In the latest issue of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (3/2010), editor-in-chief Kerstin Stenius discusses a report that investigates possible restrictions on alcohol advertising in Finland.

The committee set up by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health to investigate restrictions on alcohol advertising delivered its report in June 2010 (Alkoholimainonnan … 2010). It concludes that the present restrictions on advertising have been followed and that they have to a certain extent diminished exposure to advertising among young persons.

Four members of the committee, who represented health and welfare interests, declared dissentient views to the report; two propose restrictions on alcohol advertisements in line with the French la Loi Evin, which allows only product information; two other called for well-resourced evidence-based efforts to restrict alcohol consumption among young persons.

Stenius concludes that "The problem with much of Finnish alcohol policy today is probably not that the government still does not understand that alcohol is a commodity that endangers our health. The problem is rather that the government chooses to ignore its responsibility in promoting health, written into the constitution and other laws, and instead prioritises the protection of the industry."

Read more in the latest issue of NAD (3/2010)!