2025-04-232024/25:SoU24 · p.1SoUHealth & social services
Government bills
The government's proposal to allow on-farm sales of alcoholic beverages
What's at stake: The decision determines whether local producers of alcoholic beverages may sell directly to visitors as part of their visitor operations, which could strengthen rural tourism. At the same time, it raises questions about the consequences for public health and for the retail monopoly's standing under EU law.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether parliament should adopt the government's bill for a time-limited option for small-scale on-farm sales of alcoholic beverages alongside the retail monopoly, or whether the bill should be rejected in favour of continuing a restrictive alcohol policy without on-farm sales.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the government's proposed amendment to the Alcohol Act providing a time-limited option for small-scale on-farm sales aimed at improving conditions for local tourism, and shares the assessment that the proposal is compatible with EU law while safeguarding the retail monopoly. Through requirements that tie sales to small-scale independent producers, limited volumes and an educational visitor experience, the committee considers that on-farm sales will not become an alternative to ordinary retail. The committee therefore supports the bill and rejects the motions calling for it to be rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S, V, MP)
The reservation (S, V, MP) calls for the bill to be rejected and for a restrictive, solidarity-based alcohol policy without on-farm sales alongside the state retailer to be maintained. The reasoning is that alcohol is linked to serious illness, accidents and violence, that the retail monopoly is the cornerstone of a successful alcohol policy that already allows local products to be bought in stores, and that a new form of sale risks undermining the monopoly and handing control over Swedish alcohol policy to the EU Court of Justice.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by S, V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | Yes | Abstain 1/0/19/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Broke with the party line
| CHelena Lindahl (C, Västerbottens län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts the government's proposals for 1. Act on amendment to the Alcohol Act (2010:1622), 2. Act on amendment to the Alcohol Act (2010:1622). Thereby the Riksdag approves proposition 2024/25:86 points 1 and 2 and rejects the motions 2024/25:3322 by Karin Rågsjö et al. (V), 2024/25:3327 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S), 2024/25:3330 by Christofer Bergenblock et al. (C) demand 1 and 2024/25:3331 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till 1. lag om ändring i alkohollagen (2010:1622), 2. lag om ändring i alkohollagen (2010:1622). Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2024/25:86 punkterna 1 och 2 samt avslår motionerna 2024/25:3322 av Karin Rågsjö m.fl. (V), 2024/25:3327 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S), 2024/25:3330 av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C) yrkande 1 och 2024/25:3331 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP).
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said yes to the government's proposal which entails that, for a limited time, a possibility shall be introduced to sell alcoholic beverages on a smaller scale through farm sales. The purpose is to improve conditions for the local tourism industry. Certain restrictions are introduced to ensure that sales occur on a limited scale and that the visit rather than the sales is the focus. Therefore, among other things, the following requirements are introduced: The alcoholic beverages shall be self-produced by small-scale independent producers. Farm sales may only take place to visitors who have participated in an educational event arranged by the producer and paid for. Sales to each individual visitor may not exceed 0.7 liters of spirits, 3 liters of wine, 3 liters of strong beer and 3 liters of other fermented alcoholic beverages at the same visit. The law amendments come into effect on 1 June 2025 and for six years onwards. Before the regulation is repealed, the reform should be evaluated.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the government's proposal on farm sales of alcohol and preserve Systembolaget's retail monopoly. (S, V, MP) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The counter-proposal wants to maintain a restrictive and solidarity-based alcohol policy without farm sales alongside the retail monopoly, which is exactly the plan's line: restrictive regulation of alcohol with Systembolaget as an example of how common ownership takes responsibility for complex problems.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to maintain a restrictive and solidarity-based alcohol policy without farm sales alongside the retail monopoly, which is exactly the plan's line: restrictive regulation of alcohol with Systembolaget as an example of how common ownership takes responsibility for complex problems. The plan also sees healthcare as part of broader public health work, which reinforces the case for not opening a new sales form. That the monopoly could be undermined by EU law also accords with the plan's criticism of EU law's restrictions.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill behålla en restriktiv och solidarisk alkoholpolitik utan gårdsförsäljning vid sidan av detaljhandelsmonopolet, vilket är exakt planens linje: en restriktiv reglering av alkohol med Systembolaget som exempel på hur gemensamt ägande tar ansvar för komplexa problem. Planen ser också vården som en del av ett bredare folkhälsoarbete, vilket stärker skälet att inte öppna en ny försäljningsform. Att monopolet skulle kunna undergrävas av EU-rätten stämmer dessutom med planens kritik mot EU-rättens inskränkningar.
