Alko’s sales declined significantly last year due to the introduction of stronger alcoholic beverages in grocery stores. LEHTIKUVA
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that Nordic countries maintain their state-controlled alcohol retail monopolies, arguing that they effectively reduce alcohol-related harm. According to WHO, countries with exclusive state-run alcohol sales systems have lower alcohol consumption and fewer related health and social problems than the European average.
A recent WHO report highlights the Nordic model as a successful approach to limiting alcohol-related harm.
In Europe, state-owned alcohol retail monopolies operate in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. WHO states that these systems prevent health and social issues in ways that are evidence-based and cost-effective. Key measures include restrictions on store numbers, operating hours, price competition, and marketing. Strict enforcement of age limits and refusal to sell alcohol to intoxicated customers have also been effective in reducing harm.
Carina Ferreira-Borges, WHO Europe’s alcohol and drug policy advisor, warned that loosening alcohol sales restrictions or privatising the system could threaten the progress made in reducing alcohol-related harm in Finland and other Nordic countries. She noted that decades of research confirm the importance of limiting alcohol availability and commercial influence in protecting public health.
Nordic countries with alcohol monopolies report significantly lower alcohol consumption and harm than the European average. However, Finland stands out as an exception. Although alcohol consumption in Finland remains below the European average, the country experiences a higher burden of alcohol-related diseases and deaths. WHO suggests this may be due to Finland’s more relaxed alcohol policies compared to other monopoly countries, as well as its drinking culture, which is often characterised by heavy episodic consumption.
Janne Aaltonen, executive director of the Finnish Medical Association, emphasised that total alcohol consumption figures alone do not provide a full picture of its effects. He noted that policymakers must also consider how alcohol-related harm is distributed across different social groups. He pointed out that the financial and social costs of alcohol-related issues in Finland remain significant.
WHO’s findings indicate that state-run alcohol retail systems have a direct impact on consumption levels and related harm. A Finnish study found that dismantling the monopoly could lead to a 9% increase in alcohol consumption and add at least €290 million in additional costs.
Aaltonen noted that alcohol-related cases already place a heavy burden on Finland’s healthcare system. He argued that in the current healthcare crisis, efforts should focus on evidence-based measures to reduce alcohol-related harm, allowing re
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
