Boozing is up

last updated 8 January 2015

Helsinki

Several Finnish politicians called this week for the reversal of the huge tax cut on liquor that has spurred binge drinking. Finland cut its liquor taxes by 44 percent in March, and since then liquor sales have soared. The tax cut was prompted by fears that, after neighboring Estonia joined the E.U. in May, Finns would simply be able to zip across the Gulf of Finland and buy far cheaper Estonian liquor. Scandinavians already take frequent boat trips to other E.U. countries to load up on cheap alcohol. The E.U. is considering harmonizing liquor taxes across the union in an effort to prevent such “booze cruises.”