E-Malt.com News article: Finland: Brewers association rejects proposals to hand over sales of medium-strength beer to state-owned liquor stores

The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry rejects proposals to hand over sales of medium-strength beer to state-owned Alko liquor stores and to dilute the strength of beers sold in daily consumer goods stores.

In neighbouring Sweden, it is forbidden for daily consumer goods stores to sell alcoholic beverages stronger than 3.5 per cent ABV. Nevertheless, two-thirds of the beer consumed in Sweden is strong.

Elina Ussa, Managing Director of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry, states that diluting medium-strength beer would lead to an increase in private imports of strong beer by travellers. For a warning example, we need look no further than Sweden, she said. “Although off-trade sales of strong beers in Sweden are handled by Systembolaget, the average strength of beers consumed by the Swedes is 5.5 per cent. Supermarkets sell stronger beers in Finland than in Sweden. In spite of this, Finns drink milder beers than the Swedes, 4.6 per cent ABV on average,” Ussa said at an event organised by the Maltsters’ Association.

As much as 30 per cent of the beer consumed in Sweden is purchased on the grey market or abroad. If close to a third of the beer now consumed in Finland were to be imported by private individuals, this would amount to more than 130 million litres a year – that is, over five times the current volume. “Decision makers should have a good look at where this has led in Sweden. It’s very common for Swedes to go abroad to buy large quantities of alcohol and then pass it on. Do we too want to encourage people to buy more beer from Estonia and ships?” Ussa wonders.

Private imports by travellers lead to the loss of tax revenues and jobs in both Finland and Sweden. Furthermore, there is no supervision on what happens to these imported beers. “No one can keep track of where these beverages end up. In Sweden, underage youths comprise one of the main groups buying privately imported alcohol. According to the Finnish police, young people feel that it is easy for them to get their hands on alcohol. Any decisions that are made must put the brakes on private imports rather than increase them,” says Ussa.


12 August, 2011