Systembolaget reports Internet site to the police.(Brief Article)

NORDIC BUSINESS REPORT-13 April 2001-Systembolaget reports Internet site to the police(C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Systembolaget, the Swedish alcohol monopoly, has reported a Danish-registered Internet site to the police for offering Swedes to buy cheap alcohol online.

The site, which apparently calls itself 'Bolaget' is carrying out illegal sales of alcoholic beverages. It is also a tax crime, according to Lennart Agen, the head of Systembolaget's company communications.

Systembolaget also regards the name as a trademark infringement of the name 'Systembolaget', according to Aftonbladet, a Swedish daily newspaper.

The prices at the site are reportedly cheaper than those of Systembolaget, with a bottle of wine starting at SEK12 before transport costs. Beer is apparently only offered in pallets with the cheapest for about SEK9,000. The site reportedly also lists suggested distributors that can take the alcohol into the country.

The Swedish alcohol inspection has however pointed out that importing alcohol into Sweden via a distributor requires a permit and private persons have to bring their alcohol into the country themselves.

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