NORDIC ALCOHOL STATISTICS

Transcription

1 STATISTICS NORDIC ALCOHOL STATISTICS With this contribution, the Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research (SIRUS) presents a general overview of registered alcohol consumption in the Nordic countries. SIRUS has collected statistical data on alcohol consumption, retail outlets and licensed premises. We present sales figures for Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland for Figures for Greenland and the Faeroes were not available before finalisation of the document. Other tables are given for the years SIRUS s annual publication Rusmidler i Norge (Drugs and Alcohol in Norway) contains in its 2000 edition a description of the drugs and alcohol situation in the Nordic countries. Interested readers can find the statistics on our pages at These statistics contain extended time series data. Alcohol consumption in the Nordic countries Registered and unregistered consumption The Nordic countries prepare statistics over registered annual consumption or annual alcohol sales figures (Table 1). These figures give an impression of trends in alcohol consumption over time. We shall look at consumption for the period (partly for 2000). For the sake of comparison we start with presenting figures from a number of other European countries as well (Table 1E, 1999 figures). As Table 1E shows, Norway, Iceland and Sweden have the lowest consumption in terms of litres of pure alcohol per head of population. Denmark (9.5 litres per head) and Finland (7.3) lie closer to France, Portugal and Ireland (>10 litres). One explanation for the Danish and Finnish figures is these countries proximity to other European countries, i.e., Germany to Denmark and Estonia and Russia to Finland. Nevertheless, changes have occurred over time with regard to overall consumption, measured in terms of litres of pure alcohol per head of population aged 15 and older. Consumption fell in Denmark and Sweden in the period while an increase was apparent in Finland, Iceland and Norway (see Table 2). Iceland and Norway had the biggest increase. In Iceland consumption rose from 4.76 litres of pure alcohol (1995) to 6.14 (2000). In Norway, it increased from 4.79 litres to Total consumption in Finland rose by only 2 per cent. As the sales figures show, alcohol consumption varies between the Nordic countries. Unregistered consumption is not included in our figures. Unregistered consumption can be in the form of legally or illegally produced alcohol and alcohol imported in connection with travels abroad. Unregistered consumption in Norway is believed to be quite considerable. Estimations give it a per cent share of total consumption, much of which is believed to be tourist imported alcohol, including cross-border trade (Horverak et al. 2000). Unregistered consumption in Sweden and Finland is estimated at 30 per cent of registered consumption. There has been an increase in the amount of tourist imported alcohol in all of the Nordic countries, however. Norwegians travel to Sweden to buy cheap alcohol, Swedes to Denmark, Danes to Germany and Finns to Estonia etc. This needs to be seen in relation to the cheaper alcohol available in EU countries, Estonia and Russia. Considerable pressure is being exercised to lower alcohol duties in Sweden and Norway to stop their respective populations from purchasing large quantities in EU countries. For Finland cheap alcohol in Estonia represents a challenge. Sales of different types of alcohol The Nordics have traditionally been liquor countries, but consumption of spirits in recent years has fallen in Finland, Iceland and Sweden. There has been a slight increase in Norway from 1995 to 2000, but viewed over a longerterm perspective, the country has experienced a drop too (Rusmidler i Norge 2000). In the period the Faeroes consumed the greatest quantities of spirits. After the Faeroes came Finland where, in 2000, the consumption of spirits reached 6.15 litres per head of population aged 100 NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMNET)