- restrictive alcohol policydecisive»Vi vill se en restriktiv reglering av alkohol och tobak. Systembolaget« (party programme ↗)“We want to see restrictive regulation of alcohol and tobacco. Systembolaget”
- retail monopoly is valued»är ett bra exempel på hur vi genom gemensamt ägande kan ta ansvar« (party programme ↗)“is a good example of how through common ownership we can take responsibility”
- public health perspective»Vården behöver ses som en del i det bredare arbetet med folkhälsa.« (party programme ↗)“Healthcare needs to be seen as part of the broader work on public health.”
- challenge EU law's restrictions»Vi vill att Sverige utmanar EU:s överstatliga fördrag och lagar« (party programme ↗)“We want Sweden to challenge the EU's supranational treaties and laws”
The plan does not address alcohol policy, but its core principle is that democracy takes precedence over the market and that certain areas should not be governed by market logic, and that children and young people should grow up free from drugs.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address alcohol policy, but its core principle is that democracy takes precedence over the market and that certain areas should not be governed by market logic, and that children and young people should grow up free from drugs. Maintaining a restrictive alcohol policy without farmstead sales alongside the retail monopoly follows most closely from these principles. The conclusion is inferred and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte alkoholpolitiken, men dess bärande princip är att demokratin har företräde före marknaden och att vissa områden inte ska styras av marknadslogiken, samt att barn och unga ska växa upp fria från droger. Att behålla en restriktiv alkoholpolitik utan gårdsförsäljning vid sidan av detaljhandelsmonopolet följer närmast av dessa principer. Slutsatsen är härledd och osäker.
- democracy's precedencedecisive»Demokratin har därför företräde före marknaden« (party programme ↗)“Democracy therefore takes precedence over the market”
- upbringing free from drugs»en trygg uppväxt fri från droger och våld« (party programme ↗)“a safe upbringing free from drugs and violence”
The party programme highlights alcohol's enormous social costs, wants to restrict advertising for alcohol and establishes that what is excessively harmful should be prohibited.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme highlights alcohol's enormous social costs, wants to restrict advertising for alcohol and establishes that what is excessively harmful should be prohibited. The plan also wants member states to be allowed to lead with stricter legislation to protect health. Maintaining a restrictive alcohol policy without farm sales alongside the retail monopoly is therefore in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet framhåller alkoholens enorma samhällskostnader, vill begränsa reklamen för alkohol och slår fast att det som är alltför skadligt ska förbjudas. Planen vill dessutom att medlemsländer får gå före med hårdare lagstiftning till skydd för hälsa. Att behålla en restriktiv alkoholpolitik utan gårdsförsäljning vid sidan av detaljhandelsmonopolet ligger därför i linje med planen.
- alcohol's social harmsdecisive»Alkohol och andra droger orsakar samhället« (party programme ↗)“Alcohol and other drugs cause society”
- harmful should be limited»det som är alltför skadligt ska förbjudas.« (party programme ↗)“what is excessively harmful should be prohibited.”
- restrictive alcohol policy»liksom reklam för spel och alkohol.« (party programme ↗)“as well as advertising for gambling and alcohol.”
- national health protection before internal market»hårdare lagstiftning till skydd för miljö och hälsa« (party programme ↗)“stricter legislation to protect environment and health”
The plan explicitly demands that farm sales of alcohol be permitted to strengthen tourism and develop the countryside, and counts the reform among those that shall raise the countryside's competitiveness.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly demands that farm sales of alcohol be permitted to strengthen tourism and develop the countryside, and counts the reform among those that shall raise the countryside's competitiveness. The counter-proposal instead wants to keep an order completely without farm sales. It stands in direct conflict with the plan's commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att gårdsförsäljning av alkohol tillåts för att stärka besöksnäringen och utveckla landsbygden, och räknar reformen till dem som ska höja landsbygdens konkurrenskraft. Motförslaget vill i stället behålla en ordning helt utan gårdsförsäljning. Det står i direkt strid med planens åtagande.
