(edit title) Are Swedes indebted? Trying to figure out the gAp? Options

[Svensksmith]

When we first moved to Sweden, we paid retail for everything. Then we started paying more attention and found out which farmer to buy beef and lamb from, who had the side sawmill business to buy lumber from, where to purchase used furniture, which excavator sold soil on the side, etc. No one volunteered this information, we had to figure it out ourselves.

I think smarter purchasing, coupled with the double incomes and family inheritances make up for the difference in lifestyle. Also, many Swedes I knew had a part-time job in which they were paid under the table.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Just as an aside...why does anyone drink?

Don't we drink to change the way we feel normally?

And if I want a change...why not oblivion?

How many of you on this board have seen a room spinning when you think you are sitting still...and what about in the bed?

We all know the next days mantra will be... (remembering throwing up the night before) ...never again...never again... Yeah... until we have a bit to eat and that which we can keep down...makes us feel better... and a little later the "Pub" is not a bad place to be. Right?

People drink because normality is not better than being high on booze...and mostly it's legal! That's true, but expensive...so why not make your own?

In my life time my mother once commented to my father on a Swede lying under a Christmas(Yule)table full of food that was about 20 feet long...look at him! He's drunk! My father replied ...no he's having a good time!

Is there anyone here that can admit to what I just said in their experience?

Can you live up to the fact that not only Swedes, but other people get DRUNK!

Aren't all of us a just a teeny bit guilty of what we accuse the Swedish people of...

Anybody here have the courage to reply?

[AW1]

I need a drink before I answer that question...

[Snood]

I drink, and sometimes, this leads to drunkenness although not very often. The primary reason for drinking for me is that I like the experience of the aromas and the flavour of what i'm drinking. I drink craft beers, home brewed craft beer, whisky and the occasional spirit drink like Pimms & Lemonade or G&T which are both very refreshing in warmer weather.

Of course many people do drink because they like the effects of alcohol. It was very telling when I was at university, I had two types of friends regarding drinking. Those who invited me out by saying "lets get drunk" vs those who invited me out by inviting me to a pub which served ale... guess which friends I chose to do my drinking with....

[redblue]

Binge drinking is much more common in the UK.

Drinking patterns among men and women aged 18-64 years

Binge drinking at least once a week %
Swe (men): 8%
Swe (women) 1 %
UK (men): 38%
UK (women): 12%

Mean binge drinking occasions past 12 months
Swe (men): 12
Swe (women) 4
UK (men): 47
UK (women): 16

Source: Institute of Alcohol Studies
http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/factsheets/harm_ukeu.pdf

[jan.petras]

Oh for christ's sake could you stop making this thread about alcohol like everything else?
Here's another thing for you to think about: Sweden sucks for people who don't plan on having children.

For example me. I think I shouldn't have moved here in the first place.
I'm forced to pay taxes for welfare I'll never enjoy. I'll never have children, and I rarely get sick anyway... How's that for social welfare.

I believe Canada has it much better in terms of social welfare. You can opt-in for medical healthcare and the sort.

[gplusa]

Don't let the door hit you.

[Yorkshireman]

Sweden sucks for people who don't plan on having children.For example me. I think I shouldn't have moved here in the first place.I'm forced to pay taxes for welfar ... (show full quote)

Sweden sucks for people who don't plan on having children.
For example me. I think I shouldn't have moved here in the first place.
I'm forced to pay taxes for welfare I'll never enjoy. I'll never have children, and I rarely get sick anyway... How's that for social welfare.
I believe Canada has it much better in terms of social welfare. You can opt-in for medical healthcare and the sort. ... (hide full quote)

The key word is Social Welfare not Selfish Welfare.

The Federal government in Canada also, from 2007, offers Universal Child Care Benefits to subsidise daycare (dagis) and other forms of child care. Also, all provinces provide universal publically funded healthcare, for what is considered medically necessary. They have a central list of what defines medically necessary, and actually bans the selling of medical insurance for anything in that definition, so that queue jumping cannot be done by the wealthy who could afford insurance.

In Sweden You can "queue jump" if You can pay or have insurance for medical needs, and not everything is covered by public health.

Which is more socialist, and controlled?

[jack sprat]

Binge drinking is much more common in the UK. Drinking patterns among men and women aged 18-64 yearsBinge drinking at least once a week %Swe (men): 8%Swe (women) 1 %UK (men): ... (show full quote)

Binge drinking is much more common in the UK.

Drinking patterns among men and women aged 18-64 years

Binge drinking at least once a week %
Swe (men): 8%
Swe (women) 1 %
UK (men): 38%
UK (women): 12%

Mean binge drinking occasions past 12 months
Swe (men): 12
Swe (women) 4
UK (men): 47
UK (women): 16

Source: Institute of Alcohol Studies
http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/factsheets/harm_ukeu.pdf ... (hide full quote)

As I said, statististics,statistics and...

