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Comment by gniv | Hacker News Reader

I was first introduced to 3% beer in Norway. It was crazy expensive (due to taxes on alcohol) and really good. I was disappointed that I couldn't find anything similar in the US.

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I'm in Sweden on vacation now (and still binging HN..) and they have 3,5% variants of most major brand of beers like Carlsberg, Heineken and others, It's great! It tastes like a real beer, but without the buzz I usually get after a six-pack.

3,5% is actually the maximum ABV you can get in supermarkets in Sweden by law. For anything higher ABV than that you need to go to the government-owned chain called Systembolaget or go to a bar or restaurant that has a license to serve alcohol.

Because of the restrictions though, craft breweries have been making some great <3,5% beers that they sell at supermarkets.

> 3,5% is actually the maximum ABV you can get in supermarkets in Sweden by law. For anything higher ABV than that you need to go to the government-owned chain called Systembolaget

Jesus that sounds terrible. I get the good intent I suppose but the hell..

There are US states with monopolies on liquor sales too. It’s not that bad. The plus side is they are usually very clean and don’t let people hang around all day. It’s strictly business and that’s a good thing.

Systembolaget is a pretty good shop. They offer a wide range of products and in the case of wines they tell you what kind of food the product goes well with

I've been there! I agree; pretty good store :)

It used to be the same in Colorado until recently. State law mandated only 3.2% alcohol by weight (~4.0% ABV) could be sold in grocery stores or consumed in state parks. It changed with a state-wide referendum.

There is a theory that this law is why craft beer boomed in Colorado. It is easier for small breweries to sell beer through a mom & pop liquor store than a national chain grocery store. Folks were more used to buying beer at liquor stores than other states.

Michigan is a liquor control state and also experienced a craft beer boom.

The history of it goes back to the same era when the US implemented prohibition. Sweden had a referendum about having prohibition as well, but the prohibitionists lost by a small margin, so instead of banning alcohol sales, they just kept the pre-existing WW1 rationing of alcohol in place even after the war ended. Eventually the rationing was removed but the government monopoly was kept in place.

IIRC Utah limits beer to 4% statewide - the major breweries make Utah-specific versions.

Falcon Export is my go to local beer here in Stockholm. It's also available in 3.5%.

Hope you enjoy your visit!

i went to a shop in Norway, and the assistant was very helpful, telling me all about the local beers on the shelves. i got my picks and went to the checkout. he's waiting for me, and with a straight face says "I can't sell you beer, it's past 6PM".

That’s a shame to hear. While I understand why Norway taxes alcohol, placing such high taxes on a low-alcohol alternative encourages purchase of higher alcohol options in the same product category.

Ideally low alchol beer would have a mild tax discount to encourage sustainable consumption.

That is sort of the case. Lower alcohol drinks are taxed less per volume.

But taxes are so high, that even low-alcohol drinks are still expensive.

A 3% beer is taxed ~US$1.25 for a half liter.

https://www.skatteetaten.no/en/business-and-organisation/vat...

There is currently a big surge in low alcohol concentration brewing with a range of new options available. You should check out distributors for more. I find many options at Whole Foods so this stuff must be approaching the mainstream.

Yes, mostly very low alcohol iirc (0.5). I am now living in France and the selection in low-alcohol is very limited, mostly German beers.

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