The majority of Finns would ease alcohol restrictions

Three out of four Finns, or 75 per cent, feel that the restrictions imposed by alcohol legislation should be lifted. According to a survey commissioned by the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry from Taloustutkimus, 30 per cent of Finns are in favour of substantially relaxing restrictions, while 45 per cent would ease them somewhat.

Significantly more men than women answered that the restrictions should be eased substantially; 41 per cent of men were of this opinion, as against 17 per cent of women. Considerably more women than men had no opinion on the matter; 19 per cent of women and 7 per cent of men could not say whether restrictions should be increased or eased.

In terms of age category, those most in favour of easing legislative restrictions are those aged 45 to 54, among whom 37 per cent would ease restrictions substantially and 43 per cent somewhat.

In terms of party affiliations, those most eager to lift restrictions are supporters of the National Coalition Party. Of those who vote for this party, 90 per cent would ease restrictions. Finns Party voters rank second, with 80 per cent in favour of lifting restrictions. Those least in favour of relaxing alcohol restrictions are voters of the Centre Party, the Left Alliance and the Green League.

Thirteen per cent of the respondents would like to tighten restrictions and 13 per cent had no opinion.

Support for ordinary sales offers on beer

The survey also assessed how those in favour of easing restrictions would like to see this implemented.

Permitting ordinary sales offers on beer received clearly the most support, with 76 per cent of the respondents in favour. Eighty per cent of men and 70 per cent of women were either completely or somewhat of the same opinion. Currently, sales offers on beer must be valid for two months at a time. If ordinary sales offers were permitted, promotional campaigns could be shorter.

Almost as many respondents – 73 per cent – would relax regulation of alcohol advertising; those aged 18 to 24 were particularly in favour of this, with 83 per cent of them being either completely or somewhat of the opinion that advertising should be less regulated. The deregulation of alcohol advertising has support among Finns Party and National Coalition Party voters.

Seventy-two per cent of the respondents would remove restrictions on the times when alcohol can be sold in grocery stores. Two out of three Finns, or 66 per cent, would increase the upper ABV limit for alcoholic beverages sold in grocery stores to 8.5 per cent, while 58 per cent would raise it to 15 per cent. Sixty-one per cent of respondents would permit the purchase of alcoholic beverages from foreign online stores and 55 per cent would allow home delivery of beer in addition to groceries.

The study commissioned by the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry was carried out using a Taloustutkimus Internet panel from 17 to 22 February 2017. The survey respondents were 1,403 Finns aged 18 to 70. The 1,032 Finnish respondents who were in favour of easing restrictions answered more detailed questions on how the restrictions should be changed.

Additional information:

Managing Director Elina Ussa, tel. +358 (0)45 269 7711
Communications Manager Outi Heikkinen, tel. +358 (0)50 370 8677

www.panimoliitto.fi, www.kohtuullisesti.fi, www.maljasuomelle.fi
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The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry promotes the interests of producers of beer, cider, long drinks, soft drinks and mineral waters in Finland. Its members are Captol Invest Oy, Oy Hartwall Ab, Olvi Oyj, Red Bull Finland Oy, Saimaan Juomatehdas, and Oy Sinebrychoff Ab. The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry is a member of the Finnish Food and Drink Industries Federation.