- permit farm salesdecisive»Det är orimligt att lokala producenter av alkoholhaltiga drycker inte kan sälja sina produkter till besökare. Tillåt gårdsförsäljning av alkohol för att stärka besöksnäringen och utveckla landsbygden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is unreasonable that local producers of alcoholic drinks cannot sell their products to visitors. Permit farm sales of alcohol to strengthen tourism and develop the countryside.”
- countryside competitiveness»Regelförenklingar, skattesänkningar, gårdsförsäljning av alkohol och ett mer tillväxtvänligt strandskydd är bara några av de reformer som måste komma på plats för att stärka landsbygdens konkurrenskraft och öka människors frihet och självbestämmande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regulatory simplifications, tax cuts, farm sales of alcohol and a more growth-friendly shoreline protection are just some of the reforms that must be implemented to strengthen the countryside's competitiveness and increase people's freedom and self-determination.”
- tourism's importance»Besöksnäringen har stor betydelse för hela landets utveckling« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tourism has great importance for the development of the whole country”
- rural tourism»Lantbruket och skogsbruket kan tillsammans med andra landsbygdsföretag bygga vidare på en turistnäring som« (party programme ↗)“Agriculture and forestry can together with other rural enterprises build on a tourism sector that”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The party programme wants to retain Systembolaget's retail monopoly but at the same time allow licensed shops as a regulated complement and abolish the food service requirement.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants to retain Systembolaget's retail monopoly but at the same time allow licensed shops as a regulated complement and abolish the food service requirement. The plan thus explicitly accepts regulated sales alongside the monopoly, which is exactly what the counter-proposal wants to prevent. That alcohol policy shall be restrictive and the monopoly remain is also the plan's line, but this does not according to the plan exclude a regulated complement.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill behålla Systembolagets detaljhandelsmonopol men samtidigt tillåta licensbutiker som ett reglerat komplement och avskaffa matserveringskravet. Planen accepterar alltså uttryckligen reglerad försäljning vid sidan av monopolet, vilket är just det motförslaget vill förhindra. Att alkoholpolitiken ska vara restriktiv och monopolet bestå är dock också planens linje, men det utesluter enligt planen inte ett reglerat komplement.
- regulated complement to the monopolydecisive»Licensbutiker ska, som komplement till Systembolaget och under reglerade former« (party programme ↗)“Licensed shops shall, as a complement to Systembolaget and under regulated forms”
- retained retail monopoly»Systembolagets detaljhandelsmonopol ska behållas« (party programme ↗)“Systembolaget's retail monopoly shall be retained”
- abolish unnecessary alcohol rules»Krav på matservering för alkoholservering på restaurang ska tas bort.« (party programme ↗)“Requirements for food service for alcohol service at restaurants shall be removed.”
- restrictive alcohol policy»Sverige ska ha en restriktiv alkoholpolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have a restrictive alcohol policy.”
The plan's alcohol policy commitment is unambiguous: harms shall be minimized through low total consumption, with sales monopoly and restrictive legislation as the guiding instruments.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's alcohol policy commitment is unambiguous: harms shall be minimized through low total consumption, with sales monopoly and restrictive legislation as the guiding instruments. The counter-proposal requires precisely that a restrictive line without farmhouse sales alongside the state retail monopoly be maintained, which is the same thing the plan advocates. The plan accepts monopoly exceptionally on public health grounds, which further strengthens the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planens alkoholpolitiska åtagande är entydigt: skadorna ska minimeras genom låg totalkonsumtion, med försäljningsmonopol och restriktiv lagstiftning som de bärande instrumenten. Motförslaget kräver just att en restriktiv linje utan gårdsförsäljning vid sidan av det statliga detaljhandelsmonopolet behålls, vilket är samma sak som planen förespråkar. Planen accepterar monopol undantagsvis av folkhälsoskäl, vilket ytterligare stärker slutsatsen.
- sales monopoly and restrictive legislationdecisive»aktiv prispolitik, försäljningsmonopol och en restriktiv lagstiftning« (party programme ↗)“active price policy, sales monopoly and restrictive legislation”
- low total alcohol consumption»alkoholskador genom en låg totalkonsumtion.« (party programme ↗)“alcohol harms through low total consumption.”