2 15 and older. In the same period, Norway had the lowest consumption level of spirits. In 2000, consumption was 2.76 litres (3 litres less than Finland) (Table 2). Wine consumption, which once represented only a small fraction of Nordic alcohol preferences, has risen sharply since The biggest increases were in Finland, Iceland and Norway in the period in question. Finland has increased its consumption of wine from registered litres to retail litres; Iceland from 6.79 litres to litres; and Norway from 8.78 litres to Throughout the whole period the country with the highest wine consumption has been Denmark, where, in 2000, consumption reached 37.9 litres per head of population aged 15 and older (Table 2). Although we see an increase in wine consumption in the Nordics, they nevertheless lag behind wine countries like France, Italy and Portugal, despite the drops registered in wine consumption there (Rusmidler i Norge 2001). The figures reveal that people in the Nordic countries are beer aficionados first and foremost. Greenland tops the list here with a consumption of litres of beer (1999). Denmark comes next, while Iceland drinks least beer. Beer drinking in Denmark has fallen from litres pure alcohol in 1995 to in The same applies to Finland with a fall from litres in 1995 to in In Norway, on the other hand, there has been a small increase in beer consumption from 1995, from to litres. The greatest rise is in Iceland, however, where, between 1995 and 2000, consumption rose from to litres of pure alcohol in the form of beer per head of population aged 15 and older. This increase has its explanation: before March the sale of beer on Iceland was prohibited. Conditions related to the sale of alcohol in the Nordic countries In Finland and Norway, spirits, wine and strong beer are sold through government run retail outlets. In Sweden and Iceland medium strength beer is also sold across the counter in such outlets. In Denmark and Greenland there are no restrictions, and alcoholic beverages can be sold by anyone running a commercial business. The number of government outlets for spirits and wine in the Nordic countries has risen. Sweden saw 19 new outlets, Finland 17 and Norway 18, and Iceland 8 in the period (Table 3). To obtain a license to sell spirits and wine in Norway, local authorities need permission from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The Norwegian Vinmonopolet has been given permission to increase its number of retail stores to an overall 182 by the end of In both Finland and Norway there was a fall in the number of medium strength beer outlets between 1995 and Medium strength beer can be sold by grocery stores with a license from the local authorities or through private or municipal monopoly outlets. The number of retail outlets that sell medium strength beer has declined due to structural changes in the retail trade (Rusmidler i Norge 2001). All of the Nordic countries require as an aspect of their alcohol policies some form or another of licensing of premises where alcoholic beverages are served for consumption on the spot. The number of licensed premises has grown in all five countries. In Norway between 1995 and 1999 by 1 040; in Sweden by 907. Viewed in relationship to the population aged 15 and older, Denmark and Finland have the highest relative number of licensed premises, Sweden has fewest. Alcohol and economy Maintaining a high price tag on alcoholic drinks is a key policy instrument the aim of which is to limit consumption. Prices and duties on alcoholic goods exert an effect on inter-nordic border trade. There has been increased focus in recent years on regulating alcohol prices and duties in line with EU directives, particularly in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. Price indices show how prices have changed over the years. There are no big changes in real price indices for the Nordic countries. Comparison is also very difficult because of changes in base years in Norway among others (Table 4). Money spent on alcohol by consumers has risen in the period under consideration throughout the Nordic countries. In 1999, 14.8 billion Danish kroner was spent on alcohol; 20.2 billion Finnish marks; 21.6 billion Norwegian kroner; 28 billion Swedish kroner; and 11.3 Icelandic kroner (Table 5). A portion of these amounts end up as government revenue: 4 billion in Denmark; 11 billion in Finland; 12 billion in Norway; and 7 billion on Iceland. (A more detailed account of alcohol prices and duties NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMENT) 101

3 in the Nordics is available in Horverak et al ) Deaths caused by alcohol In years past we have published figures on deaths caused by alcohol-related diseases. The surveys include the incidence of deaths due to alcohol-related liver damage, alcohol poisoning, alcoholrelated psychoses etc. Comparison of figures for the years is difficult thanks to changes in statistical classification methods. Since 1996 classification and coding have been based on the ICD-10 edition of the World Health Organisation s international classification of diseases. A cross-border comparison of statistics based on different coding schemes would be problematic. We have not received figures on the incidence of deaths based on this classification system. We might note that Denmark had the highest number of deaths caused by cirrhosis of the liver in In Norway there were 442 alcohol-related deaths in 1996 of which 190 were caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Corresponding figures for 1998 were 408 and 194 respectively. After cirrhosis of the liver, the majority of deaths are related to mental diseases and behavioural disorders. Far more men than women die of alcoholrelated diseases (Rusmidler i Norge 2001). Since alcohol consumption levels have increased in the Nordic countries there is good reason to believe that the harmful effects will grow too, of course (Horverak et al. 2001). Driving under the influence All of the Nordic countries have initiated different types of measures to separate drinking from driving. These measures have the consent of the general public and have also had a positive effect. In Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway there has been a reduction in alcohol-related traffic accidents. There were a few more in Iceland in 1999 than in 1995 (Table 6). Iceland also has the highest drunk-driving rate per 1000 head of population aged 15 and older there were 9.3 drunk-driving incidents in Next comes Finland with 5.2 incidents. A general decline indicates changes in attitudes to driving and drinking. Denmark and Finland have a prescribed blood-alcohol limit of 0.5, Sweden and Norway 0.2 (Rusmidler i Norge 2000, p. 60, Table 5.1). Conclusion The consumption of wine has risen over the period More wine than spirits is drunk per litre of pure alcohol per head of population aged 15 and older. Although wine is gaining in popularity, sales figures show that beer retains its dominant place in all of the Nordic countries. Iceland is the only country where beer sales are increasing, however. Alcohol has become more available in the Nordic countries too. It can be sold throughout the Nordic area and the number of licensed premises is increasing constantly. Places licensed to serve spirits, wine and beer have risen most in Norway (Rusmidler i Norge 2001). Retail outlets for spirits, wine and strong beer (medium strength beer in Sweden) continue to be regulated through the government monopoly system, though the number of these retail outlets has risen too. Pressures in the Nordic countries to cut prices and duties on alcohol and widen import quotas are growing. Up to now, Sweden, Denmark and Finland have enjoyed special interim arrangements with the EU, but from 2004 they will be replaced by the ordinary regulations that apply throughout the rest of the community. This will have an impact on the total consumption of alcohol. If it rises, which is likely, the proportion of high consumers will rise too, and, in consequence, the prevalence of alcohol-related harm (see Horverak et al. 2001, Chapter 4). Literature Reidun Johanne Lohiniva Axelsen, Niels Kristian (2001): Skjenking i grenseland. Strategier, tiltak og lovgivning mot økonomisk kriminalitet i skjenkesteder i de nordiske land. Oslo: SIRUS rapport nr Horverak, Øyvind & Nordlund, Sturla & Rossow, Ingeborg (2001): Om sentrale deler av norsk alkoholpolitikk. Oslo: SI- RUS rapport nr Lohiniva, Reidun Johanne (2001): Kommunenes forvaltning av alkoholloven. Oslo: Sirus. Lund, Ingeborg et al. (1999): Norsk Svensk grensehandel med alkohol. Oslo: SIFA rapport nr.1/99 Rusmidler i Norge 2000 (2000). Rusmiddelsituasjonen i Norden. Oslo: Rusmiddeldirektoratet og Statens institutt for alkohol og narkotikaforskning Rusmidler i Norge 2001 (2001): Oslo: Statens institutt for rusmiddelforskning. 102 NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMNET)

