased by 56 percent from 1995 to 2009, primarily of high-alcohol beer and wine.
Meat consumption increased over the same period by 48 percent as a result of declining consumer prices.
The board's statistics furthermore show that the consumption of bread, pastry, meat, rice, pasta, fruit and vegetables have also increased over the 15 year period of EU membership.
The same development has been seen for soft drinks, while the consumption of milk and butter has decreased.
The agriculture board however notes that there could be factors aside from EU membership which have affected the changes in Swedish consumption habits.
"Various factors affect our consumption patterns. Most likely, the increased awareness of the importance of diet to health and global trends have affected the consumer more than EU membership," said Olof Sköld, who wrote the report for the board, in a statement.
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It only a 3.5% a year increase (not compound), so it's hardly staggering, it just shows a slow progressive rise in spare income. It's not like it leapt up 20% in the year following joining the EU, it's hard to believe some reporter or researcher has made an article of this!
Of course the consumption of milk and butter has declined, whilst pastries etc. have increased, people are buying ready made cakes, bread.. rather that baking their own, also in the days of old, the housewife stayed home, cooking etc.. now they work more and buy ready made goods. It's also where they are getting the additional income to spend on booze! The is very basic economics.
Do they have any specifics as to what would have happened if Sweden had not joined the EU?