Stuff Swedish people like.. Drinking Alcohol!

People in a lot of countries believe they rank amongst the highest consumers of alcohol in the world, i certainly did as to my countries standing when i lived there, but boy was i wrong. Maybe it's the cold in winter, the darkness of that season or something else altogether, but Swedish people drink a lot of alcohol.

There are a lot of celebrations in Sweden, some as other countries do like christmas, new years eve, easter and the like, and then there's a number of celebrations, we'll call them 'parties' as in reality that's what they are, that Swedish people seem to have invented as purely an excuse to get together and get drunk. You cannot go out for a night on the town in Sweden, if you are a real Swede, without first attending a pre-party where you get drunk before ever stepping into a bar or club. Then after you have consumed all the alcohol you can manage at a club before it closes for the night, you head back to someone's abode, either pre arranged or done so at the club, to keep drinking until the wee hours of the morning in what's referred to as the after party. Sweet! That is if you require alcohol to sustain your life, which seems to be the case for some Swedish people..

The government has a state owned monopoly on the sale of alcohol in Sweden, it's called Systembolaget and yes you can buy light beer in the supermarket, but seriously. This doesn't stop Swedes from paying the exuberant prices charged there nor for that matter what the bars and clubs get away with in terms of pricing.. although the expensive drinks when you go out might explain the pre-party, this could in no way account for the after party. Swedish people have found a novel way of saving money spent on alcohol, at least the kind drunk at home, hence all the parties. There are the constant ferries traveling to other countries from Swedish ports which travel through international waters, for a short time, but more than enough to get some duty free alcohol, and then there's the road trip, although usually less than 24hrs, to Germany. Cheap alcohol heaven to all Swedes where the vehicle of choice just needs to ensure it isn't scrapping the pavement and about to have catastrophic suspension failure to be allowed to cart alcohol back across the border.