Swedes sailing the seas for cheaper suds

For ferry operators Scandlines and Stena Line, sales are soaring after the abolition of beer levy

The 15 percent tax cut on beer that went into effect July 1 has led to a minor Swedish invasion. According to the Ritzau news bureau, ferry operators Scandlines and Stena Line have seen an obvious growth in both beer sales and passengers, many of whom embark with the sole intention of shopping in Denmark.

The line manager of Scandlines' Helsingør-Helsingborg route, Henrik Rørbæk, told Ritzau that Scandlines lowered its beer prices onboard already in June, causing a leap of 40 percent in beer sales when compared with the same time last year.

"The growth continues," said Rørbæk. "In July, on average, we sold at least 1,600 cases, or over 38,000 beers, onboard Scandline ferries every day."

In addition, in July the ferry operators saw an increase of 24,000 disembarking passengers over July 2012, which may be a result of more individuals opting to travel over the Øresund when seeking to satisfy their shopping needs. According to Rørbæk, there is a clear trend taking place this year.

"Short-term commuting is on the rise…which we think this is primarily due to a returning interest in shopping for goods in Denmark."

But it isn't just Scandlines that is experiencing a wave of thirstier Swedes. Stena Line is also experiencing a boost in beer sales.

"We have sold a great deal more beer. Considerably more Swedes are taking the ferry to buy beer onboard, but also more individuals are looking to shop in Denmark," Stena Line's Carsten Kruse told Ritzau.

A mere two weeks after the tax reduction went into effect, the ferry operator saw a 17 percent increase in beer sales compared to the same period last year. That is the equivalent to 100,000 litres of beer.

"We pay taxes just like a store on land so it is only natural that when taxes are lowered so too are our prices,” said Kruse. "And we have of course done our share to bring awareness of these new prices to the Swedes." 

While Danish politicians have repeatedly expressed concern about Danish consumers going south of the border to Germany to purchase beer and soft drinks at cheaper prices, none as of yet have expressed a similar sentiment for the Swedish shops that are now losing customers.

TOP STORIES

  • Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    After more than a decade living in Denmark, Russell shares why she made the move, how she’s coping, what she already misses, and the exciting new projects she’s working on. “It’s been a very tough decision. I love Denmark, and it will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says.

  • Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    The new Gefion AI supercomputer is one of the world’s fastest and will accelerate research and provide new opportunities in Danish academia and industry.

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs