The Finnish Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry warns that the Finnish brewing industry could suffer severely as private import restrictions ease at the same time as its neighbour Estonia joins the EU.

At the beginning of next year, the EU quota will jump to 110 litres of beer per person and trip, with no restrictions to the length of the trip.

The ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn only takes about one and a half hour, prompting the Federation to fear that Finns from the populous south will indulge in a cheap beer import frenzy.

The Estonian beer taxes are only EUR 0.18 per litre compared to Finland's EUR 1.43 per litre, why the Federation calls for slashed beer taxes in Finland.

21 March, 2003