Government aims to legalise alcohol home deliveries

The government is planning to loosen a number of restrictions on booze sales.

Drinks in supermarket fridges.
Drinks could be more easily acquired if government initiatives to liberalise sales rules progress as planned. Image: Joel Peltonen / Yle
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Consumers will be able to have alcoholic drinks delivered to their homes from shops and restaurants, if the government's plans are implemented.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's (NCP) government is aiming for alcoholic beverages to be available to order from any retailer with a licence, including shops, kiosks and restaurants.

Stronger drinks would remain restricted to the state alcohol monopoly Alko, who would also get the right to bring in home deliveries for their own products, such as wines.

The upper limit on alcohol strength for other retailers is slated to increase to eight percent from spring 2024.

In addition, the government is preparing legislation to expand the rights of breweries and wineries to sell their products directly to consumers.

The current limit for producers to sell direct to consumers is 13 percent strength drinks, but the government is proposing an increase on that. In addition, they would be allowed to introduce mail order services.

The Ministry for Social Affairs and Health is preparing the proposal, and says the most challenging aspect is ensuring that age restrictions on alcohol sales are enforced properly.

The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry has proposed that home deliveries would be allowed between the hours of 9am and 9pm.

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