Figures released today by the Swedish alcohol monopoly Systembolaget reveal that total sales of alcohol (measured in pure alcohol) increased by 8.4% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period last year, with the beer category registering respectable growth of 7%.

Beers like Mohawk could be big sellers this summer.

The data shows the number of customer visits to Systembolaget during the same period rose by 4.8% to 26.2 million, an indication that more people are using the monopoly as their main source when purchasing alcohol, according to Systembolaget Press Officer Lennart Agén.

”More and more Swedes are choosing to shop in the Systembolaget stores as proven by a rise in the number of customer visits in the first quarter of almost 5%. We don’t see any indication that total alcohol consumption has risen, rather that a larger share of the sale of alcohol has moved from other sources to the Systembolaget”.

Other findings from today’s figures include:

• Trend tracking in the lead-up to the summer suggests consumer interest in beers from Swedish microbreweries is on the rise and together with rose wines could be big sellers this summer.
  
• Border trading rose by 11.7% on last year, with trade over the Finnish border most active.
• Public approval rating towards the Systembolaget rose by 1% from 64 to 65%.
• Alcohol-free and organic products recorded the highest growth in sales, the former by 20% and the latter with 24%. ”The fact that sales of alcohol-free and organic products have grown so strongly indicates that more and more people care about their health and the environment. We anticipate a continued demand (for these products) and are working actively in order to offer our customers even more choice”, says Systembolaget’s Purchase Director Marie Nygren.