Alko in Finland - statistics & facts
Except for Denmark, all Nordic countries sell high alcohol content beverages exclusively in government-owned stores. This is to combat alcoholism and its health effects. Low alcohol drinks are available in regular stores.
Alko Inc is an enterprise run by the Finnish government with 488 stores and pick-up points across Finland. In 2023, Alko's revenue continued to decrease, while alcohol sales in bars and restaurants started to increase again.
Alko Inc revenue and sales
Alko stores are the only stores in Finland which retails beer over 5.5% alcohol by volume, wine, and spirits. However, it is possible to buy alcoholic beverages in licensed restaurants and bars but only for consumption on the premises. While the Finnish government runs Alko, the company must also sell non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks with less than 5.5% alcohol by volume.
Although the revenue of Alko showed an upward trend in the past few years, the sales volume of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages mostly declined. The household consumption expenditure on alcoholic beverages of Finnish households reached a new peak in 2020, amounting to nearly 3.85 billion euros. For comparison, in 2023, Finnish families spent roughly 3.66 billion euros on alcoholic beverages.
Among the general acceptance of the alcohol policy, the majority of Finns consider the legal drinking age of 18 years for beer and wine appropriate. Only one percent of the population thought that the age limit was too high.
Consumer behavior
While Finland is generally strict about its alcohol policy, over half of Finns aged 18 and older thought in 2024 that the current alcohol policy restrictions, i.e., the various measures taken by public authorities and society to restrict alcohol consumption and sale in the country, are appropriate.Among the general acceptance of the alcohol policy, the majority of Finns consider the legal drinking age of 18 years for beer and wine appropriate. Only one percent of the population thought that the age limit was too high.
