Total consumption of alcoholic beverages decreased by 3% in 2021
In 2021, the total consumption of alcoholic beverages was 9 litres of 100% alcohol per capita (aged 15 or over). Total consumption decreased by 3% compared to 2020.
The total consumption of alcoholic beverages consists of retail sales of alcoholic beverages and their licensed serving in Finland, alcohol imports by Finnish passengers and online purchases of alcohol.
“The impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the total consumption of alcoholic beverages is still visible. The decrease in total consumption is mainly due to a decrease in alcohol imports by passengers. Imports by passengers were halved for the second consecutive year. Sales of alcoholic beverages in Finland decreased only slightly by 0.7% compared to 2020,” says Thomas Karlsson, Chief Specialist at THL.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages increased in restaurants – alcoholic beverages mostly purchased from grocery shops and Alko shops
The consumption of served alcoholic beverages in restaurants increased by about 6% per capita (aged 15 or over) compared to 2020. At the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic in 2020, the consumption of served alcohol decreased by about 41%.
The purchase of alcoholic beverages from retail outlets, that is, from grocery shops and Alko shops, decreased slightly (-0.7%) compared to 2020. However, 83% of all alcohol was purchased from retail outlets in 2021.
Consumption of mixed beverages continued to increase
The consumption of mixed beverages, such as long drinks, increased by about 9%, and the consumption of strong beer containing more than 4.7% alcohol by volume increased by about 5% in 2021.
Beers were still the largest beverage group at 46%. Spirits accounted for 21% of the consumption.
Read more about the consumption of alcoholic beverages
Further information
Marke Jääskeläinen
Senior Specialist
tel. +358 29 524 7654
[email protected]
Thomas Karlsson
Chief Specialist
tel. +358 29 524 7021
[email protected]
Previously published statistics on the subject
Alcohol imports by passengers and online purchases of alcohol 2021 (in Finnish)
