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Relaxing with a cold beer or glass or wine after a hard day’s paddling on one of our self-guided canoe tours in Värmland or hiking tours in the mountains of Lapland is one of life’s little pleasures. But you may find it harder than you think! In this series of FAQs, we look at some of the questions most frequently asked by our clients regarding Systembolaget – the Swedish national chain of off-licences.
What is Systembolaget?
Systembolaget is a nationwide, government-owned chain of off-licences in Sweden. Systembolaget stores are the only places in Sweden apart from bars, restaurants and night-clubs where strong alcoholic beverages can be purchased.
When was Systembolaget introduced?
In the second half of the 18th century, following a series of unsuccessful attempts to regulate the consumption of alcohol in Sweden, all restrictions were removed by the king. This led to a rapid increase in the consumption and home production of alcohol. In 1830, the first society for moderation in drinking was started in Stockholm, and in 1850 alcohol first began to be regulated by the state. During and following the First World War, strict rationing was in place with the quantities of alcohol which could be purchased limited. This was abolished in 1955 when Systembolaget stores were introduced. In 1965 private stores were permitted to sell beer up to 4.5% abv, but this was reduced to 3.5% in 1977 following a dramatic rise in beer consumption.
Does Systembolaget have a monopoly?
Yes. In June 2007 an EU panel of judges ruled that Systembolaget’s shop monopoly was justified, though did lift restrictions on the private import of alcohol.
Why is Systembolaget allowed to be only chain of off-licences in Sweden?
A number of regulations govern how Systembolaget stores are operated. One major reason for the monopoly being permitted is to enforce the minimum age law. Also, Systembolaget stores are prohibited from favouring particular brands, which in theory leads to a fairer choice for the consumer. Systembolaget can promote itself, but not individual products. All products are taxed on alcohol content rather than price, and all are sold with the same profit margin. Another advantage sometimes cited is that the enormous bulk buying power of the Systembolaget chain helps to keep prices down – Systembolaget is one of the largest buyers of wines and spirits in the world. Staff are well-trained and often surprisingly knowledgeable about the products on sale.
When are Systembolaget shops open?
Opening hours have been extended in some places in recent years. In larger centres, Systembolaget stores may be open Monday-Saturday, perhaps until 7pm on weekdays and 3pm on Saturdays. In smaller towns, opening hours may be restricted to weekdays and/or office hours only. In remote areas and small villages, the local store often operates as an extension of Systembolaget, where orders can be placed in advance for collection on particular days of the week
How do I buy alchohol in Systembolaget?
In some stores you can choose products off the shelf yourself as you would at the supermarket to pay at the till. In other stores, available example products are displayed behind glass cabinets. You write down the codes of the products you would like to purchase, take your order to the cash point and the assistant will fetch your items from the stores.
What is the legal age to buy alcohol in Sweden?
To buy alcohol at Systembolaget you must be aged 20 years or over. To buy alcohol in a bar or restaurant you must be 18.
Do Swedish supermarkets sell alcohol?
Yes, but only beer up to Klass II or “folköl” (“people’s beer”), max. strength 3.5% abv. Stronger beers and other alcoholic beverages must be bought at Systembolaget.
Is alcohol in Sweden expensive?
Generally yes, but not always. Sweden certainly has a reputation for high prices for alcohol. In general, prices for beer, wine and spirits in Swedish bars and restaurants are likely to be higher than in the UK.
However, Systembolaget has a very wide selection to suit a range of tastes and budgets. Prices for a bottle of wine start from around 60 SEK (about £5). As products are taxed on alcohol content rather than price, some products can be quite competitively priced relative to the international market.
Light beers (up to 3.5% abv) are sold in supermarkets and are usually very affordably priced.
Can I recycle cans and bottles in Sweden?
Yes. The price for all beer and other drinks cans includes “pant” or deposit, which will be refunded if you return the empty cans to a recycling station. Most supermarkets have a station outside the store, where you feed in your cans and then get a receipt which you can take to the till to exchange for cash or use as a discount on purchases. Don’t squash the cans! The machines will only accept them if they are intact. The same system also applies to plastic PET bottles.
The Systembolaget monopoly and restricted opening hours can seem strange to visitors from overseas, but in many ways the system functions very well. Provided you plan ahead and check local opening times, there is no reason why you should not be able to enjoy a glass of wine or cold beer after a day of outdoor activities in Sweden!
Best regards
The Nature Travels Team
For British people, the term “outside loo” is something strongly associated with a way of life from our parents’ or even grandparents’ generations, conjuring visions of portly housewives in aprons, working men in cloth caps and children with shorts and grubby knees braving biting winds to scurry down to the bottom of the garden and “spend a penny”. It is an anachronism from a time when families gathered around the “wireless” for evening entertainment, prices were reckoned in shillings and baths were taken in a tin tub in the living room on a Friday night.
But in Sweden, a country at the very forefront of modern communications technology and with one of the highest standards of living in the world, the outside toilet or “utedass” is still very much alive and well and an essential part of Swedish outdoor life.
As we discussed in our article on Swedish summer houses, many Swedes have access to a cabin in the country which is regularly used at weekends and during holidays, and while most will have running water for cooking or washing, a great many of these summer houses will have outside toilets. This “old-fashioned” style of living which characterises the typical Swedish summer house is not only often a necessity dictated by the remoteness of the cabins and the physical distance to services such as mains water pipes, but for many Swedes is an integral part of the nature experience, a chance to escape the trappings of the modern life and take pleasure in a simpler way of living.
As a result, the “utedass”, or dry compost toilet, remains a central feature of modern Sweden.
For visitors from overseas, asking for the loo and being directed to a small wooden shack in the forest can bring on a minor attack of culture shock. But there is no need to be concerned – Swedish dry toilets are a much pleasanter experience than you might expect!
When travelling to one of Nature Travels’ holidays in Sweden, you may encounter outside toilets on experiences such as our Romantic Adventure in Forest Log Cabin and Forest Weekend with Elk and Beaver Safari or at one of the mountain cabins on our extended dog sledding tours. Here are some of the questions we are sometimes asked regarding the Swedish outdoor toilet:
Are “utedass” found only in Sweden?
No, but they are particularly characteristic of and strongly associated with summer houses and remote cabins in Sweden.
Are Swedish outdoor toilets comfortable?
Many summer house owners go to great lengths to make the “lilla huset” or “little house” as comfortable and pleasant as possible, decorating the inside of the cabin with flowers and photographs, thoughtfully providing books and magazines and even using polystyrene toilet seats to ensure exposed bottoms do not get cold!
Do Swedish outdoor toilets smell?
In many toilets you will find a bucket of earth or compost and a small cup, which should be used to sprinkle a covering of earth over the waste once you have finished. This not only helps the composting process but also controls odours. As a result, Swedish dry toilets should smell earthy but not unpleasant. In general, modern chemical toilets of the kind found at music festivals or public events are likely to have a much more unpleasant and aggressive odour.
Is it necessary to use the toilet if you just need to urinate?
Swedish outdoor toilets will generally be found in remote areas, and there is likely to be no-one else around when you need to go to the loo. To minimise odours and also to avoid filling up the toilet so quickly, it is best to use the Utedass mainly for solid waste. For liquid waste, a quick trip to the forest (especially for males) is the preferred solution.
Do all Nature Travels experiences have outdoor toilets?
No! Our log cabins in Sweden are fully equipped with kitchens, showers, flush-toilets etc and furnished to a high-standard. Many of our other Sweden holidays, such as wilderness canoeing, timber rafting or sea kayaking feature wild camping, and on these experiences toilet facilities are not available. You will be given full instructions on how to deal with your toilet waste to ensure that you do not pollute the local environment, create a health hazard or leave any trace for travellers who may come after you.
As well as being a central part of Swedish outdoor life, dry composting toilets are a sustainable, environmentally-friendly alternative to flush toilets, requiring no power or chemicals for their operation and using no water. If you would like more information on composting toilets, including advice on how to build your own, visit the excellent Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales or download one of their factsheets.
Best regards
The Nature Travels Team
Whether you are on a wilderness canoe tour in Värmland, sea kayaking in the Stockholm archipelago or hiking in the mountains of Lapland, wild camping is a central feature of many Nature Travels Sweden holidays.
For all our activities featuring wild camping in Sweden, tents are either included as part of standard equipment or are available to hire as optional extras. In most cases, Hilleberg tents are used – a Swedish brand and one of the world’s best-known quality tentmakers. Hiring a tent will not only ensure that you are using equipment suitable for the experience but may also be the most convenient and affordable option. If you do not already have suitable equipment and do not plan to make regular use of your tent after your holiday in Sweden, buying your own may not be cost-effective. Hiring a tent also reduces your luggage when travelling and may also allow you to avoid baggage charges if flying with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair.
However, if you participate in outdoor activities regularly, a good-quality tent is an essential investment. In this article we give an overview of different tent designs and discuss the pros and cons of each, discussing some points to consider when choosing a tent for your holiday in Sweden:
Ridge Tents
The “classic” A-frame tent design, stable in high winds and also less likely to sag in heavy snow if camping in winter, but often rather heavy and bulky and generally not suitable if you will be hiking and carrying your tent for long distances.
Dome Tents
Dome tents have flexible poles which meet at the tent’s highest point. This is a spacious design given ample sleeping and storage area, but are not so stable in high winds so may not be the ideal choice for camping in exposed mountain areas.
Tunnel Tents
Tunnel tents have two or three flexible poles which are used independently. They are usually lightweight and provide ample legroom for taller campers, but can be unstable when exposed to wind from the side.
Traverse Hoop Tents
This design is often extremely lightweight, using one or two interdependent poles. However, traverse hoop tents will also be unstable in side-on winds.
Geodesic Tents
Using four or five flexible poles to make a self-supporting frame, geodesic tents offer an attractive combination of space and stability, but can be heavier than traverse hoop or tunnel designs.
Flysheet first or inner tent first?
Tents which pitch flysheet first have the advantage that the inner tent stays dry when erecting the tent in wet weather. There is also the option of using the flysheet by itself as a tarpaulin if weather conditions are suitable.
Tents pitching inner first generally give more space for sleeping as the inner sheet is stretched more tightly. If conditions are hot and dry, the inner tent can be used by itself.
What to think about when choosing your tent:
It may be useful to consider the following when choosing which tent is most suitable for your active holiday in Sweden:
- What kind of terrain will you be travelling in? Are conditions likely to be particularly windy?
- What time of year will you be travelling? What temperature range are you likely to encounter?
- Does the tent have spaces for cooking and/or luggage storage? Being able to cook in one of the entrances can be useful in bad weather, but bear in mind that tents are not flame-proof and can catch fire very easily.
- How important are the size and weight of the tent? Is luggage space limited? Will you be carrying the tent for extended periods?
- Which of the basic designs described above is likely to suit your needs best?
- How many people will sleep in the tent? Bear in mind that a tent rated as a 4-person tent may nevertheless feel rather cramped when filled with 4 campers plus luggage!
Whichever option you choose, Sweden is one of the world’s top destinations for wild camping, whether you are on a 3-day sea kayaking tour, an 8-day wilderness hiking expedition or a 2-week canoeing holiday.
Happy camping!
Best regards
The Nature Travels Team
