In Finland, the government is moving forward with plans to expand alcohol sales by allowing small distilleries to sell strong spirits like whiskey, vodka, rum, or gin directly from their production sites. This legislative proposal is expected to reach parliament during the week of May Day. Currently, the approval for remote sales and home deliveries of alcohol and the relaxation of Alko's Sunday operating hours have not yet been finalized. The legislation aims to facilitate the growth of small distilleries, which are typically smaller operations with an annual production of less than 100,000 liters of pure alcohol.

The proposed legislation would enable these small distilleries to sell up to 25,000 liters of alcohol annually directly from their locations, which could help market their products more effectively and reach consumers directly. This initiative comes at a time when only four large producers in Finland exceed the draft bill's production limit, which raises concerns among larger alcohol producers about potential discrimination against bigger companies. The Alcoholic Beverage Retailers Association has criticized the draft for being exclusionary and not addressing the competitive imbalance it creates in the market.

Currently, Finland boasts around fifty small distilleries that may benefit from these new regulations, potentially leading to significant growth within the craft spirits sector. With predictions of enhanced sales opportunities and growth, proponents see this as a vital step toward modernizing the alcohol sales landscape in Finland, promoting local products, and fostering the distilling industry.