Swedish alcohol retail monopoly challenged by court ruling

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's Supreme Court on Friday said a Danish online wine retailer has the right to sell directly to Swedish households and businesses, in a ruling that could challenge the Nordic state's alcohol retail monopoly.

Sweden has a restrictive alcohol policy and has had a state-run alcohol retail monopoly since 1955. It was given an exemption to European Union legislation on free trade of goods when it joined in 1995.

Systembolaget, the state-run alcohol company, sued Danish online retailer Winefinder and its Swedish parent company to stop it from selling and delivering alcohol to Swedish customers, but the Supreme Court ruled against it in a precedent-setting decision.

"The trading in this case does not violate the alcohol act, but must be seen as a permitted form of private import," the Supreme Court said in a statement.

Systembolaget had won the case in a lower court instance but the Supreme Court decision cannot be overruled.

The retailer runs 450 stores across Sweden, with a stated aim to limit alcohol sales. It has limited opening hours and does not advertise alcohol or put items on sale.

(Reporting by Johan Ahlander; Editing by Devika Syamnath)