The Brits are far more likely to admit to the true figures and in some cases stupidly take a pride in exagerating them.

Do you really expect an honest and open answer from a Swede regarding alcohol consumption ???

Maybe some of the younger generation who commonly binge at out of town bottle parties might admit to it, but for the majority of Swedes it's shame and disgrace,more especially so to even admit to touching a drop on a weekday.

Combined with the stupid State restrictions and the embarrassment some Swedes have of even being seen in Systembollox, it's little wonder Sweden is a country of secret drinkers,alcoholics and illicit spirit producers..

[Yorkshireman]

I'm forced to pay taxes for welfare I'll never enjoy. I'll never have children, and I rarely get sick anyway... How's that for social welfare.I believe Canada ... (show full quote)

I'm forced to pay taxes for welfare I'll never enjoy. I'll never have children, and I rarely get sick anyway... How's that for social welfare.
I believe Canada has it much better in terms of social welfare. You can opt-in for medical healthcare and the sort. ... (hide full quote)

And not forgetting that parent leave for Canadians is paid for by revenue from the Employment Insurance system:

Paid Maternity Leave
55% up to $485/week for 50 weeks (15 weeks maternity + 35 weeks parental leave shared with father)

Paid Paternity Leave
55% up to $485/week for 35 weeks parental leave (shared with mother)

I didn't include the unpaid leave info.

[redblue]

As I said, statististics,statistics and...

My own experience is that many Swedes brag about heavy partying, and the English not to the same extent. However, I'm not saying that Swedes overstate/understate their drinking habits more/less than the British since I cannot backup such claim. Hence, I link to research from reliable sources stating that binge drinking is 400% more common in the UK than Sweden. Furthermore, the PM has recognised it is a huge problem in the UK and thus propose a minimum price on alcohol to curb it.

Moreover, alcohol is a much bigger problem in the UK compared to Sweden, such as violence related to alcohol consumption and alcohol related deaths (e.g. cirrhosis). It used to be the same in Sweden, but high alcohol taxation and regulated domestic sales have reduced the alcohol consumption.

[byke]

Why is it that no matter what the debate is about, when referring to Sweden.
An example of a worse situation is always brought up to try and deflect Sweden's short comings.

If this debate was about human wrights in Sweden, I am sure some flag waver would then try to deflect attention to such by using North Korea or some other miserable place in an attempt to justify or divert attention away.

Wrong is wrong, regardless of which nation is involved.
But what makes a nation great is those who identify such problems and then take active steps to address such issues in a timely manner (rather those trying to bury it).

[jack sprat]

It used to be the same in Sweden, but high alcohol taxation and regulated domestic sales have reduced the alcohol consumption.

Of course not,it's simply driven it further underground.

Illicit spirits flow like water in most parts of Sweden and are freely available at a fraction of the price of the official out lets.
In addition there are large quantities imported supposedly for personal consumption and very little of it checked.
Much the same in the UK with personally imported stuff. It is thought that half of alcohol consumed in my own area has been imported from over the channel.
As for the UK stupidly following the Swedish lead by increasing prices, the effect will naturally be the same.
More illicit stuff will be produced.
Even more will be imported.
The Govts tax take will decrease.
Hardly the smartest of moves.
Suppose you won't quite remember the effects of prohibition though,lol.
Talk about shooting themselves in the foot.

I get the impression you have limited experience of the Swedish scene.
The violence at Swedish football has been shocking and increasing rapidly in recent years in addition to the drunken rampages through the towns afterwards.
It usually begins with the kids getting fuelled up in a public park beforehand,and leaving the place like a trash site before proceeding on their drunken way.
Unlike the UK, the powers that be in Sweden have yet to see the light and apply similar contols around football grounds.

[Yorkshireman]

Moreover, alcohol is a much bigger problem in the UK compared to Sweden, such as violence related to alcohol consumption and alcohol related deaths (e.g. cirrhosis). It used t ... (show full quote)

Moreover, alcohol is a much bigger problem in the UK compared to Sweden, such as violence related to alcohol consumption and alcohol related deaths (e.g. cirrhosis). It used to be the same in Sweden, but high alcohol taxation and regulated domestic sales have reduced the alcohol consumption. ... (hide full quote)

Actually, sorry @byke , according to WHO statistics of Alcohol related deaths per capita, Sweden is ranked 39 with 2.1, and the UK is ranked 76 with 1.1

I tend to believe that the main difference is that when I was a youth in UK we went bing drinking every weekend but stuck mainly to excessive amounts of beer, and a few glasses of vodka ... where-as when I came here to Sweden I found the bing drinking was more limited to a few beers, but excessive amounts of shots of all kinds! plus more home-brew spirits at home parties.

And I have enjoyed parties in both countries ... and quite a few others also

[jack sprat]

http://www.thelocal.se/33664/20110509/

Even the kids parents get in on the act.

http://www.thelocal.se/33618/20110506/

http://www.thelocal.se/33388/20110425/