Also, isn't booze stupidly expensive?
What sort of things are expensive/cheap compared to the UK?
Yes! Booze is crazy expensive (in bars/clubs/pubs)! They have three kinds.
1) Folköle (folks beer) 2.5% or less
2) Mellanöle (medium beer) 2.5%-3.9%
3) Other (proper beer, wine, spirits etc) 3.9% +
The lowest stuff is available at supermarkets with ID as long as you are over 18
The medium stuff and other, you have to be 20 to buy, and you can only buy from one specific chain of shops (called systembolaget) which is run by the government. The alcohol from systembolaget is very slightly more pricey than the UK, but they have crazy opening hours (weekdays 10-7pm, saturdays 10-2/3pm, sundays + public holidays closed)
Bars/clubs/pubs operate as you would expect, and they have government sactioned bouncers on the door usually. Drinks in bars are really pricey though (think a tenner for a spirit and mixer, minimum fiver for a shot of tequila/sambuca etc)
Which gives rise to pre-parties, where Swedes basically get together at someones house, get so near to wasted you can barely tell, then hit the town for a drink to tip them over the edge.
Also, as a direct result of this alcohol policy, Sweden has nealry no trouble with "the yoof of today" getting wasted on the swings with a bottle of white lightning. No chavs, no idiots cluttering the streets with their stupidity.
