The Finnish Parliament has approved a law allowing home delivery of alcohol and foreign distance sales. EHYT warns that the decision will increase alcohol availability and marketing, weaken prevention, create major tax losses, and especially affect children, people with substance use problems, and their loved ones.

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.

EHYT calls for the suspension of the current alcohol law proposal, arguing that its preparation has been incomplete, that EU discussions were insufficient, and that the proposed changes could weaken public health and undermine Finland’s retail monopoly system.