Stockholm Store Fined After Selling Beer to 15-Year-Old Without ID

In an incident that highlights ongoing challenges with illegal alcohol sales to minors, a Stockholm store sold eighteen cans of beer to a 15-year-old boy in August 2025 without requesting identification. The boy, who heard from others that minors could buy alcohol at the store, split his payment using 30 kronor in cash and a debit card for the rest. Notably, the cashier labeled the card payment as "candy" on the receipt.

According to the Stockholm District Court, the boy’s testimony that no ID was requested was credible, dismissing the cashier's claim otherwise. The cashier, a 53-year-old man, was convicted for the illegal sale of alcohol to a minor and fined 12,000 kronor. The court noted that despite the relatively small amount of alcohol, the offense was aggravated by the buyer's age.

This case sheds light on minor-targeted alcohol sales and legal accountability for vendors. The incident also comes amid broader concerns about youth crime and public safety in Sweden, though unrelated, as exemplified by recent violent acts involving minors in other regions. The ruling reinforces retailers' legal duties to verify age strictly to prevent underage alcohol consumption.