Isn't "everything that makes life fun" very heavily taxed and therefore very expensive in the Scandinavian Countries?
I remember this from a week in Stockholm with colleagues for the training on a new release of our product.
First evening after the trip most were very "thirsty" and with 4 or 5 rounds of beers, our financial director was "not amused"
I found it an excellent idea though, having quit nicotine, alcohol and sweets a few years earlier
Too bad I couldn't take the idea back home. I think it would have solved our national deficit overnight
Switzerland has always been considered very expensive over here as well. A good number of people don't go to hostels on vacation in Switzerland but hire something.
Unfortunately, any food that they bring with them is to be declared at the border. (declared = taxed)
Must be extra so nowadays that the CHF is more expensive than the EUR.