Finnish alcohol idiosy.

[Arseen]

Just read that Finnish Alko (store chain owned by Finish coverment more or less directly, that has monopol on selling alcohol in Finland)is suing Estonian Super Alko for using work Alko in their name (which they used even before Estonia joined EU) and that the their logos look too similar (which they are not) in Finish court system that doesn't even have jurisdiction in the matter, yet Finish court has ordered Super Alko to answer by beginning of February.

True reason in the background is that Finnish people can go to Estonia and bring as much alhohol as they can fit in their cars or vans, or taking day cruise there.
This made me check the what the price difference really is.

I just checked that if I wanted to buy 4 bottles (0.7 liters each) of my favorite peach liquore it would be cheaper to take day tour including bus to Helsinki (270 kilometers), a ferry to Estonia and back and a bus back here (the bus actually comes along to the ferry), than to buy said 4 bottles from Alko.

Bonus on the day cruise is that the company offers next cruise so cheap, that buying 1 bottle (or 2 six paks of beer). is enough to make it cheaper.

Imagine what the savings are if I bring more booze in the bus.

I think I'll do that soon, and bring the booze I need for next few years.

[Dr.Agon]

people have been doing that over here for years, drive to france, fill van with booze, drive home!

[Arseen]

Hopefully EU will soon end the monopol status of Alko and let the free market system loose.

There are still few strong coverment owned monopols left.

The three biggest ones are: Lottery, alcohol and passanger trains.

[sheep2001]

I used to work in the wine industry in the uk, Alko were one of my customers.  Huge pain in the ass with requirements.  Only the Russians were harder work.

[Arseen]

Hopefully EU will soon end the monopol status of Alko and let the free market system loose.

There are still few strong coverment owned monopols left.

The three biggest ones are: Lottery, alcohol and passanger trains.

And National TV (YLE) that gets it's full (or near) funding from special tax´thayt everyone has to pay wether you watch the chanels or not.
You'll have to pay the tax even if you don't own TV but do own computer.

[Arseen]

I used to work in the wine industry in the uk, Alko were one of my customers.  Huge pain in the ass with requirements.  Only the Russians were harder work.

Yeah the top brass is super well paid idiotic bunch who work in "shelter jobs" as they are too stupid to do anything else.

[Arseen]

For example the top dude said that surely EU will bring back the quota limits ( or give Finland special persission to limit how much can be brought) as the price difference between Estonia and Finland has grown too big.

And that is totally opposite the EU wide free trade agreements.

What a bunch if idiots.

[Arseen]

For example the top dude said that surely EU will bring back the quota limits ( or give Finland special persission to limit how much can be brought) as the price difference between Estonia and Finland has grown too big.

And that is totally opposite the EU wide free trade agreements.

What a bunch if idiots.

And as that plan was realized rto be illegal, next step what they plan is to force people to prove that the alcohol is for personal or near family use.

Which still is against the law.

[wiggy]

I know friends who've driven to Canada to do something similar.  Too much time for me to spend acquiring cheap booze (I think the border is like 3 hours away).

[Arseen]

I know friends who've driven to Canada to do something similar.  Too much time for me to spend acquiring cheap booze (I think the border is like 3 hours away).

Just checked the tme table and that day cruise would actually be 24 hour cruise.

Might still take that trip in near future.

[Arseen]

Idiocy thickens:

Once again one of the ministers gave solution to control the alcohol consuption of the Finnish people: Raise the alcohol tax and price!
That is not the first time that has been proposed or even implemented.
Heck they do this about once a year.

And yes everytime people buy less alcohol from Alko, and because the alcohol brought from Estonia by passangers is not (or cannot be) counted, the alcohol consumption going down... at least officiallly.

[Arseen]

Yet if I go to the neighboring city of Lappeenranta on any given thursday or Saturday (when the day cruisers return) I can see the bus loaded to the max with beer, cider and booze.
And I know many people that go once month to Estonia with their own vans and bring the as much beer as the van can carry.
Which BTW is hundreds of liters per person, amount they now way can drink alone or every month.

[wiggy]

I know friends who've driven to Canada to do something similar.  Too much time for me to spend acquiring cheap booze (I think the border is like 3 hours away).

Just checked the tme table and that day cruise would actually be 24 hour cruise.

Might still take that trip in near future.

If you do, make sure to stop by and say hi

[Arseen]

Me talkings FIN-EST cruise, but if I deside to take my next long vacation on the new side of the pond , sure why not.

[kimmokissa]

Hopefully EU will soon end the monopol status of Alko and let the free market system loose.

There are still few strong coverment owned monopols left.

The three biggest ones are: Lottery, alcohol and passanger trains.

I dont mind about the lottery (Veikkaus). But i do mind about other gambling company (Ray), i want PAF slot machines in the mainland aswell :3. Also personally i think its good to have Alko monopol to keep prices high, because i dont care about alchohol . VR is S.H.I.T, never again i shall use it.