THE SWEDISH DRINK SYSTEM : A CRITICISM [To the Editor
of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In your issue of December 17th appears an article, " The Campaign of the Drink Trade." The writer states that the success of the Swedish or so-called "Bratt System " of drink legislation is widely acknowledged, and that its profits are limited to 6 or 7 per cent., "all additional prOfits going to the State."
Undoubtedly the last-named condition tempted the then Government to sanction the law which enabled the Restriction System to be established, but the " Sprit Centralen " has not kept the terms agreed upon. During the years 1917-1919 the Government did not receive a farthing dividend !
In 1920 and 1921 the Government had to force the dividends from " Sprit Centralen," moreover the dividend in question only represented a minor part of the profit earned by the " Sprit Centralen."
When the statistics given in the article are considered it must be remembered there has been a considerable increase in the price of all alcoholic drinks, and also that the police authorities nowadays prefer to free rather than to convict, and that improved education and improved conditions of living generally are partly responsible.
To call the system of restriction popular is scarcely possible in view of the continual protests in the Press from all parts of the country. To ascertain whether the " Sprit Centralen " has fulfilled its undertaking to hand over to the Government all gains beyond 7 per cent. interest the Government appointed a Committee of Control, which has just published (January 14th, 1928) the result of its researches—a book of about 300 pages. The Report of this Royal Commission ought to be studied by any country before embarking upon a similar venture. The Riksdag will probably be compelled to have the drinking laws revised, perhaps the whole restriction system altered.
Minor functionaries in towns and communities have, through so-called " Systems," applied existing laws differently, with the result that there is widespread discontent and trouble is brewing all over the country. Neither Norway nor Den- mark have thought it expedient to introduce the " Bratt System."—I am, Sir, &c.,
[We think that the writer of this letter, who is a Swede, is incorrect in some of his surmises. As far as we can ascertain from first-hand investigation in Sweden, there is little likeli- hood of a fundamental alteration in the Bratt Drink System. Of course the system has enemies : what successful enterprise has not ? For our part we are convinced that the Swedish System of Drink Control has come to stay. It may be quite true to say that the State has not received as large a revenue from the surplus profits as it could have wished or as it expected. But as we understand it, the primary purpose of the Swedish Drink legislation is not to make a profit but to carry on the trade in the best interests of the community. This, we repeat, has, in our view, been achieved. We do not underestimate the other influences making for sobriety enumerated by our correspondent.—ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
