Wine market in Finland - statistics & facts
Wine consumption in Finland has been on a gradual decline in recent years, with the per capita consumption dropping to 1.5 liters in 2023, measured in pure alcohol among those age 15 and above. This trend reflects broader changes in Finnish drinking habits, as the overall alcohol consumption has decreased since its peak in 2005.
Even while facing a declining trend in terms of consumption, retail sales, and in general, a more cautious drinking behavior, the wine market in Finland is a significant segment of the country’s alcohol industry.
Shifting preferences in alcohol consumption
While beer continues to dominate as the most popular alcoholic beverage in Finland, wine has gained ground over the past decades. Wine accounted for nearly one-fifth of the total alcohol intake in 2023, a slight decrease from the previous year. White wines, red wines, and cider dominated the retail sales volume of wine and fermented beverages. This shift towards wine aligns with a growing interest in milder alcoholic beverages and changing attitudes among younger generations, who are drinking less than their predecessors.Retail sales experiencing a declining trend
Wine, like other alcoholic beverages such as spirits and beer over 5.5 percent alcohol by volume, is only sold by Alko. Alko is the national alcoholic beverage retailing monopoly in Finland, wholly owned by the Finnish government, and the only store retailing beverages with a volume of alcohol of over 5.5 percent. The retail sales volume of fortified wine in Finland reached over 7.8 million liters in 2023, with a nine-percent decline from the previous year. The restaurant sales of alcoholic beverages in Finland totaled approximately 69.1 million liters in 2023, showing an increase of 2.4 percent from the previous year.Even while facing a declining trend in terms of consumption, retail sales, and in general, a more cautious drinking behavior, the wine market in Finland is a significant segment of the country’s alcohol industry.
