Beer classification in Sweden and Finland


The beer classification in Sweden and Finland sorts beers into classes based on their alcohol content. The classes vary slightly between the two countries. Finnish and Swedish alcohol monopolies are completely exceptional in the countries of the European Union.

Finland

While previously enforced by law, the beer class legislation was repealed in 1995 with the accession of Finland into the European Union and the consequent harmonization of tax law, and is now merely kept as a convention. However, drinks containing under 2.8% alcohol are still favorably taxed, and the retail sale of any drinks containing more than 5.5% alcohol is still limited to state retailer Alko.
alcohol content available in pubsavailable in supermarketsnotes
Class I0.0% - 2.8%yesyesno alcohol retail license necessary
Class II2.8% – 3.7%yesyesnever used in practice
Class III3.7% - 4.7%yesyesthe most popular beer type
Class IVA4.8% - 5.2%yesyes prohibitively taxed before 1995 and largely limited to export sales
Class IVB5.2% - 8.0%yesup to 5.5% and microbreweries with a capacity under 500,000 liter per year can sell up to 12% from factory outlet prohibitively taxed before 1995

Sweden

Only classes I and II can be purchased in supermarkets, while class III can only be purchased in restaurants licensed to do so, and the state shops Systembolaget. Class II beer is loosely divided into two sub-groups, light "Folköl" with a maximum ABV of 2.8% and normal "Folköl", with a maximum ABV of 3.5%. An alcohol content of 2.8% and below is not subject to specific, higher, alcohol taxes, but only to VAT as any other food or non-alcoholic drink. Class III beer is also, unofficially, divided into two sub-groups, "Mellanöl", with ABV between 3.6% and 4.5%, and normal "strong beer" with ABV above 4.5%. There is no real maximum amount of how much alcohol Class III beer may contain, and amounts of 10%+ are common. Mellanöl used to be available in supermarkets between October 1, 1965 and July 1, 1977, but was removed from the supermarkets due to heavy consumption by Swedish teenagers. Today "Mellanöl" does not exist as a class of its own, but "Mellanöl style beer" is available at Systembolaget. Before 1997, alcohol by weight was used, and then the limit for shops was 2.8 %, same as 3.5 % alcohol by volume, which was a source of confusion.
alcohol content available in restaurantsavailable in supermarketstaxed
Class I 0.0% - 2.25%yesyesno
Class II 2.8%yesyesno
Class II 3.5%yesyesyes
Class III 3.6% - 4.5%yesnoyes
Class III 4.6% +yesnoyes