For decades, Sweden’s liquor stores were few and far. They closed by 6 on weekdays and never opened on weekends. Choice was limited and prices high. Bottles were displayed inside glass cases. Customers took numbers – and waited.
These measures were imposed to discourage the consumption of alcohol in a nation with a tradition of drinking to the point of drunkenness and a history of abuse going back to the miseries of 19th-century industrialization, when cheap liquor led to widespread abuse.
But piece by piece, Sweden is the motherland of rules not only regarding alcohol and anti-alcohol policies. Actually these rules and policies violate the European Union’s rules of fair competition. These kind of measures, rules, limitations I found not only within alcohol industry.
During my 2 weeks in Sverige I concluded that Sweets… sorry Swedes 😳 have many rules, too many – and maybe this is good in order to have a high level of living, respect in the society and bla bla bla.
Strange rules, restrictions and prohibition signs are everywhere, in front of the school, kindergarten, night clubs, below my bed, in front of my door and even in front of McDonald’s (which is supposed to represent the place of all possibilities) :


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