Rosengren vs the Monopolists

For many decades, Swedes who enjoy drinking alcohol have had to live puritan lives forced upon us by moralistic do-gooders with more power than any officials should have in a democratic country. Many people voted in favour of Sweden joining the European Union because they wished to curb these illiberal tendencies in Swedish society. Today, many of these voters will be happy to learn that the European Court of Justice has ruled that import of alcoholic beverages made over the Internet should be legalised. From an article in The Local:

Tuesday’s judgment came as a surprise to many after the court’s advocate general recommended in November last year that the European Court uphold Swedish law in the Rosengren Case.

The case was brought by Klas Rosengren and other Swedish nationals who ordered cases of Spanish wine through a Danish website.

The wine was confiscated by the customs authorities and criminal proceedings were brought.

The Swedish Supreme Court asked the European court whether the Swedish legislation was compatible with Community law.

The EU court took the view that ”the fact that Systembolaget may refuse an order from a consumer to import alcoholic beverages amounts to a quantitative restriction on imports.”

All major Swedish newspapers write about the court ruling. Here are links to some of them:

• Dagens Nyheter
• Svenska Dagbladet
• Sydsvenska Dagbladet
• Dina Pengar
• Aftonbladet