Followed this huge **** off rear spoiler into Hedon today, actually bigger, and probably heavier, than the Fiat 500.
The biggest factor in both Sweden and Finland is not just the tax rates, which as you say are very high, but the fact that both Countries have a state monopoly on selling alcohol. You simply don't see those very cheap specials on home brand spirits because they just don't stock them. The cheapest bottle of Vodka will be about £20 for 700ml the cheapest bottle of wine is around £6. There's no special offers before a world-cup or at Christmas and the opening hours are inconvenient 3pm close on Saturday and not open again till Monday. Weekdays now 7pm used to be 5pm when I moved here. Closed over bank holiday weekends. Very strict age controls. Their mission statement is to promote lower drinking levels. It's just a co-incidence that it generates millions and millions for the government. Then again it's got to come from somewhere I suppose.
In the 80's I spent a fair bit of time in North Holland, there was a roaring trade whereby Ferries would go out of Dutch waters and sell duty free booze, which they would bring back in as long as it was in accordance with duty-free allowances. Does that happen in Sweden/Finland now?
Sort of. We can only buy duty-free if we are leaving the EU and all our ferries go to other EU countries. However, there is a little work around. In the middle of the Baltic is a place called Åland which is autonomous region of Finland and isn't part of the EU. The the ferries from Sweden to Finland pull into the harbour there on the way and can then sell duty free booze.
As you've mentioned,we pay per alcoholic unit,currently 50p but they(they being the ****ing crackpots at the Scottish parliament) are currently debating a rise in it...To as much as 80p. Depending on which reports you read,the impact has been fairly minimal in terms of health benefit,however,as you say sales have dropped slightly.If for talking sake it's currently £14 for a bottle of whisky(no matter the brand) ie:-28 units x 50p,that will jump to 28 units x 80p(£22.40). No surprise then that the Scottish Whisky Industry is up in arms,as are the Scottish brewers.This has the potential for significant job losses? As an aside,I know and work with a couple of lads who travel down to Asda Carlisle to buy their booze in bulk and even at present the savings are worth the journey.
