Alcohol consumption in Sweden experienced a significant decline last year, marking the most substantial drop in nearly a decade, excluding the pandemic-impacted year of 2020, according to research released on Friday.
Data from the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAN) revealed that alcohol consumption among individuals aged 15 and above dropped to 8.6 liters per capita in 2023, reflecting a 2.7 percent decrease from the previous year. This decline, the largest since 2014, was attributed to the economic challenges faced by the country.
Bjorn Trolldal, a researcher at CAN, noted, “This shows that the economic situation in 2023 has also influenced the buying of alcohol.”
Factors such as the depreciation of the Swedish krona and rising fuel prices impacted imports, particularly from Germany, which constitutes half of Sweden’s total imports, Trolldal explained.
Sweden’s economy contracted by 0.3 percent in 2023, positioning it as one of the weakest performers in the European Union. This economic downturn coincided with the central bank’s efforts to combat soaring inflation by raising interest rates.
Under Sweden’s alcohol distribution system, known for its state-run outlets called Systembolaget, Swedes can purchase alcoholic beverages with an alcohol level above 3.5 percent. Systembolaget accounted for approximately 71 percent of total consumption in 2023, a notable increase from 2019 figures.
The study also highlighted a consistent decline in alcohol consumption in Sweden, which has decreased by approximately 10 percent since 2014.