The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has drawn attention for the unusually high payments made to experts for opinions on alcohol legislation, specifically concerning a government proposal that would allow home delivery of alcohol and regulate remote sales. Reports indicate that the ministry paid a significant 29,900 euros to Professor Petri Kuoppamäki, an expert in competition law, while Dr. Kukka Kuusela specialized in EU law received 25,800 euros, and Professor Juha Raitio received 4,000 euros for their assessments.

The payments have raised eyebrows among members of the social and health committee, who are questioning the rationale behind such substantial expenditures, especially given the context in which these payments were made. The committee has been involved in heated discussions regarding the government proposal that aims to revise existing alcohol laws, which are already under scrutiny for their implications on public health and safety.

The payments were reported to have been made towards the end of 2024, following an information request by Ilta-Sanomat that uncovered the specifics of these expert fees. This incident not only calls into question the budgeting and spending practices of the ministry but also the implications of the proposed changes to alcohol legislation, as the debate goes on among lawmakers regarding the balance between public health concerns and the potential economic benefits from changes to alcohol distribution laws.