The police want to spread the examination method of banquet halls - but no municipality has missed

Södertälje is unique with its eleven party floors and after the last months of power, the police and Södertälje municipality hope to gain a better insight into an industry that is estimated to turn into millions of kronor annually.

- We are developing a method support that will later be distributed to police throughout the country. We start here because there is nowhere else with as many banquet halls, said police Jonas Packalén earlier this year and who is one of those responsible for controlling the banquet halls in Södertälje.

The focus has been on getting the owners to seek permanent alcohol permits - because these are profit-making businesses that are considered partly equivalent to restaurants.

But SVT's check with about 10 other municipalities where there are premises whose main activity is party activities shows that no municipality has so far followed Södertälje's method.

The neighboring municipality Botkyrka does not think the need exists, but believes that the alcohol law goes a long way.

In Södertälje, the party owners with regular activities have been forced to apply for a permanent permit. How do you see it?

- Obviously, it becomes more right with steady state permits when it is regular operations. But I think it will be wrong if we go out and urge the premises to apply, it can be experienced that we promise that they will be granted, but first the suitability must be tested, says an alcohol officer in Botkyrka municipality.

Do you have something similar going on with you?

- No, the alcohol law applies and if a crime is committed against it then it is a police matter and not the municipality's.

However, Martin Lazar, municipal police in Botkyrka, does not rule out that Botkyrka goes the same way.

- We cooperate with Södertälje in a lot so it is not excluded that we later notice, we have three banquet rooms here, he says.

The only municipality that responds that they should consider tougher controls is Örebro Municipality.

- We have a similar place as Södertälje's eleven. There you do not seek permission but drink imported alcohol. Since the room is rented out with food, it is not allowed. We will address this in the autumn, writes Leif Andersson at the Environmental Office in Örebro Municipality.