I don’t understand how a place called International Bar can be so racist and rude. On Friday, I went there with friend. We found a spot, sat down, and ordered a drink each while enjoying a good conversation. As the place got busier, we decided to order a second round. However, out of nowhere, a security guard approached us, which was both bizarre and infuriating, claiming that I was very drunk.

Some Swedish people sitting nearby tried to speak up for us, but the guard refused to listen to anyone and acted extremely rudely. He insisted that we either finish our drinks immediately or leave. The whole situation was completely unreasonable.

Sometimes, I feel that Swedish people around me are really nice, but encountering incidents like this makes me feel that some people are just strange. What would be a better way to handle situations like this? We eventually called the police, but I doubt it will make a difference. I also saw many similar reviews about this place on Google, which only adds to the frustration and anger.

by AdExcellent4311

32 comments

  1. This happens to Swedes too, my man. The guards do this to clear the bar for new people, especially if women are queueing

    Like you said it happened as it got busier, so that’s why. This has happened to me as well

  2. Not sure why this is racist, I would assume it’s you drank to slow and enjoyed each other’s company more than the drinks and they would earn more money kicking you out.

    Edit: personally I’ve only gotten thrown out of places when I’ve been the designated driver because I’m to drunk and “aggressive” 

  3. Word of warning: usually when you raise concerns of racism in Sweden, a bunch of people will immediately start trying to downplay it or claim it’s something else and you’re wrong.

    Gaslighting about racism is like a hobby for some people here.

  4. Sounds like your regular power tripping bouncer.

    But reading the reviews it seems like they kick anyone out, so there’s that.

    I personally would consider not even going to a place that’s got a 3/5 after 1000+ reviews.

  5. If someone treats you wrong, and that person is white or looks straight/cis, does not automatically mean you can conclude that person is racist or homophobic.

    Believe it or not but white straight people also get bad treatment from some others, and judging from the reviews in your post it seems that it’s wider than simply racist or homophobic

  6. Security guards in Sweden are fucking pigs. Miserable people with nothing going on in their sad lives; the only joy they get is inflicting thay misery on others.

  7. I would just chose a different location. If you read te revive before going you can avoid these situations. 

  8. Most likely you ordered one drink and talked for two hours and while the place was filling up you were not very profitable. Its also common practice to throw out men if women are queing to get in.

    Next time go to a better place to drink. This is a shitty establishment

  9. Most people working security in Sweden are real pricks, the police academy didn’t want them so they became guards so they could have power over people that way.

  10. IB is known for having extremely rude and shitty bouncers.

    Calling the police for being thrown out of a bar seems a bit…weird though.

  11. Why on earth people choose places like this then? Do you like to be kicked out or what? Common sense, if they are not welcoming people they will rot and bankrupt but no you have to wait on a queue like a loser and being kicked to get drunk and make these mafiatic assholes rich.

  12. It’s sad how this is accepted in Sweden. I completely forgot about bouncers and their behaviour now that I have lived abroad for several years. Nothing like this in Belgium and the UK in my experience.

  13. Svarer på norsk, da jeg er norsk. Jeg har jobbet der! Praksis er at vi kastet ut folk som ikke la igjen noe penger over tid. Og når det gjelder damer, så er det samme policy. Men damer har ofte den fordelen at de blir spandert på av andre menn. Typ hvitvin til damene og en øl til seg selv. Slik fortsetter det til damene avviser mannen/mennene. Så stikker damene til et annet sted eller får ny runde av annen mann.

    Grunnen til at man blir spurt hvor man skal er for å sikre plass videre til noen andre, og det er typisk å bli spurt om man har brukt 2 timer på en drink eller annet…

  14. Welcome to Stockholm, if you are a male and not “the kind of people” they want in there. They will look at you and search for reasons to throw you out. Usually they claim that you are drunk even if you are not.

    Girls they normally dont care aboutm they want woman in there, it is only towards men they are like this.

    Stockholm nightlife is very discriminating towards men.

  15. This has happened to me as a straight Swedish man. One time I’d had one beer and my friends like four, but I was not welcome for being too drunk. Not denying that there are racists and homophobes out there, but it seems easy for people to assume their identity is the reason for them being treated poorly. One guy commented that the bouncer was homophobic because a guy was denied entry wearing a tank top. The no shirt rule is sooo common. I’ve been asked to button up my overshirt before I could enter a bar once. Frankly humiliating and just a power move by the asshole bouncer.

  16. My only tip is that you should avoid places with 3/5 stars and 1000+ reviews. Just avoid it, and read the negative reviews first.

  17. Bars in Stockholm are awful for this reason. Bouncers/guards are shite. The people that hire them don’t care that they are assholes.

    Obviously there’s an overlap between shaven-headed, smoothbrained bouncers and borderline nazis. Same with subway guards. Awful people.

  18. Fuck him. Never go back.

    Unfortunately, there is not much you can do. There are ass hats like this scattered across Stockholm, at different clubs and pubs.

    To make you feel better, this guy is fucking nothing in the big scheme of things. A ruler in a kingdom smaller than the turd I squeezed out this morning.

  21. Don’t blödande the fucking bouncers. They are acting on instructions from the owners.

  22. “insane Stockholm doormen” is a whole national stereotype. I don’t like to go out in Stockholm, they believe they’re guarding the national crown jewels or studio 54 or something.

  24. Öppnade en på kungsholmen precis. De ifrågasatte min klädsel innan jag ens hunnit säga hej.

    Så de dryga jävlarna tänker jag fan inte ge mina pengar

  25. Lol this place sucks ass. Went there with a couple of friends after a dinner out on a Wednesday and after 1 beer the roughly 19-year-old bartender told me I was ”hammered” and refused to serve us anymore. This hasn’t happened to me in Stockholm since I was 18 or something (33 now).

  28. Just accept it. I was recently in China and they have explicitly “no foreigner” bars. We cant even have this, but i didn’t start a fuss over it.

  29. Those who becomes security guards are those who are not accepted to police Academy due Psychological problems. Therefore many security guards are arseholes and semmingly doesnt fit to be as policemen.

  30. I hate international and I know many people with the exact same story as you. Including myself. I was denied entry to the bar because of my outfit. The girls before me were declined entry aswell, because the place was “fully booked”.
    I do not believe it has anything to do with race however. Its just a shitty place with shitty bouncers. Just go somewhere else.

  31. I’m pretty sure it’s a human thing rather than a Swedish thing (or based on nationality). You can find rude or provoking people like this in any country, just like you can encounter rude expats or tourists or locals or bla bla…

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