For the ninth year in a row Absolut Vodka recorded growing sales. Total sales in 2004 was 76 million litres, up 5% from 2003. Absolut is produced by V&S Vin & Sprit that is owned by the Swedish government. One wonders how this excellent (?) sales performance can be reconciled with the government’s public health objectives of reducing alcohol consumption… Did anyone say schizophrenic?