Consumption of alcohol bought in Finland increases by 7.6 percent in first half of 2004
Spirits sales up by fifth, importing from Estonia doubled or trebled
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According to compiled statistics, alcohol consumption during the first six months of 2004 was up by 7.6 percent compared with the same period last year.
Retail sales by Alko, the state-owned outlet chain with exclusive rights to selling hard liquor, were up by 12.5 percent, while retail sales of alcoholic beverages as a whole increased by 10.2 percent.
Serving of alcoholic drinks in pubs and restaurants, in turn, decreased by 3.6 percent.
The shift in consumption of alcoholic beverages is towards hard liquor. While the spirits sales went up by 20 percent, the use of wine, beer, and strong wines increased only by 2, 5.4 and 3.9 percent respectively.
The compiled statistics only include alcohol bought in Finland. In addition, alcohol is bought during foreign travel. Based on Statistics Finland surveys and reports from Estonian tax officials, it is estimated that importing of alcohol from Estonia has doubled, perhaps trebled.
The total consumption of pure alcohol is likely to reach 10.3 litres per capita this year, against last year's 9.4 litres.
In March Finland made provision for Estonia's EU membership from the beginning of May, by lowering the retail prices of alcoholic beverages. Spirits prices came down by 36 percent, while prices of wine were reduced by 3 percent.
At the beginning of the year all limits on importing alcohol for private use from other EU states were lifted.
It seems the lowering of prices has led the Finns to increase their alcohol consumption across the board, from large-scale consumers to those who drink moderately or very little. There have been concerns that heavy drinkers have switched from milder forms of alcohol to spirits, and reports of increased public drunkenness have led to some calls for a reversal or modification of the tax cuts.
Retail sales by Alko, the state-owned outlet chain with exclusive rights to selling hard liquor, were up by 12.5 percent, while retail sales of alcoholic beverages as a whole increased by 10.2 percent.
Serving of alcoholic drinks in pubs and restaurants, in turn, decreased by 3.6 percent.
The shift in consumption of alcoholic beverages is towards hard liquor. While the spirits sales went up by 20 percent, the use of wine, beer, and strong wines increased only by 2, 5.4 and 3.9 percent respectively.
The compiled statistics only include alcohol bought in Finland. In addition, alcohol is bought during foreign travel. Based on Statistics Finland surveys and reports from Estonian tax officials, it is estimated that importing of alcohol from Estonia has doubled, perhaps trebled.
The total consumption of pure alcohol is likely to reach 10.3 litres per capita this year, against last year's 9.4 litres.
In March Finland made provision for Estonia's EU membership from the beginning of May, by lowering the retail prices of alcoholic beverages. Spirits prices came down by 36 percent, while prices of wine were reduced by 3 percent.
At the beginning of the year all limits on importing alcohol for private use from other EU states were lifted.
It seems the lowering of prices has led the Finns to increase their alcohol consumption across the board, from large-scale consumers to those who drink moderately or very little. There have been concerns that heavy drinkers have switched from milder forms of alcohol to spirits, and reports of increased public drunkenness have led to some calls for a reversal or modification of the tax cuts.
Helsingin Sanomat