Under the Swedish alcohol tax regime, wine in the 8.5-15% abv band bears tax
at about four times the rate of beer in the 3-5% range, even though it has only
three times as much alcohol.
SWEDEN: Sweden’s taxes “illegal protection” of domestic beer says EC
Sweden has been told by the European Commission to end its favourable tax treatment of beer compared to wine or face legal action at the European Court of Justice. Under the Swedish alcohol tax regime, wine in the 8.5-15% abv band bears tax at about four times the rate of beer in the 3-5% range, even though it has only three times as much alcohol.