According to an interview study conducted by TNS Gallup, travellers’ private imports of alcohol totalled 43.7 million litres during the January–August period, which represents a fall of six per cent on the corresponding period of 2009. Imports of beer and cider declined, but imports of long drinks continued to rise. All in all, imports of brewery beverages fell during the first part of the year. Imports of unfortified wines rose, while imports of fortified wines and strong alcoholic drinks fell.
When translated into pure alcohol, travellers’ private imports of alcoholic beverages during the January–August period of this year fell by about seven per cent on the corresponding period of 2009. According to TNS Gallup’s surveys, travellers’ imports of alcohol peaked in 2005. They then fell over the next two years, before picking up again in 2008 and 2009.
When translated into pure alcohol, 52 per cent of all the alcohol imported by travellers was in the form of strong alcoholic drinks. Beer accounted for 15 per cent, wines for 14 per cent, long drinks for 9 per cent, fortified wines for 5 per cent and cider for 4 per cent. Travellers continue to purchase most of their alcoholic beverages on ships or in Estonia.
TNS Gallup’s survey on travellers’ private imports of alcohol was ordered by the National Supervisory Authority For Welfare and Health (VALVIRA), the National Institute For Health and Welfare (THL), the Ministry of Finance, Alko Ltd, the Alcoholic Beverages Industries' Association of the Finnish Food and Drink Industries' Federation, the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry, the Finnish Grocery Trade Association, the Finnish Tourism and Restaurant Industries Federation (MaRa), the Association of Finnish Alcoholic Beverage Suppliers and the Federation of Finnish Commerce. Data was collected on a weekly basis by conducting 500 telephone interviews.
For more information, contact:
Lennart Wahlfors, Head of Data Administration, VALVIRA, tel. +358 (0)9 7729 2417, +358 (0)50 324 9704
Esa Österberg, Senior Researcher, THL, tel. +358 (0)20 610 7018, +358 (0)400 417 514
Outi Jalonen, Communications Manager, Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry, tel. +358 (0)9 1488 7602, +358 (0)50 370 8677
Karri Kunnas, Branch Manager, Alcoholic Beverages Industries' Association of the Finnish Food and Drink Industries' Federation, tel. +358 (0)9 1488 7224, +358 (0)400 161 5443
Susanna Heikkinen, Communications, Association of Finnish Alcoholic Beverage Suppliers, tel. +358 (0)40 588 1067