Alko
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Missing image Alko.png Image:alko.png |
Alko is the national alcoholic beverage retailing monopoly in Finland. Essentially, it's the only place in the country where you can buy strong beer (over 4,7% ABV), wine (except in vineyards) & spirits, although you can buy non-alcoholic beverages & drinks accessories. It is a government-owned enterprise reporting to the Finnish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. It has 314 shops and 142 order points thought out the country. Because of the Alcohol Act, it can't have a display, so it usually has just a display of wine glasses and catalogues. On the 3rd February 2005, the Finnish Food Marketing Association (a pressure group of country's supermarkets like K-Kauppa and S-Group) asked the European Union to challenge the legality of Alko says its monoploy is illegal.
History
During the years 1914 to 1932, the distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages was forbidden in Finland in all places except first-class restaurants. When the prohibition was lifted by the Finnish government in 1932, they created a company called Oy Alkoholiliike Ab which was fully owned by the government. In 1969 the company's name was changed into Oy Alko Ab.
See also
- List of Finnish government enterprises
- Systembolaget - The Swedish alcohol monopoly
External links
- Alko (http://www.alko.fi/) - Official site
- A YLE article of the challenge between Alko and the supermarkets (English) (http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id6757.html)fi:Alko Oy