Regular alcohol use continues to decline
Regular alcohol use among Finns decreased between 2016 and 2023. The proportion of people consuming alcohol at least weekly declined among both men and women. In 2023, 48% of men and 22% of women reported drinking alcohol at least weekly, compared with 52% and 29% in 2016.
According to the Drinking Habits Survey conducted in spring 2023, near-daily alcohol use was relatively rare. Six per cent of men and two per cent of women reported consuming alcohol at least four times a week. Regular use was most common among those aged 55–69 and least common among those aged 20–34. Alcohol use was most frequent among men aged over 54: 62% of them consumed alcohol at least weekly, and 11% four times a week or more.
The proportion of abstainers remained stable. In 2023, 12% of the population were abstainers: 10% of men and 14% of women.
Level of heavy episodic drinking has not changed
Although alcohol use decreased overall, regular heavy episodic drinking has not declined correspondingly. In 2023, 21% of respondents reported at least monthly heavy episodic drinking (i.e. consuming six or more standard drinks on one occasion), which is nearly the same as in 2016 (22%).
However, there are differences between age groups. In the youngest age group (20–34), the proportion consuming at least six drinks on one occasion continued to decline, but more extreme heavy episodic drinking was still most common in this group. In this age group, 41% had consumed at least 13 standard drinks on a single day at least once during the past year.
Alcohol use exceeding risk limits and experienced harms
Fifteen per cent of men and nine per cent of women exceeded the threshold for at least moderate long-term health risk from alcohol use. The risk limit is exceeded when men consume more than 14 and women more than 7 standard drinks per week.
A total of 28% of the population exceeded the AUDIT risk threshold (≥8 points for men and ≥6 points for women): 31% of men and 21% of women. Based on this, their situation should be assessed more closely in healthcare, and counselling to reduce alcohol consumption should be provided if necessary. The AUDIT test is used to screen for alcohol-related problems.
Six per cent of men and four per cent of women reported health problems caused by alcohol use.
| Men | Non-drinker | Less often than monthly | 1–2 times a month | Once a week | A couple times a week | At least 4 times a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 9,7 | 19,3 | 33,1 | 20 | 13,1 | 4,8 |
| 1976 | 8,1 | 14,1 | 24,6 | 24,8 | 21,5 | 6,8 |
| 1984 | 11,1 | 10,3 | 25,9 | 21,1 | 21,8 | 9,7 |
| 1992 | 9,2 | 8,9 | 20,2 | 21,7 | 24,4 | 15,7 |
| 2000 | 7,8 | 11,4 | 22,1 | 22,6 | 25,5 | 10,6 |
| 2008 | 8,5 | 8,4 | 22,3 | 21,6 | 27,1 | 12,1 |
| 2016 | 10,8 | 11,6 | 25,3 | 21,6 | 23,7 | 7,1 |
| 2023 | 10,4 | 14,5 | 27,4 | 21,2 | 20,5 | 6,1 |
| Women | Non-drinker | Less often than monthly | 1–2 times a month | Once a week | A couple times a week | At least 4 times a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 40 | 28,4 | 22,5 | 5,7 | 2,7 | 0,7 |
| 1976 | 18,7 | 28,5 | 28,3 | 14,2 | 9,1 | 1,2 |
| 1984 | 27 | 25,2 | 24,9 | 12,8 | 8,1 | 2 |
| 1992 | 17,4 | 20,4 | 26 | 18,8 | 12,5 | 5 |
| 2000 | 9,4 | 24 | 31,1 | 19,4 | 14 | 2,1 |
| 2008 | 10,1 | 21 | 32,8 | 17,5 | 14,9 | 3,7 |
| 2016 | 14,3 | 25,5 | 31,2 | 16 | 10,2 | 2,9 |
| 2023 | 13,5 | 30,4 | 34,2 | 11,7 | 8,6 | 1,5 |
About the data in more detail
Read the full report (Julkari) (in Finnish)
Background information
Statistical quality report (Julkari) (in Finnish)
Response rates (in Finnish)
Data description (Data resources catalogue) (in Finnish)
Drinking Habits Survey
Source
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Finnish Drinking Habits 2023 (in Finnish). Tilastoraportti 59/2023, 30.11.2023
Statistical description
The statistics on drinking patterns among Finns describe alcohol consumption patterns, harm experienced from alcohol use, and differences between population groups. The statistics are based on a large sample survey conducted through interviews.
The most reliable national-level information on annual changes in total alcohol consumption is provided by the Alcoholic Beverages Consumption statistics. However, statistics based on sales data do not provide information on drinking patterns or differences between population groups. The Drinking Patterns among Finns statistics specifically address these questions.
The topics covered include the prevalence of abstinence, frequency of alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking, risky alcohol use, and consequences of alcohol use, as well as their distribution in the population.
Update schedule
The results are based on the THL Drinking Habits Survey, which in 2023 was conducted for the first time as part of the FinHealth Survey. The Drinking Habits Survey was previously conducted in 2016 and before that at eight-year intervals.