Seven in ten feel expected to drink alcohol at Midsummer

Karolina Dahlbeck Nobel

22.06.2026 - Togetherness, traditional Midsummer food and the feeling of summer are at the top of the list of what Swedes see as most important for a successful Midsummer celebration. Alcohol ranks far lower. Even so, seven in ten people say there is an expectation to drink alcohol at Midsummer, according to a new survey from Systembolaget.

Only 12 percent say alcohol is important for a successful Midsummer celebration. Far more people point to spending time with family and friends (74 percent), classic Midsummer food and the summer atmosphere with bright evenings. “Togetherness is at the centre of Midsummer celebrations. At the same time, many people feel an expectation to drink, which shows that there are strong alcohol norms around Midsummer. It may be worth reflecting on what expectations we ourselves contribute to around the holiday,” says Karolina Dahlbeck Nobel, public health expert at Systembolaget.

Young adults stand out in the survey. Among 18 to 29-year-olds, 57 percent think there is too much focus on alcohol during Midsummer, compared with 48 percent of the population as a whole. Expectations around alcohol are also stronger among young adults, with 81 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds saying there is an expectation to drink at Midsummer. Four in ten in this age group say it is harder to abstain from alcohol at Midsummer than during other holidays.

The results also show that 24 percent think it is harder to abstain from alcohol at Midsummer, with young people overrepresented at 42 percent. Among those who celebrate Midsummer, 35 percent have at some point experienced alcohol having a negative effect on the atmosphere. In addition, 75 percent do not think it is acceptable for adults to become intoxicated at Midsummer when children are present. The survey was carried out by Verian in the Sifo panel on behalf of Systembolaget between 5 and 9 June 2026. A total of 1,021 people aged 18 to 79 took part, and the sample is nationally representative of the Swedish population in terms of age, gender and geography.