Free Republic

There are few things more precious to Swedes than their traditional drinking habits, and a new EU-wide rule change affecting one of their favorite Christmas drinks has some of the normally tranquil Scandinavians up in arms. A yuletide tradition in Sweden since the 1800s, glögg (a variation of mulled wine) is consumed at parties and gatherings throughout the Christmas period, and is often strengthened with additional spirits to give it an extra kick. But now, some drinks previously labeled as glögg will no longer be allowed to carry that name, with revised EU legislation on the labeling of aromatized wine...

A 61-year-old caught driving with a blood-alcohol level five times over Sweden's legal limit walked free after a court in southern Sweden cited his high tolerance for alcohol. The man, who works night shifts in Ystad, southern Sweden, told the court he had been drinking heavily on the day he was pulled over by police in November last year, wrote the Skånskan newspaper. He had downed the contents of six small snapps bottles and a full-strength beer during the day leading up to his shift, but this was nothing unusual, he claimed. The 61-year-old explained that he drinks every day,...