All the Swedes know, but maybe you don't -- the only place to buy alcohol in Sweden, including beer,* is at a System Bolaget. The government has a monopoly on the sale of alcohol here, which means that you can only buy alcohol from one of their shops. Legal drinking age is, I believe, 18, but legal buying age is 20.
So say I'm interested in getting Pimm's Winter Cup (which I am) -- if the government hasn't decided to import it, I can't get it anywhere in all of Sweden. If it's not in the catalog, you can't get it. Maybe you can get it from a restaurant, but you can't buy it for personal consumption.
Bottles are all kept behind the counter, except for locked-up display cases where you can read little write-ups and see prices for everything there. Different System Bolagets have different selections and specialties, but you can special order anything in the catalog and have it sent to your local.
The nice thing is that the people behind the counter have good recommendations. But they all have to wear these drab khaki long-sleeved polos for uniforms, so it feels like you're taking wine recommendations from your UPS guy.
Remember when you couldn't buy bottles of wine in New York on Sundays? Here, System Bolaget stores are open on weekdays from 10am-6pm (that's right, before you usually get off work), and Saturdays from 10am-3pm. Closed Sundays.
That means on Saturdays at 2:30pm, every System Bolaget is like a block party. All the wastoids in the neighborhood can be found there, stocking up for the week.
All this finger-wagging is a buzz kill. I know the idea is that people will cause less trouble on the weekends, but all alkies know that where there's a will, there's a way.
I have decided to just have my own personal System Bolaget at home. That way, if I ever have to go to a dinner party, I've got something to bring. Being the hoarder I am, however, means that I now have the equivalent of 15 bottles of wine in and around my fridge. And I almost never drink at home. And, um, I've only been to three dinner parties since I got here. But hey, I believe that if you buy the dress, the invitation to the ball will come.
P.S. This post took me 1 1/2 hours to get up because mobile dial-up keeps kicking me out. I really hope broadband arrives on Monday. It better come. Seriously losing my mind. WTF, Tele 2?
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*UPDATE: My friend Anna-Kari tells me that beer at System Bolaget is Class III beer, which is about 5% alcohol. Class II beer, which is 3.5% (about the same as your average American beer), can be purchased at the grocery store. Class I beer, up to 2.2% according to this site, is technically considered non-alcoholic.
So say I'm interested in getting Pimm's Winter Cup (which I am) -- if the government hasn't decided to import it, I can't get it anywhere in all of Sweden. If it's not in the catalog, you can't get it. Maybe you can get it from a restaurant, but you can't buy it for personal consumption.
Bottles are all kept behind the counter, except for locked-up display cases where you can read little write-ups and see prices for everything there. Different System Bolagets have different selections and specialties, but you can special order anything in the catalog and have it sent to your local.
The nice thing is that the people behind the counter have good recommendations. But they all have to wear these drab khaki long-sleeved polos for uniforms, so it feels like you're taking wine recommendations from your UPS guy.
Remember when you couldn't buy bottles of wine in New York on Sundays? Here, System Bolaget stores are open on weekdays from 10am-6pm (that's right, before you usually get off work), and Saturdays from 10am-3pm. Closed Sundays.
That means on Saturdays at 2:30pm, every System Bolaget is like a block party. All the wastoids in the neighborhood can be found there, stocking up for the week.
All this finger-wagging is a buzz kill. I know the idea is that people will cause less trouble on the weekends, but all alkies know that where there's a will, there's a way.
I have decided to just have my own personal System Bolaget at home. That way, if I ever have to go to a dinner party, I've got something to bring. Being the hoarder I am, however, means that I now have the equivalent of 15 bottles of wine in and around my fridge. And I almost never drink at home. And, um, I've only been to three dinner parties since I got here. But hey, I believe that if you buy the dress, the invitation to the ball will come.
P.S. This post took me 1 1/2 hours to get up because mobile dial-up keeps kicking me out. I really hope broadband arrives on Monday. It better come. Seriously losing my mind. WTF, Tele 2?
---
*UPDATE: My friend Anna-Kari tells me that beer at System Bolaget is Class III beer, which is about 5% alcohol. Class II beer, which is 3.5% (about the same as your average American beer), can be purchased at the grocery store. Class I beer, up to 2.2% according to this site, is technically considered non-alcoholic.
Hope you get that broadband. It's amazing how we can get used to technology stuff and then when it's not available, it's like you might as well cut off our thumbs or something. Well, maybe not quite that harsh, but I'm sure you know what I mean.
it sounds like pennsylvania! i've been reading your blog for awhile, but have especially enjoyed it since you skipped town for your swedish adventure!
OMG, they still have the "over the counter" Systembolag in Stockholm? Where I live (way, way up north) we haven´t had that for years. It´s like an ordinary supermarket, only with alcohol instead of food... you have your little basket and everything. (Yes, it´s still Systembolaget... but here it closes at 7pm monday-thursday and 8 pm friday. And 4pm saturdays, I think.)
Hi, btw. I found your blog through... someone, and it´s fun to read about Swedish customes through the eyes of a non-Swede. =)
Most of the Systembolaget stores have self-service now! It's only some of them that are struck the old-fashioned counter way... :)
Actually you can get any kind of booze you like from Systembolaget. You just have to order it through them. They'll order a crate for you and what you don't buy of it, they sell in the shop.
Like your blog BTW!