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In Finland, the difference between fermented and distilled products was not taxes, but that until very recently it was illegal for anyone but Alko (the local al
by Tuna-Fish 7y ago
In Finland, the difference between fermented and distilled products was not taxes, but that until very recently it was illegal for anyone but Alko (the local alcohol monopoly) to sell anything that was distilled.
The law was changed like a year ago and now only the alcohol content matters, anything with less than 5.5% vol can be sold in stores. Fermented beverages used to enjoy strong sales, but it seems like tastes are rapidly shifting towards distilled ones. IMO they generally taste better.
- GordonS 7y agoSounds similar to Norway, where only there is a max alcohol % (5%, IIRC) can be sold in supermarkets, and anything stronger is only available through the state monopoly, Vinmonopolet. In Western countries outwith the Nordics, this may sound awful, but I've come to appreciate it. Vinmonopolet stores sell a curated stock of high quality alcohol drinks, and their staff are invariably both passionate and highly knowledgeable. In short, the ethos is "quality over quantity" - and I like it. For some context, I live in the UK, but work for the Norwegian division of a megacorp, and have travelled to Norway frequently for decades.
- cat199 7y agoin the us, we also have 'good liquor stores' and 'regular ones', the market is lucrative enough to support such things without a mandated government monopoly. same should go for UK as well I presume..
- GordonS 7y agoI would have thought so too. And yet, most of the "decent" alcohol stores (e.g. Oddbins) died a death several years ago. Depending on where you live, you might find niche shops if you look hard enough, but they are far from ubiquitous. It seems the market has decided, and they want the cheapest swill they can buy.