Domestic sales of beer grew last year in spite of an increase in the alcohol tax.
According to the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry, beer sales in Finland last year totalled 419 million litres, which is 1.6 million litres more than in 2008.
The popularity of strong cider declined. Sales of various cider drinks was five million litres less than in 2008.
Various ling drink type beverages gre.
The figures do not include information on Finnish-produced beverages re-imported by Finns travelling abroad. Such imports grew by 20 per cent, which could be seen in a 0.8 per cent decline in domestic sales of brewed beverages.
The tax on alcoholic beverages rose last year by ten per cent, which was expected to bring an additional EUR 65 million in tax revenue. The tax hike also led to a two per cent decline in overall consumption of alcohol.
According to the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry, the state loses more than EUR 200 million each year to personal imports of alcoholic beverages.
