Alcohol and serving permits
Here you will find information on how to apply for a alkohol license or to make notifications or changes to your license.
Anyone wishing to serve alcoholic beverages forpayment must have a serving permit. Alcoholic beverages include spirits, wine, strong beer, other fermented alcoholic beverages and preparations similar to alcoholic beverages.
The basic principle is that all serving of alcoholic beverages requires a license. There is an exception where a license is not required. The following four conditions must then be met:
- There is no profit interest, i.e. the service is provided at cost price.
- Serving takes place in premises where there is otherwise no professional sale of alcoholic beverages or light drinks. The service does not take place in a café, restaurant or similar.
- The service takes place on a single occasion for certain predetermined persons.
- No cost to participants other than the cost of purchasing the drinks. Guests have not paid for food, entertainment, admission or anything else.
If you are unsure about what applies, you are welcome to contact the municipality's alcohol administrator.
Here we have gathered information that can be helpful when applying for a serving permit.
Alcohol laws
In March 2010, the Government submitted proposal 2009/10:125 to the Parliament. The Parliament then adopted the new Alcohol Act (2010:1622). The new Alcohol Act entered into force and replaced the Alcohol Act (1994:1738).
Many provisions have been carried over from the old laws. Some new and amended provisions are also included in the current Alcohol Act. Some examples of changes are that those who run catering operations can be granted a permanent permit, that the requirements for kitchen equipment and food offerings have been modernized and that municipalities must have guidelines and supervision plans.
The Alcohol Act is a protective legislation and regulates how alcoholic beverages should be served. The aim is to limit the harmful effects of alcohol through high demands on licensees and responsible serving where alcohol policy interests take precedence over business policy interests.
Information on the Alcohol Act (2010:1622) in its entirety can be found in the link collection at the bottom of this page. There you will also find a link to the Public Health Agency of Sweden, which issues regulations in this area.
Guidelines for the application of the alcohol law
According to the Alcohol Act (2010:1622), Sandviken Municipality is obliged to create guidelines for the application of the Alcohol Act and its regulations in the municipality. The purpose of the guidelines is to supplement and adapt the assessment criteria of the Alcohol Act and provide information about what applies in the municipality.
The guidelines can be seen as rules of the game where, for example, times for serving alcohol, suitability testing and supervision work are described. The overall goal of the guidelines is for the municipality to work to create good restaurant and living environments for the municipality's residents and good conditions for restaurant owners to compete on equal terms. You can find the municipality's guidelines via the link below.
Guidelines for serving permits (in Swedish) Opens in new window.
Definition of alcoholic beverages
The introductory chapter of the Alcohol Act contains the following definitions of alcoholic beverages.
- Alcoholic beverages - means a beverage with an alcohol content of more than 2.25% by volume. Alcoholic beverages are divided in the Alcohol Act into spirits, wine, beer and other fermented alcoholic beverages.
- Spirits - refers to an alcoholic beverage containing spirits.
- Wine - refers to an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of grapes or grape juice. Wine also includes wine to which spirits made from wine products have been added during production. The alcoholic strength of wine does not exceed 22% by volume.
- Beer - refers to a beverage produced by fermentation with dried or roasted malt as the main extractive substance. Beer with an alcoholic strength exceeding 2.25% but not 3.5% by volume is referred to as " folk beer". Beer exceeding 3.5% by volume is called strong beer.
- Other fermented alcoholic beverage - refers to an alcoholic beverage produced by fermentation of fruit, berries or other parts of plants and which is not wine or beer.
- Alcoholic preparation - refers to a product that contains more than 2.25% alcohol by volume and is not an alcoholic beverage or technical spirit, nor is it a medicine covered by the Medicines Act.
- Alcoholic beverage-like preparation - refers to an alcoholic preparation that from a consumption point of view is comparable to alcoholic beverages or can otherwise be assumed to be used as an intoxicant.
Apply for an alcohol licens
An alcohol licens is a municipal permit required to serve alcoholic beverages to the public or closed parties. There are several different types of serving permits. Which one is relevant to you depends on which business you intend to run, who your business is aimed at and which alcoholic beverages you wish to serve.
The various permits are listed here. For a more detailed account, contact the municipality's alcohol administrator.
Serving permits
Here you can apply for a permanent serving permit for the public or a closed party, a permanent catering permit for closed parties and a permit for break-time serving.
Apply for a serving permit via our e-service. If you are unable to print the documents, contact the alcohol administrator and the documents will be sent to you by post.
What do I need to attach to my application?
Depending on the type of permit you are applying for, you must attach a number of documents to your application. Examples of documents to be attached to a new application: registration certificate from the Swedish Companies Registration Office, ownership, purchase agreement and financing, finances and budget, right of disposal and drawings of the premises and any outdoor seating.
For the application to be complete, all documents must be attached to the application.
Gästrike Räddningstjänst has produced a guide to what you need to consider from a fire safety point of view (in swedish) pdf, 201 kB, opens in new window.. It also helps you with what should be shown in the drawing.
What happens to my application?
