Finland's government has proposed to amend national alcohol regulations to allow the online sale and home delivery of alcoholic drinks in the country.
The proposed shift enables Finns to order alcoholic drinks online from state-owned retailer Alko, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health today (10 October).
Licensed shops, kiosks, petrol stations and restaurants are also permitted to deliver wine, beer and spirits to a customer's doorstep under the amendment.
The move additionally allows customers to have wines with up to 13% abv and craft beers of up to 12% abv delivered from local winemakers and brewers. Producers must be licensed to sell their drinks at their vineyards and breweries.
Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen said the proposal was "a moderate step towards a European alcohol culture and regulation".
She added: "In future, alcoholic beverages could be delivered to customers, for example, in connection with customers having their grocery shopping and food orders from restaurants delivered to their homes. This is about making everyday life easier and deregulating provisions."
To ensure that delivery of alcoholic drinks is "implemented responsibly", Grahn-Laasonen noted retailers would need to hold a licence.
Those carrying out deliveries would also need to carry "a separate delivery passport", the official statement read. "The holders of a delivery licence would also be required to have a self-supervision plan."
The proposal is due to come into play on 1 January 2025 through a "staggered" approach, with delivery licence "provisions" set to be in place by 1 June.
Online drinks purchases will only be permitted for home delivery from Alko within its opening hours, which vary from store to store. All other "domestic retail outlets" will be allowed to sell online from 9am to 9pm CET.
When purchasing products online, customers will need to show "strong electronic identification," and their age will also need to be verified upon delivery.
The proposal does not permit online delivery of alcohol to public spaces such as areas "providing health and social welfare", schools and leisure centres for children and young adults.
Delivery to restaurants, "serving areas" and "public events" is also not authorised, as well as "premises and areas for which the police have issued a prohibition on the consumption of alcoholic beverages for the purpose of maintaining public order".
Commenting on the proposed regulation change, European trade group SpiritsEurope told Just Drinks: "Our sector has faced unfair restrictions while foreign-based online operators have been able to deliver directly to Finnish customers through legal cross-border purchases.
"This new draft legislation, which allows the retail monopoly Alko to sell online and deliver our products to individual customers' homes, marks a mostly positive change. It helps level the playing field and allows Finland to compete more fairly in the market."
The decision follows the Finnish parliament's decision in June to raise the abv limit on wine and beer sold in supermarkets from 5.5% to 8% abv.
Ready-to-drink, long drinks and other mixed alcoholic drinks were not included in the rule change, which remain capped at 5.5% abv.
In August, SpiritsEurope issued a complaint to the European Commission over the changes to the laws around spirits sales in Finland.
Speaking to Just Drinks at the time, SpiritsEurope director Ulrich Adam said the new laws meant products over 5.5% abv made “from a distilled base” would have “a much more restrictive distribution” at “around 27 sales points”, compared to beers and wines which will be able to expand their reach to “around 4,000 general retailers”.
The trade body said it expected to receive a response from the Commission regarding its complaint by August next year.
