In recent weeks, the Coast Guard has carried out a national initiative with increased sobriety checks at sea. They have carried out 1,377 checks in Lake Mälaren, Vänern and along the coast of Sweden. Only 25 of all checks led to a criminal complaint during the initiative, which ran from 8 to 28 July.
– Most are sober, says Gustaf Wägmark, commander of the Coast Guard in Oxelösund.
In Södermanland County, 37 checks were carried out during the initiative, of which four led to criminal charges.
Changing alcohol culture
Strängnäs guest harbor is a popular destination for boat owners during the summer, and those SVT talks to here agree that alcohol and boating do not belong together.
– We have been out on the lake for three years and I have never seen anyone drunk, says Elin Ahtinen.
According to her, the alcohol culture has changed.
– There is a different awareness today, and the Coast Guard carries out more checks, she says.
Filling up the lake is an unusual sight for the boat owners in Strängnäs gästhamn – hear their thoughts about alcohol at sea in the clip.