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Sell and serve alcohol
Anyone who wants to sell or serve alcoholic beverages — such as spirits, wine, strong beer, or other fermented drinks — must have a serving license.
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Step-by-step guide
Please note that all forms and digital applications (e-services) are currently in Swedish. Contact Citizen Service if you need help in English.
1. Start early
To serve alcohol, you need a serving license. This applies to both restaurants and temporary events. You can apply for:
- Indoor service: license from 11:00 to 01:00 (Fridays and Saturdays until 03:00)
- Outdoor service: license from 11:00 to 01:00
2. costs
You pay a fee for processing your application.
The municipality also charges a fee for inspections of your business. How often inspections are carried out depends on the size and type of your business. You pay the fee after the inspection.
3. Processing time
A complete application leads to faster decisions. Processing times are:
- Permanent serving license: up to four months. Processing may be extended by another four months if needed.
- Temporary license for private events: apply at least three weeks before the event.
- Temporary license for public events: apply at least five weeks before the event.
During the summer months, processing may take longer. Submit your application as early as possible.
4. Important to know
- Alcohol must not be sold or served to anyone under 18 years of age.
- Applicants must pass a knowledge test to show they understand alcohol law regulations.
- Serving alcohol requires you to offer cooked or otherwise prepared food.
Until 23:00, cooked food must be available. After 23:00, simpler dishes are acceptable.
- The serving area must be clearly marked, with seating at tables, and staff must have a clear view of the area.
- You must submit all documents required to prove that you and your company are suitable.
The municipality provides checklists for the documents to include:
4.1 Questions or more information
Contact Citizen Service at +46 921 62 000 or mob@boden.se.
5. Submit your application
Apply through our online services:
6. What happens next
Once the municipality has received a complete application, processing begins. We check:
- That you and your company are suitable (finances, order, police statement).
- That the business meets alcohol law requirements.
Decisions are made by the Environment and Building Committee.
After the license is granted, the municipality carries out regular inspections. We check, for example, levels of intoxication, order at the location, and whether food is available.
Additional inspections are carried out when necessary, especially in businesses such as pubs and nightclubs.
7. Other things to consider
You may also need permits for:
Do you want to access a specific document? Contact Citizen Service, and we will help you retrieve and read the full document.
contact
Environment and building unit
E-mail: mob@boden.se
Phone: +46 921 620 00