When prices skyrocket at home and more and more people want to keep a little extra in their pockets, many people travel outside Sweden’s borders to buy alcohol abroad.
But it can be expensive if you don’t know what applies to importing alcohol.
– We usually hear a lot of different explanations for what you should have the alcohol for. And generally speaking, the public is probably a bit ill-informed as to what the conditions are that must be met, says Martin Peterssonexpert at the Swedish Customs Service, in TV4’s Nyhetsmorgon.
How many liters of alcohol can you bring into Sweden?
You who purchase alcohol in another EU country are allowed to bring in a quantity intended for your own or your family’s private use.
– This basically means that you are not allowed to sell the alcohol. And then it must be consumed by those who are registered at your address, says Martin Petersson in the TV4 program.
It is permitted to bring in 10 liters of hard liquor, 20 liters of fortified wine, 110 liters of beer and 90 liters of wine without having to state and prove what the alcohol is to be used for, but it is all a matter of judgment, according to the Customs Service.
The authority has the right to decide whether they consider the amount of alcohol to be reasonable for private use for you or your family.
This is the most common excuse among those who get caught in customs – can result in expensive fines
Other rules if you organize a party
However, anyone planning a larger event, such as a wedding or birthday party, may be allowed to bring in more alcohol. But then it is important that you can prove in some way that it is precisely a larger event that is being organised.
– If you are getting married, you have often booked a church or done an obstacle test, booked a party venue. If you can show it when you get to the border, there will rarely be any problems, says Martin Petersson i News morning.
But it is again up to the Swedish Customs Administration to assess whether your explanation is credible. If they don’t buy your statement, the goods can be seized and you can be arrested, which in the worst case could lead to prosecution.
Read all our articles about the Customs here.