- monopoly allowed on public health grounds»Monopol och konkurrensbegränsningar får endast förekomma undantagsvis,« (party programme ↗)“Monopolies and competition restrictions may only occur exceptionally,”
- restraint with alcohol»Återhållsamhet med alkohol ska gälla vid offentlig representation.« (party programme ↗)“Restraint with alcohol should apply at public representation.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The counter-proposal requires that farm sales not be introduced at all.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires that farm sales not be introduced at all. The plan goes in the opposite direction: it wants to explicitly permit direct sales from producer to consumer, strengthen the food strategy and lower taxes and regulatory burden for agriculture so that local production and tourism can grow. The plan contains no alcohol policy commitments that speak for preserving an absolute retail monopoly.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver att gårdsförsäljning inte införs alls. Planen går i motsatt riktning: den vill uttryckligen tillåta direktförsäljning från producent till konsument, förstärka livsmedelsstrategin och sänka skatter och regelbörda för lantbruket så att lokal produktion och besöksnäring kan växa. Planen innehåller inga alkoholpolitiska åtaganden som talar för att bevara ett undantagslöst detaljhandelsmonopol.
- direct sales from producerdecisive»Låta jägare sälja vildsvinskött direkt till konsumenter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Allow hunters to sell wild boar meat directly to consumers”
- better conditions for agriculture»Moderaterna vill förbättra förutsättningarna att driva lantbruk genom att sänka skatterna, vilket vi redan börjat göra på drivmedel, och minska regelkrånglet så att kostnaderna för administration går ner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party wants to improve the conditions for running agriculture by lowering taxes, which we have already started doing on fuel, and reduce regulatory red tape so that administrative costs go down.”
- strengthened food production»Förstärka livsmedelsstrategin« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the food strategy”
- reduced regulatory burden»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one third of companies' administrative costs and one third of regulatory red tape”
The plan does not address alcohol policy. The closest commitments are to create conditions for new entrepreneurship, give people freedom to develop…
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address alcohol policy. The closest commitments are to create conditions for new entrepreneurship, give people freedom to develop their business activities and make it easier to create more businesses and jobs in rural areas. The counter-proposal's demand to completely stop farm sales alongside retail commerce goes against these principles and is therefore rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte alkoholpolitiken. Närmast liggande åtaganden är att skapa förutsättningar för nyföretagande, ge människor frihet att utveckla sina affärsverksamheter och göra det enklare att skapa fler verksamheter och jobb på landsbygden. Motförslagets krav på att helt stoppa gårdsförsäljning vid sidan av detaljhandeln går emot dessa principer och avvisas därför.
- promote entrepreneurshipdecisive»Skapa förutsättningar för nyföretagande och entreprenörskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Create conditions for new entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship.”
- more businesses in rural areas»Sverige behöver en politik som tar till vara värdet ute i landsbygden och som gör det enklare att i kombination med en väl avvägd miljöhänsyn att skapa fler verksamheter, jobb och ökad tillväxt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs a policy that takes advantage of the value out in rural areas and which makes it easier in combination with a well-balanced environmental consideration to create more businesses, jobs and increased growth.”
- freedom to conduct commerce»Genom att ge mer frihet till människor, frihet att bruka sin mark, frihet att utveckla sina affärsverksamheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“By giving more freedom to people, freedom to work their land, freedom to develop their business activities.”
- simplification for small businesses»Verka för regelförenkling och avlasta småföretagens administrativa börda« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for regulatory simplification and relieve small businesses' administrative burden.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:SoU24)
- Committee report full text (HC01SoU24)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3319 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:86 Bättre förutsättningar för besöksnäringen i fråga om småskalig produktion av alkoholdrycker av Leonid Yurkovskiy m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3322 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:86 Bättre förutsättningar för besöksnäringen i fråga om småskalig produktion av alkoholdrycker av Karin Rågsjö m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3327 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:86 Bättre förutsättningar för besöksnäringen i fråga om småskalig produktion av alkoholdrycker av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3330 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:86 Bättre förutsättningar för besöksnäringen i fråga om småskalig produktion av alkoholdrycker av Christofer Bergenblock m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3331 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:86 Bättre förutsättningar för besöksnäringen i fråga om småskalig produktion av alkoholdrycker av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2024/25:86 — Bättre förutsättningar för besöksnäringen i fråga om småskalig produktion av alkoholdrycker
Source: The Swedish Parliament