A new Systembolaget survey shows that only 12 percent of Swedes see alcohol as important for Midsummer, while seven in ten still feel there is an expectation to drink.

Finland’s Alcohol Act reform has moved forward in Parliament in a form that would expand alcohol availability through distance sales, home delivery and longer Alko opening hours. EHYT and Juha Mikkonen warn that the key public health and tax control questions remain unresolved.

The European Union Drugs Agency warns that Europe’s drug market is becoming more complex, with new synthetic opioids, stronger cannabis products, rising cocaine harms, ketamine misuse and polysubstance use creating new risks for public health and security.

EHYT welcomes the Finnish Parliament committee’s amendments to the Alcohol Act proposal, but stresses that the changes must be notified to the EU before the bill is brought to the plenary session.

The majority of the Finnish Parliament’s Social Affairs and Health Committee says proposed changes to the Alcohol Act must protect public health, tax revenue and the foundations of Finland’s alcohol system. The committee wants distance sales of alcohol to follow the same strength limits as domestic retail sales and argues that the changes must be notified to the European Commission before final adoption.

Movendi Sweden warns that recent and proposed changes to Swedish alcohol policy, including abolishing the food requirement, extending serving hours and lowering the Systembolaget age limit, will increase alcohol-related harm and deaths.

Recorded alcohol consumption in Finland continued to decline in 2025. According to THL, on-premise and retail consumption fell by 4.5% compared with 2024, but no estimate of total alcohol consumption can be made because of a change in the data collection method for travellers’ imports and online purchases.

A new survey from the Danish Cancer Society shows that many Danes do not keep track of how much alcohol they drink. The organization warns that without knowing your weekly intake, it is difficult to know whether you stay within the Danish Health Authority’s recommendations.

Systembolaget’s junior prize 2026 has been awarded to Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie for his research on alcohol and health among older people, a field that remains relatively under-researched despite increasing alcohol consumption among older generations.

A new EHYT survey shows that Finnish minors find it increasingly easy to obtain alcohol, often through friends, siblings, parents or social media. The findings also underline the strong role parents’ attitudes and example continue to play in young people’s alcohol-related choices.

Greenland’s parliament has debated whether the country should develop a national alcohol policy guided by children’s rights, with the government now signalling support for a broad political alcohol agreement.

The Icelandic Government has told ESA that online alcohol sales based on domestic warehousing and delivery constitute domestic retail sale, not private importation. Prevention organisations in Iceland welcome the clarification as a reaffirmation of the public health basis of the alcohol monopoly.

Sweden marks Folknykterhetens dag, People’s Sobriety Day, at a time when the country’s temperance movement is renewing its public role and alcohol policy is moving in a more liberal direction.

Akan director argues that problematic alcohol use in politics should not only be treated as a matter of individual behaviour. The Storting is also a workplace, and early, caring leadership is essential when concerns arise.

A new amendment proposal in the Estonian Parliament would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work in jobs involving the preparation, offering and sale of alcoholic beverages. Public health organisations warn that the proposal would weaken the protection of minors and send a contradictory message about alcohol prevention.

Movendi Sweden is urging the Swedish Parliament to keep the food-service requirement for alcohol serving licences, arguing that the Alcohol Act should continue to protect public health, safety and working conditions.

THL’s new report finds that substance use and addiction service contacts in Finland are increasingly moving toward primary health care and other basic services. The shift offers opportunities for earlier support, but requires stronger structures, better cooperation and improved professional competence.

A new Systembolaget survey shows that many adults believe teenagers drink less because they use other drugs instead. CAN’s 2025 school survey shows a different picture: alcohol remains much more common than narcotics among young people.

A new CAN report shows that people who buy alcohol directly from producers in Sweden drink more than both Systembolaget customers and alcohol consumers overall. Younger adults are also more likely to use the new farm sales option.

A new doctoral study from Norway shows that treatment outcomes for alcohol use disorder are shaped by who the patient is, including cognitive functioning, personality traits and gender-specific challenges. The findings point to a clear need for more tailored treatment approaches.