COMMENTARY: Tear down the walls
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By Jyrki Iivonen
One step remains to be taken in alcohol policy: allowing retail sales to anyone who wants to.
Alko does not have any real tools with which it could reduce alcohol consumption by Finns, so distribution could be shifted onto retailers of perishable goods. An estimated EUR 50 million would be saved each year.
Food stores would be able to sell spirits and wine as well as Alko. The main product is the neutral spirit Koskenkorva, which can be sold without any special professional skills.
Freeing distribution of alcoholic beverages would not be a gigantic leap, as food stores have been selling beer and cider for decades. Store clerks can read identity papers as well as an Alko salesperson can.
Besides, Alko itself has been moving in the direction of a grocery store. Many sales outlets operate right next to food stores, so all that is needed is to do something about the walls in between.
However, Alko need not be shut down completely. It could operate as a small specialist shop, which would supply wine snobs with quality products.
Alko has a good reputation, and the company seriously seeks to serve its clientele. It is forced to do so out of fear of losing its monopoly position.
But how are a customer's needs to be dealt with during Easter, for instance?
Alkos are open on Thursday, and the next time, not until Tuesday. ABC convenience stores operate every day.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 5.4.2007
More on this subject:
 It was the customers that toppled Alko
JYRKI IIVONEN / Helsingin Sanomat
jyrki.iivonen@hs.fi
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