Movendi: The Alcohol Act should protect people, keep the food-service requirement

Kristina Sperkova

07.05.2026 - Today, Thursday 7 May, the Swedish Parliament votes on the government’s proposal to abolish the so-called food-service requirement for alcohol serving licences. Movendi is critical of the proposal and wants the Alcohol Act to continue protecting people’s health, ensuring a reasonable working environment, and supporting safety in everyday life.

“A society that cares about its citizens also protects them. The food-service requirement is care in practice, a guarantee that alcohol is served in a way that protects people’s wellbeing. Abolishing the food-service requirement is a simplification for a small number of businesses and a deterioration for many. Those who face reality every day, staff, parents, municipalities and doctors, are all saying the same thing: keep the food-service requirement,” says Kristina Sperkova, President of Movendi Sweden.

The government’s bill would remove the requirement for food service and an in-house kitchen for those applying for an alcohol serving licence. The proposal would also abolish provisions on seating and cocktail bars. The legislative changes are proposed to enter into force on 1 June 2026.

The Committee on Social Affairs has supported the government’s proposal. The Social Democrats, the Left Party and the Green Party have submitted reservations with comments on parts of the proposal.

“Politics now needs to return to the basic purpose of alcohol policy: to reduce harm and protect people. Sweden needs to improve what works, not step by step allow alcohol to take over more of our public life. Movendi will continue to stand up for people’s right to feel safe in society, for people’s health and, through this, for an Alcohol Act that puts public health before profit,” says Kristina Sperkova.