Finnish drinking habits 2023

Regular alcohol consumption in Finland has decreased

Regular alcohol consumption, i.e. at least weekly, has decreased among both men and women between 2016 and 2023 (Figure 1). In 2023, the share of those who consumed alcohol at least weekly was 48% for men and 22% for women, compared to 52% and 29% in 2016.

According to Finnish Drinking Habits survey conducted in spring 2023, nearly daily alcohol consumption was quite rare: six per cent of men and two per cent of women consumed alcohol at least four times a week. Alcohol consumption was most prevalent among men and women in the oldest age group of 55-69-year olds and least common in the youngest age group of 20-34-year olds (Appendix Table 1). Alcohol consumption was most frequent among men over the age of 54: 62% of them consumed alcohol at least weekly and 11% four times a week or more.

Although alcohol consumption generally decreased, monthly heavy episodic drinking at the whole-population level was almost as common in 2023 as in 2016. In 2023, 21% of the respondents reported at least monthly heavy episodic drinking (i.e. six or more servings of alcohol), compared to 22% in 2016. In 2023, the decline in heavy episodic drinking at this level continued in the age group 20–34. However, severe intoxication was still most common among men aged 20–34. Of them, 41% had drank at least 13 servings of alcohol on at least one day the previous year.

In 2023, 12% of the population, 10% of men and 14% of women were non-drinkers. The share of non-drinkers remained at the same level as in 2016.
15% of men and 9% of women exceeded the low-risk level defined for health risks caused by the long-term use of alcohol (more than 14 servings a week for men and more than 7 servings a week for women).

28% of the total population, 31% of men and 21% of women, exceeded the lowest risk threshold of the AUDIT test, which screens alcohol problems (at least six points for women and eight points for men). Recommendations indicate that these people should be offered advice on how to reduce their alcohol consumption by health care providers.

Six per cent of men and four per cent of women had experienced health problems caused by their alcohol consumption.

The results are based on THL's Drinking Habits Survey, which in 2023 was carried out for the first time as part of the Healthy Finland health study. The Drinking Habits Survey was last conducted in 2016 and prior to that once every eight years.

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Figure 1. Frequency of alcohol consumption among Finns aged 20-69 by gender 1968-2023, %

Background information

Description of statistics

Statistics on Finnish drinking habits describe the ways in which Finnish people consume alcohol, the harmful effects of alcohol use and differences in alcohol consumption by population groups. The statistics are produced as an extensive, sample-based interview study.

The most reliable information on changes in the total consumption of alcohol at the national level is based on the annual alcoholic beverages consumption statistics. However, the statistics, which are based on sales data, do not provide information on drinking habits or differences in consumption among population groups. The statistics on Finnish drinking habits answer these questions in particular.