...and Dying in Finland

[Hank W.]

According to the statistics, the most common cause of death of the working-age male population is alcohol(-related diseases). The second, also "traditional" cause of death is coronary artery disease. Among women, breast cancer is the "traditional" cause, but quite alarmingly the women have started binging the past 20 years.

[sammy]

I wonder if those stats include homicides (or suicides, come to think of it) committed "under the influence"... it only mentions accidents.

Be as it may... goes to show that it's not merely a source of joy & enjoyment!

en koskaan osta kirvestä
enkä koskaan
viinaa juo...

[Finlander]

I wonder how much Finland's alcohol policies are to blame for the binge drinking culture that's developed; normal drinking habits are never able to develop.

Instead, many people just binge on the weekends. To make matters worse, they choose hard liquor because it has more value for price paid.

As we know, beer and wine are ridiculously priced in Finland. Needless to say, I'm of the opinion that Finland's politicians use alcohol propaganda to siphon money from the countries residents.

In contrast to Finland, alcohol is sold freely in central Europe. No restrictions. Buy soft and hard liquor any time of day/night at gas stations. Super low-prices. Yet no more social problems than in Finland---much less, actually.

Ah, the wonderful Nordic model. Excuse me while I go belt-down some Vodka...and then belt my wife

[raamv]

I wonder how much Finland's alcohol policies are to blame for the binge drinking culture that's developed;

Can you explain this please..

[Finlander]

raamv,

I don't know what more I can say about it, except that 'alcohol politics' has been going on for a long time in Finland with little avail to the health of society. But the money grab continues...

Consider that Finland is an ultra-high-tax country, but nobody wants to pay; so naturally, people always figure that it's better to get someone else to fork over the dough. Not surprisingly, raising taxes on alcohol is popular among non-alcohol consumers.

Consequently, certain elements in government commission studies to 'prove' that "alcohol consumption has increased since the last tax reduction, therefore we need to raise prices back to the previous levels."

But what they don't tell you is that, back when prices were high, people simply went to Estonia for their purchases. However, the amount they purchased there can't really be quantified. Hence, any claims about increases/decreases in consumption are nothing more than mere guesses.

Nevertheless, people of the older generation simply nod their heads and agree with what is reported. And of course, the non-alcohol consumers like hearing it, too, because it means they don't have to pay.

The end result is that you have an unhealthy, prohibition-based alcohol policy that sooner encourages people to binge than to drink responsibly---it's an all-or-nothing game!

Here's a nice study from Harvard Medical School, that examines Nordic drinking/drunking habits from a historical pov.

http://www.peele.net/lib/antidote.html

And the game continues...

[Karhunkoski]

As we know, beer and wine are ridiculously priced in Finland.

Speak for yourself Finlander. I don't have a problem with either alcohol or it's pricing structure.

[Finlander]

Speak for yourself Finlander. I don't have a problem with either alcohol or it's pricing structure.

You don't mind the high prices because you don't buy alcohol, or you do drink, but don't find the prices high?

If the latter, then can I assume you don't travel much? In Germany, wine is about half the Finnish price in most categories. Beer is also about half...real beer, that is.

[sammy]

In Germany, wine is about half the Finnish price in most categories.

Everyone knows this The point is - do we really, really care? Wine and beer are both quite affordable here.

Or perhaps I do not drink enough. Which sort of takes the edge from the original issue.

[ScubaGirl]

I was reading this article last week http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbi ... 2003385479

and this seems like the right thread to post the link to it. Are there actually people out there using the Viinakortti? I can't imagine this being of any help unless it were mandatory for people who can't handle their booze (i.e. someone who is known to be violent while under the influence, anyone with a drunk driving violation, etc...)

[Finlander]

In Germany, wine is about half the Finnish price in most categories.

Everyone knows this The point is - do we really, really care? Wine and beer are both quite affordable here.

Or perhaps I do not drink enough. Which sort of takes the edge from the original issue.

I dunno. For example, if you drink 2-bottles of wine per-week with dinner, then you can expect to overpay by at least 10-Euros at Alko. At least.

That's about 500-Euros per-year... If you invest it in a stock fund that yields 10% growth-per-annum, then you'll have over 55,000€ saved in 25-years. Is that "affordable" to you?

If you ask me, I'd rather just pay the EU market price, rather than the Finnish monopoly price.

Or maybe I should just get a Viinakortti?

[Karhunkoski]

Speak for yourself Finlander. I don't have a problem with either alcohol or it's pricing structure.

You don't mind the high prices because you don't buy alcohol, or you do drink, but don't find the prices high?

If the latter, then can I assume you don't travel much? In Germany, wine is about half the Finnish price in most categories. Beer is also about half...real beer, that is.

I do drink, yes, and like Sammy, I think the pricing is just fine. 16.90 for 24 beers or 6.99 for 12 (on offer in Lidl for example) is, IMO, not expensive. I don't give two hoots how much the beer is in Germany, I don't want to live in Germany, I want to live in Finland.

And I travel plenty thanks (too much to be honest ). I paid a ridiculous amount of SEK for beer a few weeks ago, now that WAS expensive.

[raamv]

I dunno. For example, if you drink 2-bottles of wine per-week with dinner, then you can expect to overpay by at least 10-Euros at Alko. At least.

That's about 500-Euros per-year... If you invest it in a stock fund that yields 10% growth-per-annum, then you'll have over 55,000€ saved in 25-years. Is that "affordable" to you?

If you ask me, I'd rather just pay the EU market price, rather than the Finnish monopoly price.

Or maybe I should just get a Viinakortti?

What kind of really idiotic arguement is this??
THis means that you dont drink for the next 25 years to earn 55K...
and in 25 years...what can be afforded with 55K ??

[littlefrank]

'I wonder how much Finland's alcohol policies are to blame for the binge drinking culture'

So how do you explain Britains binge drinking culture?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3510560.stm

[sammy]

I dunno. For example, if you drink 2-bottles of wine per-week with dinner, then you can expect to overpay by at least 10-Euros at Alko. At least.

That's about 500-Euros per-year... If you invest it in a stock fund that yields 10% growth-per-annum, then you'll have over 55,000€ saved in 25-years. Is that "affordable" to you?

If you ask me, I'd rather just pay the EU market price, rather than the Finnish monopoly price.

Or maybe I should just get a Viinakortti?

Erm... the way I see it, when I buy wine it's not to invest (nor waste) money - I'm buying wine to enjoy it. And personally, I just don't think it is too expensive. Am I overpaying - maybe yes, if you compare with the price of wine in Spain, Italy, Germany... but I don't.

Of course I wouldn't mind if wine & beer were cheaper. But as said, this isn't an issue to me.

Btw - just think how much more I can save per year, if I don't buy two bottles of wine per week... much more than a German who doesn't buy two bottles of wine per week.

Here's an idea - why don't they improve the viinakortti so that they'd stamp your card each time you buy a bottle... when you have collected nine stamps, you'll get the tenth bottle free.

[Hank W.]

'I wonder how much Finland's alcohol policies are to blame for the binge drinking culture'

So how do you explain Britains binge drinking culture?

Being a chav is genetical?

/get me suspenders