Although the lower prices of alcoholic beverages that came into effect in March have been linked to a number of increased alcohol-related problems, including more widespread public drunkenness, the move does not seem to have led to a surge in driving while intoxicated.
Judging from police roadside checks, the number of drink drivers in traffic has remained largely unchanged, or has even decreased somewhat from the same time last year.
In May, 15 drivers out of 1,000 were found to have an excessive blood alcohol level during roadside checks. The figures have remained more or less unchanged throughout the present decade.
However, the number of arrests for drink driving have increased by about 15% from the same time last year. The increase is attributed to the increased number of roadside checks.
By international standards, sobriety in traffic is unusually high in Finland.
