Nearly 70% would reduce blood-alcohol threshold for drink-driving cases

Less enthusiasm for weaker beer

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Finnish attitudes towards binge-drinking are becoming increasingly strict.
      Bans and restrictions are accepted these days with more relish than in earlier years.
      A recent study measuring attitudes to alcohol saw 78% of the respondents demanding a tighter approach to the serving of drinks to people who had already had a skinful.
     
Equally, some 69% of Finns would reduce the lower threshold for drunken driving from 0.05% blood-alcohol content to 0.02%, the level adopted in such countries as Sweden, Norway, and Estonia.
      The level for aggravated drunken driving in Finland is 0.12%.
      An even larger share of those polled - 78% - would like to see the figure for DUI when at the helm of a boat reduced from the present 0.1% to 0.05%.
     
Just over half, or 58%, support a ban on image advertising of alcohol, while around half expressed annoyance that the alcohol industry takes part in the drafting of alcohol policy legislation.
     
There are limits, however. Finns are not excited at the idea of reducing the strength of keskiolut, the so-called III-beer*, which is available for sale in supermarkets, and is currently allowed to be a maximum of 4.7% abv (alcohol by volume).
      Only 19% would welcome weaker beer.
      The Finnish Centre for Health Promotion interviewed more than 1,000 Finns for the barometer study.
     
     
*Note: It is one of the curious features of Finland that there is I-beer (less than 2.8% abv), III-beer (2.8-4.7% abv), and IV-beer (anything over 4.7%, and with sale restricted to restaurants and the Alko stores), but no II-beer. The numbers refer to pre-1994 tax categories, and the law at that time actually did take account of a "II-beer" category with a strength of between 2.8-3.7% abv, but no Finnish breweries made such a brew.
      In a slightly similar quixotic fashion, for many years Greater Helsinki had an inner ring road (Kehä I, Ring I) and an outer ring road (Kehä III, Ring III), but no Kehä II. The first stretch was finally opened in Espoo in late 2000, although it is not yet a proper beltway, despite the promises of the "ring" name.  


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Working group: Ignition lock to be compulsory in vehicles used by young drivers right after first DUI offence (4.6.2010)

Links:
  Finnish Centre for Health Promotion

Helsingin Sanomat