The handbook · Before you open
Alcohol permit
This is the one permit where the municipality can say no. The application takes time and costs money, so start early and do it right from the start.
Summary
A serveringstillstånd, the licence to serve alcohol, is applied for at the municipality where the restaurant is located. You have to pass the kunskapsprov, a knowledge test on the alcohol act, be able to offer cooked food, have your finances in order and show where the money for the business comes from. Processing takes two to four months and the application fee is between 8,000 and 15,000 kronor.
Numbers to plan with
- 2 to 4 months
- is how long processing takes in most municipalities
- 8,000 to 15,000 SEK
- application fee. Every municipality sets its own rate.
- Kunskapsprov
- is required of at least one person in the management
- Cooked food
- must be available for a permanent permit to the general public
What the municipality requires of you
The alcohol act exists to protect public health, so the municipality reviews both you as a person and the restaurant as a business. It is a more thorough review than anything else in the handbook.
The review covers everyone with significant influence in the company, meaning owners and board members. Debts at Kronofogden, the Swedish enforcement authority, or unpaid tax often stop an application.
- Personal suitability: sound conduct in money matters and nothing blocking in the criminal record
- Financing: you have to show where every krona in the business comes from, with bank statements
- The kunskapsprov, a test on the alcohol act that you take at the municipality
- A kitchen and a food range that can handle cooked food, not just toast and crisps
- The premises have to be suitable, with enough escape routes and a defined serving area
The kunskapsprov
The test is taken on a computer at the municipality and takes an hour. The questions cover the alcohol act, serving, marketing, supervision and medical effects.
You can take it again if you fail, but every attempt costs money and can delay the application. So read up properly the first time.
- At least one person with significant influence in the company has to pass the test
- The test exists in several languages, and an interpreter can be used in some cases. Ask the municipality before you book.
- Folkhälsomyndigheten, the public health agency, writes the questions, and the municipality runs the test
- There is course material to buy, but the text of the law and the municipality's summary is enough for many
How the application works
The application goes to the municipality with a number of attachments. Plan for being asked to complete it at least once, and for the clock starting over when a paper is missing.
Send it in early. Two to four months is common, and in some municipalities it takes longer over the summer.
- Registration certificate, lease and a drawing of the serving area
- A menu that shows that cooked food is served
- A financing plan with bank statements and any loan documents
- A description of the business, the target group and the opening hours
- Receipt for the paid application fee. The fee is rarely or never paid back if you are refused.
Once you have the permit
The permit comes with responsibility. The municipality and the police carry out supervision, sometimes unannounced and often on a Friday night.
Serving hours run to one in the morning unless something else has been decided. Extended hours are applied for separately and are not granted everywhere.
- Never serve anyone under 18 years or anyone who is clearly intoxicated
- Always check ID as a routine, not as an exception
- Alcohol is bought from approved wholesalers, not in an ordinary shop
- A restaurant report is filed every year with the municipality and Folkhälsomyndigheten
Common questions
Can I open first and apply for the permit later?
Yes, and many do. The restaurant can be run without alcohol in the meantime. Count on the municipality wanting to see a business that works, which often makes the application stronger.
Do I have to serve cooked food?
For a permanent permit to the general public, yes. There has to be a range of cooked or otherwise prepared food. A microwaved dish does not count, and the municipality looks at both the menu and the kitchen.
What does supervision cost every year?
The municipality charges an annual supervision fee that is partly fixed and partly linked to how much alcohol you sell. Normal levels are a few thousand kronor a year for a smaller place.
Can I get a temporary permit for an event?
Yes, the municipality can grant a permit for a single occasion or for a private party. Apply in good time, and plan for the same review of the person who applies.
What happens if I serve a minor?
It is a serious breach of the alcohol act and can lead to a warning or to the permit being withdrawn. The municipality carries out test purchases. Make it a rule that everyone who looks under 25 years has to show ID.