News of the week in plain Finnish | Saturday 27.6.2026

New alcohol law

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There has been a lot of talk about alcohol in Finland this week. A new alcohol law has been passed.

We will tell you more about it now.

Parliament approved the Alcohol Act

Parliamentary voting board.

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The Parliament approved the Alcohol Act on Tuesday, and the President confirmed it on Friday. Photo: Jorma Vihtonen / Yle

The new alcohol law will come into effect next week, July 3. After that, Alkots will also be allowed to open on Sundays and public holidays.

Home delivery of alcohol will be possible starting in January. Alcohol can be ordered to your door next year from Alko, grocery stores and foreign online stores.

Alcoholic beverages may be brought home between 9 am and 9 pm.

The driver must verify the recipient’s age. The recipient must not be heavily intoxicated.

Opposition from the Christian Democrats

A woman walks down a hallway in a brightly lit building.

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Christian Democrat representative Päivi Räsänen is a member of the Social Affairs and Health Committee of the Parliament. She has long opposed the new alcohol law. Photo: Toni Määttä / Yle

Some Finns support the new law, some oppose it.

Many social and health organizations and welfare areas oppose the new law. They believe that risk groups will start drinking more, which could lead to more alcohol-related harm.

Reviewers say that it is difficult to monitor the age or intoxication of the customer when it comes to home delivery.

Members of Parliament also had different opinions on amending the Alcohol Act. The Christian Democrats voted unanimously against the law.

The grocery store representative, Grocery Store Association PTY, supported the new alcohol law. The Tourism and Restaurant Services Association MaRa criticizes it.

The state monopoly company Alko is positive about home delivery. Alko says that it has been able to deliver alcohol from the Nordic countries of Sweden and Norway to homes for many years.

Prohibition Act and Finland

Men in a boat. Cargo of crackers.

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A booze bust is underway here. There are coastguards, smugglers and booze cans on the boat. Alcohol was smuggled from Estonia to Finland during Prohibition. Photo: Kymenlaakso Museum

Alcohol policy in Finland has changed over the past hundred years.

For example, Prohibition was in force in Finland from 1919 to 1932. Alcohol was not allowed to be manufactured, imported, or sold.

However, alcohol was secretly prepared at home, for example. Alcohol was also smuggled into Finland.

Prohibition weakened public morale because people broke the law a lot. Many say that it is because of Prohibition that Finns still have a difficult relationship with alcohol.

The political controversy over online alcohol sales continued for about 20 years.

Repetition

Alko logo inside the store.

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Photo: Jari Kovalainen / Yle

Let’s say it again.

The new alcohol law will come into effect on July 3.

Bars can be open on Sundays and public holidays. Alcohol can be purchased online and delivered to your door from the beginning of next year.

Here was the News of the Week in plain Finnish. See you again, bye!