The System bolaget: the despair of alcoholics

I used to meet up with friends over a drink or organize alcoholic parties around, so I had to give up on my nascent alcoholism when I arrived in Sweden.

Here, you won't be able to find alcohol in supermarkets like you'll find everywhere else in the world. You will have to content yourself with a "beer" that will never exceed 3.5°C of alcohol in store or... resign yourself to make you heat the credit card and make a cross on your rent by going to the System Bolaget. You must have understood it: impossible to find even a bottle of wine outside this type of stores, so using wine in your cooking will have to wait too...

The System Bolaget are state-owned shops entirely dedicated to the sale of alcohol and spirits with the particularity of applying extremely high taxes. On average, a bottle of alcohol is twice as expensive as in France. Also, don't expect to be able to go there anytime you want. The schedules are strict from 10am to 7pm on weekdays, 10am to 3pm on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

There is nevertheless an advantage to these centralized shops, it is the breadth of choice: you have a great diversity of bottles coming from all over the world, with all kinds of beers, wines etc...

So if you are planning to come to Sweden, enjoy drinking and have a small place in your suitcase, I advise you to fill up before you leave!

Credits:

photo: http://www.jagersrocenter.se/Global/Jagersro_Center/Butiksbilder_700x469/Systembolaget-1493%20700x469%20bild. jpg

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