State monopoly plans to take online wine shops to court
According to Iceland Monitor's sources business at Sante has been very good. Kristinn Magnússon
The Icelandic state-run seller of alcoholic beverages, ÁTVR, intends to request an injunction on online wine shops that sell directly to Icelandic consumers.
As Iceland Monitor reported earlier this month Icelandic importer Sante is attempting to circumvent the state monopoly on selling alcoholic beverages by establishing a sister company in France that operates an online shop but stores its stock in an warehouse in Reykjavik. Foreign online wine shops have been servicing Icelandic consumes for several years but the Sante business model allows customers of the French seller to enjoy shorter delivery times and lower delivery costs – or even pick their purchases up in person at the centrally located warehouse.
According to Mbl.is ÁTVR considers this type of business to be in violation of the monopoly held by them. The state-run business also believes that the monopoly it holds is “one of the pillars of Iceland’s policy with regards to the consumption of alcohol.”
A statement issued by ÁTVR says that the company intends to file for an injunction against more than one online wine shops. Following that ÁTVR plans to take the competing sellers to court to seek a ruling on the legality of their business practices. ai@mbl.is
