Alcohol consumption has declined – restricting availability remains an effective way to promote health and well-being

The decline in alcohol consumption in Finland has improved the population’s well-being, health and safety. Since 2008, alcohol consumption has decreased by 31 per cent and alcohol-related mortality by 28 per cent. As a result, an estimated 12,000 working age people were spared from premature alcohol-related deaths between 2008 and 2023. Alcohol-related mortality is a widely used indicator for various alcohol-related harms.

In addition to broader societal changes and changes in drinking habits, the positive development is largely explained by increases in alcohol taxation, which have been implemented approximately every 1–2 years since 2008.

Alcohol-related harm remains significant

Despite the decline in total consumption, alcohol continues to cause substantial health, social and economic harm to individuals, communities and society.

In 2023, 76 per cent of all alcohol consumed was associated with risky drinking, either due to high average consumption or binge drinking. Twenty-four per cent of people in Finland — nearly one million individuals — were at risk of long-term health issues or harm from binge drinking.

"Because of its extensive harmful effects, alcohol is not an ordinary consumer product," says Pia Mäkelä, Research Professor at THL.

In 2024, a total of 1,594 people in Finland died from alcohol-related diseases and accidental alcohol poisonings. Most deaths were caused by diseases resulting from long-term alcohol use, such as liver and cardiovascular diseases.

More common consequences of excessive alcohol use include impaired sleep quality, mental health issues, weight management challenges, and accidents.

Alcohol use also contributes to violence and various social problems and reduces work ability and functional capacity.

A significant share of the harm and costs falls on people other than those who drink: loved ones, children and families, bystanders, taxpayers and those whose access to social and health services is delayed due to increased demand.
People in more disadvantaged socio-economic positions are more vulnerable to severe alcohol-related harms, and alcohol is one of the key drivers of inequalities in mortality.

The divergence between trends in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm since 2018 suggests a degree of polarisation in consumption—that is, not all population groups have reduced their consumption to the same extent.

According to an assessment by an international research group, the societal costs of alcohol-related harm in Finland amounted to EUR 1.6 billion in 2018.

Effective ways to reduce alcohol-related harm

Mäkelä notes that the decline in alcohol use has been beneficial for population well-being, health and safety.

"This positive trend is threatened by various ongoing policy changes that weaken alcohol policy measures proven to be effective, such as the retail alcohol monopoly system. For example, the 2018 reform of the Alcohol Act increased the availability of alcoholic beverages, after which the long-standing strong decline in alcohol-related harm came to a halt."

Based on research evidence, international research groups and the World Health Organization (WHO) have concluded that alcohol consumption and related harm can be reduced most effectively by increasing the price of alcohol, regulating availability and restricting marketing.

Research reviews show that a state-run retail monopoly is one of the most effective ways to reduce alcohol consumption and related harm.

It effectively limits the availability of alcohol—that is, how widely alcohol is offered in our everyday environments. In addition, it curbs price competition, marketing and other sales promotion. In this way, it is a responsible way to organise the sale of alcoholic beverages.

In Finland, dismantling Alko’s retail monopoly—for example by allowing the sale of stronger wines in grocery stores—would increase the number of outlets selling alcoholic beverages over 8 per cent alcohol content by approximately twelvefold compared with the current situation. This would mean that people would be increasingly exposed to the availability of alcoholic beverages in their everyday environments.

"The huge daily customer flows in grocery stores, the attractive display of alcoholic beverages and the excessive ease of purchasing alcohol, including strong alcoholic beverages, would lead to higher alcohol sales compared to speacialty shops, which require a conscious decision to visit a separate location", Mäkelä says.