Alcohol consumption in Finland decreased during the coronavirus crisis
According to a new THL report, total alcohol consumption in the country fell by an estimated 5.2 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year due to measures to combat the COVID-19 virus.
Consumption decreased the most in April – June, when restaurants were temporarily closed and travel restrictions led to a decline in tourism.
Sales of alcoholic beverages in restaurants decreased by 40.6 per cent last year, but in grocery stores it increased by 4 per cent. In addition, sales in Alko’s stores increased by 12 percent.
According to THL, the average alcohol consumption in Finland has been declining since 2007. Last year, per capita consumption fell to its lowest level since the beginning of the century, and Finns over the age of 15 consumed an average of 9.2 liters. alcohol.
Ecstasy-related deaths on the rise
According to THL, the number of deaths caused by ecstasy in Finland more than tripled in 2011-2017. Although the drug was associated with 0.09 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2011, the figure rose to 0.33 in 2017.
More than half of the deaths were due to a deadly combination of ecstasy and other substances. The drug indirectly affected the user’s death (for example, when it resulted in road traffic accidents) in 30% of cases.
Young men accounted for the largest proportion of ecstasy-related deaths, with a mean age of 24.
Pirko KriikkuTHL’s forensic toxicologist believes the risk of death has been increased by the high concentration of pure MDMA in ecstasy pills, which has been increasing every year.
Tahira Sequeira
Helsinki Times