Social Security Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen has firmly rejected the opposition's demands for additional proposals related to alcohol legislation. Last week, several members of the opposition, including the chair of the Social and Health Committee, Krista Kiuru, called for the minister to provide a supplementary proposal regarding alcohol law modifications. The Social and Health Committee is currently drafting a report upon which the parliament will make its decision.

The disagreement between the government and the opposition centers around the potential banning of remote sales of monopolized products from abroad. If the proposed law changes go ahead, they could unfairly benefit foreign remote sellers over Finnish retailers, as consumers would be able to order alcoholic beverages from abroad and Alko, the state monopoly, while Finnish shops would be restricted from similar practices. The proposal has received preliminary approval from the Constitutional Law Committee, which noted concerns about equality and freedom of enterprise in the context of these changes.

This ongoing debate highlights significant issues of fairness and competition within Finland’s retail landscape. The potential for foreign sellers to have an advantage over local companies raises questions about the long-term implications for Finnish businesses. As the parliamentary discussion progresses, it remains to be seen how these opposing viewpoints will evolve and whether a satisfactory resolution can be achieved for both the government and the opposition.