4 Table 1. Annual sale of alcohol, 1,000 litres, Country, SPIRITS WINE of which LONG BEER of which year FORTI- DRINKS STRONG FIED BEER GREENLAND FAEROE ISLANDS NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMENT) 103

5 Table 1E. Annual sale of alcohol in some European countries, Belgium Bulgaria Denmark Finland France Greece Ireland Iceland Italy Cyprus The Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russian Federation Spain United Kingdom Switzerland Sweden Hungary Germany Austria Note: The figures are based on registered sales in the respective countries. Unregistered consumption, such as home-produced alcohol, tourist import and smuggled alcohol, is not included. It has been necessary to estimate the alcohol consumption in some countries when data is not available Source: World Drink Trends, Produktschap voor gedistilleerde dranken in association with NTC Publications Ltd 104 NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMNET)

6 Table 2. Annual sale of alcohol per inhabitant, Country, Litres per inhabitant 15 years or more Litres 100 % alcohol per inhabitant 15 years or more Litres 100% year Spirits Wine Long Beer Spirits Wine Long Beer Total alcohol per drinks drinks inhabitant FAROE ISLANDS GREENLAND NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMENT) 105

7 Table 3. Number of retail and licensed outlets, Country, NUMBER OF RETAIL OUTLETS NUMBER OF LICENSED OUTLETS year Only All alcoholic Only Total All alcoholic Only wine medium Total beverages 1 beer beverages 2 and beer beer FAEROE ISLANDS Norway: From spirits, wine and strong beer. Sweden: Spirits, wine and strong and medium beer. 2 Denmark: Licenses usually include spritis, wines and beer. 106 NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMNET)

8 Table 4. Real price indices for alcoholic beverages, , 1980=100 1 Country, Real price indices for: year Spirits 2 Wine Long Beer TOTAL drinks Iceland: Basis year for beer and spirits; 1989=100. Norway: Basis year for beer and spirits 1998=100 2 Denmark: Wine and spirits. Sources: Denmark: Denmark statistics, Finland: STAKES, Sweden: Alcoholinspection, Norway: The National Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research, Iceland: Statistic Iceland NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMENT) 107

9 Table 5. Consumer expenditure on alcohol and state revenues from alcohol in the currency of each country (millions), Country, Consumer expenditure Alcohol State revenues year on alcohol 1 expenditure from alcohol, % of Spirits 1 Wine Long Beer 2 Total as % of consumer total direct drinks private expend- state and consumer iture revenue indirect expenditure on alcohol FAEROE ISLANDS Denmark: Wine and spirits. 2 Sweden: From 1995 consumers expenditures on beer includes only strong beer (>3.5 vol%). 108 NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMNET)

10 Table 6. Cases of drunken driving in the Nordic countries, Cases of drunken driving 1 Cases involving alcohol in road traffic in road traffic accidents accidents with injuries of peopel 2 Number Per 1,000 Cases Percentage of Of which with inhabitants aged involving road accidents motorvehicles 15 years or more alcohol % % FAEROE ISLANDS GREENLAND Denmark and Sweden: Cases examined by the courts. 2 Norway: Number of sanctions. NORDISK ALKOHOL- & NARKOTIKATIDSKRIFT VOL. 19, 2002 (ENGLISH SUPPLEMENT) 109