Sweden in 1956 brought in a requirement that all restaurants and bars had to apply for and receive a special "dance permit" if their patrons were to be allowed to dance, with their owners facing fines if their customers were found dancing without a permit.
In 2016, the Swedish parliament the ‘ Riksdag’ voted unanimously to do away with the permits but the requirement still exists in law and is enforced. For the past 20 years, lawmakers from every party except the Social Democrats have favored abolishing the permits. Sweden’s government has promised to remove the “red tape” that restricts dance in some public places.
It recently considered a 10-year-old legal requirement for restaurants, bars, and clubs to get a government permit to offer dancing at such businesses. The permit costs about $67.
A restaurant, bar, or club that permitted dancing without possession of such a document could lose its right to do business.
From January 2023, the bars and nightclubs no longer need special permits to allow dancing.
