Food service requirement abolished
The food and kitchen requirement for a serving permit, i.e. to serve alcohol, will be abolished on 1 June 2026. The purpose of the change is to simplify the rules for permits, while still maintaining strong protection in the law.
The Riksdag has decided to simplify the requirements for obtaining a permanent public service permit. For those who run a restaurant business, this means:
No kitchen requirement
After 1 June, restaurants and bars no longer need to have their own kitchen to obtain a serving permit.
No requirement for food service
You no longer need to be able to offer hot food or a certain range of dishes to be allowed to sell alcohol.
No seating requirement
The requirement that the venue must have a certain number of seats in relation to its size will be eliminated.
No requirement on the size of the bar
The rules that limit how much space a drink bar can take up in the premises are being removed.
No requirement for food when serving folk beer
The requirement for food to be served when serving folk beer is abolished.
No requirement for own kitchen for catering
The requirement for own kitchen for permanent serving permit for catering operations – so-called catering permit – is abolished.
Apply to the municipality
You apply for a catering permit in the municipality where the establishment is located. The municipality is responsible for ensuring that you have the opportunity to take a knowledge test developed by the Public Health Agency of Sweden. The knowledge questions are divided into three sub-areas:
- alcohol policy,
- serving regulations and
- supervision regulations.
To pass the test, you must get at least 75 percent correct in each sub-area. The test is available in Swedish, English and Arabic.
Drinks are also classified as food
Remember that even if you are not serving food at all, but only drinks, drinks are classified as food. Therefore, your business must be registered as a food establishment with the municipality.
Questions and answers about serving permits
If I have a serving permit today - do I need to apply for a new one when the new rules regarding the abolition of food requirements come into effect?
No, if you do not make any changes to your business, you do not need to apply or report this.
When do I need to contact my municipality?
If you make changes to your business, either regarding the food selection or, for example, regarding serving hours or how you use your premises, you should contact your municipality.
Do the same rules apply throughout Sweden?
The Alcohol Act is national, but the municipalities are responsible for permits and supervision. There may therefore be local differences in processing and requirements. Always contact your municipality if you have any doubts or questions!