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Aims This study examines the compliance with the law against selling beer to under-aged persons in Sweden. It also analyses determinants of compliance and the importance of checking IDs. The paper also aims to reveal the strategies used by youths when purchasing beer. Methods & Data The study is the result of a close collaboration between the Swedish Youth Temperance Movement (UNF) and researchers at Örebro University. UNF has been responsible for the purchase attempts, and the research team for the analyses. The data consists of 681 purchase attempts in seven cities in Sweden during 2003-2004. Results Almost half of the purchase attempts made by under-aged persons (14-17 years old) resulted in successfully buying beer. The study reveals that the genders of the check-out clerk and the buyer are significant with regard to both selling/buying beer and asking for ID. The proportion of sales was significantly higher to girls than boys, both in total and when they were asked for ID first. Conclusions The study shows that under-aged teenagers succeed in purchasing beer in Sweden despite the present legislation. Some succeed because of the tricks they use, and some because of the check-out clerk’s negligence. The procedure used in the present study - letting under-aged persons attempt to purchase beer - resembles the situation for ordinary teenagers trying to buy beer under normal circumstances.

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