Nordic ALCOHOL and DRUG policy network
NordAN
.png)
Sweden’s farm sales proposal under TRIS and the Systembolaget debate
Original case
In TRIS notification 2024/0388/SE (July 2024), Sweden notified a Draft Act amending the Alcohol Act (2010:1622) to allow retail of self-produced alcoholic beverages through on-farm sales permits. The draft introduces a new Chapter 5a setting conditions for permits, including that permits may only be granted to independent producers producing on a professional basis, with annual production caps (75,000 litres of spirits, 400,000 litres of fermented beverages up to 10% alcohol by volume, and 200,000 litres of fermented beverages over 10%). For wine, production is limited to grapes exclusively from the producer’s own plantations.
Sales would be limited to one point of sale (normally where most production took place), and only to consumers taking part in an organised visit linked to the beverage, with an awareness-raising element, a certain duration, and provided against payment. Purchases per consumer per visit would be capped (0.7 litres spirits, 3 litres wine, 3 litres strong beer, and 3 litres other fermented beverages). The draft also describes rules on pricing (not lower than cost plus a reasonable mark-up), permit procedures, self-monitoring, information duties, time limits on permits, limited sales times, and requirements to inform about harmful effects of alcohol.
What happened next
NordAN submitted a written contribution to the TRIS process raising concerns that the proposal would increase physical availability by adding new points of sale outside Systembolaget. NordAN argued this risks undermining a key public health function of the monopoly model and could create enforcement challenges, including the need for significant monitoring resources and robust age verification in new sales environments. NordAN also flagged risks of normalising alcohol through tourism-style experiences, and raised legal concerns about compatibility with EU rules on free movement, non-discrimination, and the operation of state monopolies, as well as possible issues under the Services Directive and EU state aid rules.
At the NordAN Open Day in Stockholm (6 February 2025), the farm sales proposal was also discussed and presented by Emil Juslin from the IOGT NTO as one of several parallel pressures on the Swedish monopoly model, alongside distance sales and a broader state inquiry into alcohol policy effectiveness.
On 23 April 2025, the Riksdag voted to introduce small-scale farm sales for a limited period. Accent reported the vote as 154 in favour, 129 against, 19 abstentions, and 47 absent. The reform entered into force on 1 June 2025 and is designed as a six-year trial, with an evaluation before the rules are repealed.
Ahead of the start date, Folkhälsomyndigheten issued implementing rules and clarified key practical requirements. These included that the visitor arrangement must be the focus, contain a knowledge element, have a minimum duration of 30 minutes, include verbal information about alcohol harms, and be supported by an own-control programme. Municipalities issue permits and conduct supervision, and a knowledge test is part of the permitting set-up.
Early uptake was limited and uneven. Accent reported that by mid-August 2025, 91 farm sales permits had been granted, based on figures from Folkhälsomyndigheten, with strong regional differences.
On 23 October 2025, Förvaltningsrätten i Stockholm issued judgments (case numbers 14815-25 and 14881-25) that changed Stockholm City’s permit decisions and allowed two actors to sell 10:00 to 20:00 every day of the year. The court stressed that any restriction of sales hours must be based on concrete circumstances in the specific case, and that general alcohol policy concerns or a general wish to align hours with Systembolaget is not sufficient on its own.