Every day there is a new thing (or, some days, a number of things) to learn when living in a new country. Routines cease to exist for a time while you figure out how the grocery store works, how to ride the tram (and where to buy a pass and which lines is it good for?), et cetera. Everything is new, every single day. That is the one thing we have learned to count on.

So we just received a huge order from IKEA (because we sold the majority of our furniture before moving, not knowing where we would end up and how much space we would have). You know what goes perfectly with a truckload of boxes of things waiting to be built with tiny little hex keys? Ice. Cold. Beer. Now normally, at home in Kansas City, if you need beer or wine or anything of the sort, you hop in your car and head to Tipsy’s (or liquor store of choice). Heading to a dinner? Grab a bottle of wine. Heading to a bbq? A cold 6-er will do. Having a big party? Fill the trunk with a few cases. Go before work, go after work, heck, even go on a Sunday evening!

Here in Sweden, having a cold drink accompanying bunk bed building takes a bit more planning. There is one place to buy your alcohol, Systembolaget (translates to liquor store), an “alcohol retail monopoly”. Now, there is more than one location, of course, and the shops are clean and really well organized. However, everything is on a shelf (no refrigerated display cabinets, for example, because, according to their website, that would “increase immediate consumption, which goes against our mandate”). In addition to planning ahead to chill your drinks, you also have to keep their hours in mind. Closing at 7pm on weekdays, they close at 3:00 in the afternoon on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays.

Why the (seemingly) tight restrictions? “Systembolaget exists for one reason: To minimize alcohol-related problems by selling alcohol in a responsible way, without profit motive. Our vision is a society in which everyone can enjoy alcoholic drinks with consideration about health and without harming either themselves or others.” Their website is full of information about sustainability, code of conduct, environmental footprint, and social responsibility. (Click here to read more in English).

As with every other new thing here, it sure makes for good conversation. Not necessarily better, not worse, but definitely different.