The following information is intended to be comprehensive and general but gives an idea of what happens to your application. If you have any questions, please contact the municipality's alcohol administrator.
When your application is received, the municipality will start assessing your application. The assessment consists, among other things, of evaluating the documents you refer to and making a referral request. The most common referral bodies are the police authority, the Swedish Tax Agency, the emergency services, the municipality's public works department and the Swedish Enforcement Authority. As a rule, one or more meetings are also held with the applicant and municipal administrator. They discuss your particular circumstances and what is important to consider for you as an applicant.
During the assessment process, the applicant must also take a knowledge test. More information is available under the chapter "Knowledge test" and on the website of the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
We investigate your application and take into account the consultation responses. We then write a report that includes an assessment and a proposal for a decision. As a rule, the political committee then makes a decision. If you as an applicant want to be present when your application is decided, you have the right to do so. If you are granted a serving permit, you will receive a decision and a permit certificate. If you are not granted a serving permit, you will receive a decision that you have the right to appeal. Information on how to appeal will be sent with your decision.
Processing time
When the application is complete, you can expect a processing time of about 4-6 weeks.
Who decides on my application?
After examining your application for a serving permit, a decision is made. Who makes the decision depends on the type of license you have applied for. The basic principle is that it is elected politicians who make the decisions. In Sandviken Municipality, it is politicians in the Individual and Family Care Committee who make decisions. Some decisions can be made by municipal administrator. For information on who makes decisions in your case, contact the municipality's alcohol administrator.
How to pay my application fee
Your application fee will be invoiced by the municipality in connection with the application. How much your application fee is depends on what your application covers. For further information on fees, please refer to the chapter "Fees for serving licenses".
Process description
Procedure for restaurants pdf, 101 kB, opens in new window.
Procedure for temporary permits pdf, 24 kB, opens in new window.
Temporary catering license
Temporary public service license for the public
To serve alcoholic beverages to the public for a certain period of time or on an occasional basis, you need a permit.
Temporary serving permit for closed parties
To serve alcoholic beverages for a certain period or on an occasional basis to a group of guests, such as members of an association, a staff group or similar, you need a serving permit for closed parties.
Tasting for wholesalers and manufacturers
Manufacturers and wholesalers can apply for a tasting permit
Information on knowledge tests
The Alcohol Act (2010:1622) requires licensees to take a knowledge test. The Public Health Agency provides and administers the tests themselves. The municipality is responsible for ensuring that the knowledge tests are carried out in accordance with the regulations (FoHMFS 2014:7).
The municipality cannot issue a serving license before you as an applicant have passed the knowledge test.
Here is some general information about the knowledge test. For more information, contact the municipality's alcohol administrator.
The knowledge test is web-based and is taken at the municipality. There are seven different tests. Which test you have to take depends on which permit you are applying for. The seven different tests are:
- Permanent serving permit to the public
- Permanent serving permit for closed parties in catering operations
- Permanent licence for serving food and drink in a closed group without catering activities
- Temporary serving license to the public
- Temporary serving license in closed parties
- Permit for break service
- Permit for tasting
The questions in the knowledge test are divided into four areas. These areas are alcohol policy, supervision, food and equipment and serving. In order to pass the knowledge test, you must have 75% correct answers in all areas. The alcohol administrator will notify you of your result, usually the day after the test is taken. You will also receive your results in written form by post. Once you have achieved a passing score, you will receive a certificate of successful completion of the knowledge test.
Who should take the test?
If a company or an association applies for a serving permit, it is the people on the board who must meet the knowledge requirement. The guideline is that half of the board members should take the test. The municipality assesses which person or persons who have a significant influence and are active in the catering business should take the test.
Some prerequisites for the test
The knowledge test consists of a number of questions in each area. The number of questions depends on which knowledge test you are taking. Anyone taking the test must be able to show proof of identity at the time of the test. The time you have to complete the knowledge test is 90 minutes and a maximum of 120 minutes for an oral knowledge test. To be allowed to take the knowledge test orally, you must not be proficient in any of the languages in which the test is offered, you must be able to prove that you have significant reading and writing difficulties, or if there are other special reasons. No aids are allowed except for dictionaries.
Retest
If you do not pass the first test, you are eligable to take two retests. This means that you have a maximum of three attempts to obtain a pass. If you do not pass the first test, contact the municipality's alcohol administrator to book a new test. Note that you can get a new test opportunity at the earliest on the sixth working day after the previous test opportunity. In the case of a retest, the entire knowledge test is repeated, including the areas you may have passed at the previous test. If you do not pass after two retests, the municipality must reject your application. A new application can be submitted immediately.
Your preparations
There are no specific requirements in the Alcohol Act regarding how you have acquired your knowledge. The important thing is that you can show that you have it. This means that certificates from, for example, a training company are not required. Your preparation can consist of, for example, courses or training at a training company or through self-study. You can find information that can help you on the website of the Public Health Agency of External link, opens in new window. Sweden.
Exceptions to the knowledge test
There are times when you may be exempt from the obligation to take a knowledge test. For information on whether you and your circumstances are covered by the exemptions, contact the municipality's alcohol administrator.
Do you need permission from other authorities?
Are you going to have an outdoor restaurant or serving tent?
- Apply to the police for "Use of public space". External link, opens in new window.
- Check with Västra Gästriklands samhällsbyggnadsförvaltning if you need a building permit.
Are you going to have entertainment activities such as a music performance, concert or dance?
- Apply to the police for "Use of public places". External link, opens in new window.
- Check with the Environmental and Health Protection Department at Västra Gästrikland's community building administration what rules apply to outdoor music.
Are you going to use LPG or other flammable goods?
Notification or modification of a serving permit
You are obliged to report news or changes to your serving permit. This could be, for example, when you have new serving managers at the restaurant or new owners in your business. Here you can see the various services that you must use for notification, including if you want to spice your own schnapps.
Modification of a server's license
If you have a licence to serve alcohol, you must report any changes to the company or the premises.
Persons responsible for serving
The licensee must report the person or persons appointed to be responsible for serving alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverage-like preparations to the municipality's licensing unit.
According to Chapter 8, Section 18 of the Alcohol Act, the licensee or a person appointed by the licensee to be responsible for serving alcoholic beverages shall supervise the serving and be present at the serving location during the entire serving time.
The person in charge of serving must be at least 20 years old, suitable for the task and aware of their responsibilities.
It is the licensee who assesses whether the serving manager has the required knowledge of alcohol legislation and is suitable for the task. The licensing unit does not check the suitability of the serving manager.
Serving premises for a catering license
If you want to sell alcohol at a catering event, you need a catering license. You must then register the premises where you will be serving at each catering event.
Right to flavouring of schnapps
If you have a permanent license to serve alcoholic beverages, you can flavouring your own schnapps. You must make a notification for each batch of spirits you flavour for schnapps.
Tasting of alcoholic beverages for permanently licensed licensees
If you have a permanent license to serve the public and want to organize a tasting of alcoholic beverages, you must make a notification.
Termination of a catering license
If you have a licence to serve alcohol, you must notify us if you are no longer serving alcohol.
Fees, supervision and cooperation
Fees for catering licenses
All Swedish municipalities have the right to charge application and supervision fees in connection with serving licenses. However, the fees charged must comply with the cost principle. This means that municipalities may only charge as much as the costs are. The fees for serving licenses are decided by the municipal council. The most recently decided fees in Sandviken Municipality apply from November 1, 2023.
Application fees are a fee that you have to pay to have your application examined and decided. This may apply, for example, in the case of a new application, changed ownership and changed license. The Alcohol Act (2010:1622) requires licensees to take a knowledge test. You pay a fee per test session.
The inspection fee for serving alcohol is made up of two parts. The first is a fixed inspection fee and the second is a variable turnover-based fee. The variable fee is based on what each individual licensee reports through the so-called restaurant reports. Licensees are required by law to submit restaurant reports. You can find all fees and fee categories on the link below.
Supervision
Sandviken Municipality together with the Police Authority constitute the local supervisory authorities. This means that they must carry out supervision of all businesses that hold a serving license.
The County Administrative Board in Gävleborg County is responsible for carrying out supervision at a regional level and the Public Health Agency of Sweden is responsible for supervision at a national level. Sandviken Municipality's supervision work is associated with an annual cost for those who hold a serving permit. For further information on this, please refer to the chapter on fees. By law, the municipality must write a supervision plan that must be submitted to the County Administrative Board.
Read more about the municipality's work with supervision under the Alcohol Act.
Restaurant report
Everyone with a permanent serving license is required to submit a restaurant report every year. The obligation to provide information is set out in Chapter 9, Section 14, second paragraph of the Alcohol Act (2010:1622) and in the Public Health Agency of Sweden's regulations on statistical information on serving (FoHMFS 2014:5). The information you report is used by the municipality, the county administrative board and the Public Health Agency of Sweden for supervision, follow-up and statistical processing. The restaurant report also forms the basis for the municipality's calculation of your variable inspection fee.
When should I submit the restaurant report?
Sandviken municipality will send the restaurant report template to you. The information you fill in must cover the accounting period January 1 through December 31. The restaurant report must be submitted no later than March 1 of the following year. You choose whether you want to send it by post to the municipality or register it online. You will receive more detailed information together with the mailing of the restaurant report templet.
What should I report?
You must report, among other things, the normal prices of alcoholic beverages, the different types of turnover you have and the volumes of alcoholic beverages purchased. More detailed information will be sent to you with the mailing of the restaurant report templet.
What happens if I don't submit the restaurant report?
If you do not submit the report, Sandviken Municipality may issue a formal remark or a warning pursuant to Chapter 9, Section 17 of the Alcohol Act. If you do not submit the report after a warning, the license can be revoked under Chapter 9, Section 18 of the same law.
Contact
If you have questions that are not answered in the information on this page, please contact Medborgarservice on 026-24 00 00 or serveringsarenden@sandviken.se
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