Sweden is an amazing country in the heart of Northern Europe, which is visited annually by more than 5 million tourists from all over the world. In many respects, this beautiful country has become a paradise for the traveler: crystal clear air, thousands of hectares of untouched forests and majestic lakes , friendly and always hospitable locals and incredibly tasty Swedish cuisine are certainly the main virtues of the Kingdom. However, before going to conquer this mysterious Scandinavian country, it is worth to learn more about its basic laws, which will be discussed in our article.
What should a tourist know?
Planning a vacation abroad, you should pay special attention to the study of local customs and rules of conduct. So, let's consider the basic laws of Sweden, which every person who is on its territory must respect:
- Drugs. Most Swedes, adults and very young, categorically oppose the use of narcotic substances, including cannabis. Violation of this law may entail a serious fine and even criminal liability.
- The dry law in Sweden. In order to control the consumption of alcohol in the country, the Swedish government in 1955 created a chain of stores called Systembolaget. Only in them it is possible to buy alcoholic beverages above 3.5% by volume, and these stores work according to a certain schedule: Mon-Fri from 10:00 to 18:00, Sat-Sun from 10:00 to 13:00.
- Smoking. As in most European countries, Sweden is actively fighting in the Kingdom of Sweden with smoking and tobacco production. For example, for smoking in an unintended place (where there is no sign with the inscription "Rukning") a serious penalty is charged. In case of refusal to pay or any other default, according to the law of Sweden, a foreign citizen may even be deported to his homeland.
- Same-sex marriages. As in most developed European countries, homosexual marriages have been officially permitted in Sweden since 2009, not only at the legislative level, but also with the support of the church.
- Freedom of speech. Sweden is a democratic state in which every person can express their opinion about a particular problem. Freedom of speech and press really reigns here, and all kinds of meetings and rallies are allowed.
Unusual laws of Sweden
Many rules, which are absolutely normal for the perception of the Swedes, seem foreign tourists amusing, and sometimes absurd. Among the most outlandish are the following:
- The democratic nature of Sweden. It is known far beyond its borders. Prostitution is also legalized here, however, according to the law, it is forbidden to use the services of girls on a call.
- The law of open windows in Sweden is one of the most interesting and at the same time unusual rules. It was developed back in the 17th century. The essence of it is that every passing person could look into someone else's window and see if his neighbor lives by his means or not.
- Fresh breath. Another rather strange law says that you will have to pay about $ 100 if you do not brush your teeth before leaving home.
- Silence at night. After 22:00 you are unlikely to hear the sound of draining the water in the toilet, because local authorities "take care" of their citizens and protect them from all sorts of noise at the legislative level.
Useful tips for holidaymakers
Going on a trip, pay attention to the following points:
- Shopping . Many shops close early, especially on weekends. Most of them work until 18:00 - 18:30, and it is at this time that the biggest queues are observed. If you want to buy everything you need without too much fuss, go shopping before 5 pm.
- Languages. Despite the fact that 90% of citizens own English as native, the knowledge of the Swedish language can be a useful skill in communicating with local residents. Especially it will be useful to those who plan to move to Sweden for permanent residence in the future, t. without knowledge of the state language, full integration into a foreign country and its culture is impossible.
- Hikes to visit. Among the rules of good tone, one of the most important is the removal of shoes at the entrance to the house. Thus, you show respect to the owners and their apartment.
- Punctuality is another characteristic feature of the Swedish mentality, and in this country delays are equally rejected both for official events and for friendly parties. The same rule applies to public transport : aircraft, trains, buses, etc.
- Ecology . Sweden is one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world, and, surprisingly, this did not sound, you can make money on this! It is enough just to hand over the usual plastic bag back to the store and get a small reward for it. The decomposition time of this material is from 100 to 200 years, and thus the Swedes have the opportunity to make a real contribution to protecting the environment from pollution.