Alko 841401 218843993 2008-06-12T12:15:48Z Perey 75986 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 216909209 by [[Special:Contributions/81.19.128.23|81.19.128.23]] ([[User talk:81.19.128.23|talk]]) -- Random insertion of Cyrillic character {{Infobox_Company |company_name = Alko |company_logo = [[Image:Alko logo.png|150px]] |company_type = [[List of Finnish government enterprises|Government enterprise]] |company_slogan = |foundation = [[1932]] |location = [[Vantaa]], [[Finland]] |key_people = [[Jaakko Uotila]] (President and CEO) |num_employees = 2,584 (2005) |products = [[Alcoholic beverages]] |revenue = {{profit}} 1,026.5 million [[Euro|€]] (2006) |operating_income = {{profit}} 61.9 million [[Euro|€]] (2006) |homepage = [http://www.alko.fi/ www.alko.fi] |industry = [[Alcoholic beverage]]s }} '''Alko''' is the national [[alcoholic beverage]] retailing [[government monopoly|monopoly]] in [[Finland]]. Essentially, it is the only store in the country which retails [[beer]] over 4.7% [[alcohol by volume|ABV]], [[wine]] (except in vineyards) and [[Distilled beverage|spirits]]. Alcoholic beverages are also sold in licensed restaurants and bars to ages 18 and up. Alko is required by law to sell drinks with lower alcohol content than 4.7% and non-alcoholic alternatives, but in practice carries a very limited stock of low alcohol beer, cider and non-alcoholic drinks and mixers as supermarkets sell the same products at a lower price. ==Products== As the only means to buy strong retail alcohol in Finland, Alko has an extensive range of products ranging from rare wines to bulk vodka. Its wine selection has grown in recent decades as there has been an increase in consumption and a government drive to change Finnish drinking habits to a more "European" style, which means a move from hard liquor to wine and beer. While wine consumption has increased, this has not replaced consumption of other alcoholic beverages, negating the "Europeanization" argument. Nowadays wines occupy most of the shelf space in an Alko shop. Its beer selection is concentrated on stronger versions of the domestic bulk lagers and some high-quality strong beers from major beer-producing countries as well as traditional [[Sahti]] at some locations. Hard spirits include several Finnish brands of vodka and all major types of hard liquor. Alko also sells brands of drinks produced by the Finnish state-owned company [[Altia]], which are traditional products and not sold abroad. Many of these date back to the first products launched after the end of the [[Prohibition]]. These are usually for mixing drinks. ==Legal status== Alko is a government-owned enterprise reporting to the Finnish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. [[As of September 2007]], it has 337 shops and 131 order points throughout the country. Under the Alcohol Act, it cannot have a [[display window|window display]], so it usually has just a display of [[wine glass]]es and catalogues. Alko can advertise beverages that contain up to 22% alcohol. In practice manufacturers or distributors, not Alko, advertise their products. Printed catalogues have information and prices for all products but Internet pages can show only beverages with less than 22% alcohol. However private individuals have published unofficial over 22% price lists on the Internet. On the [[3 February]] [[2005]], the Finnish Food Marketing Association (a pressure group of the country's supermarkets like [[K-Kauppa]] and [[S-Group]]) asked the European Union to challenge the legality of Alko's monopoly, which it disputes. [[Image:Alkon myymälä Kampissa.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A photo from inside the Alko in [[Kamppi]], [[Helsinki]].]] Products with under 22% [[Alcohol by volume|ABV]] can be purchased by 18 year olds and up. The minimum age for products containing over 22% ABV is 20. When asked at checkout a young person must prove his or her age with an official ID (only a driver's licence, ID card or passport is accepted). Alcohol will not be sold to drunken customers or when there is a reason to suspect misuse or illegal supply to a person who would not be authorized to buy. It is also prohibited to enter an Alko if you are under 18, except if you are supervised by an adult. == History == During the years [[1919]] to [[1932]], the distribution and consumption of [[alcoholic beverage]]s was forbidden in [[Finland]]. When the prohibition was lifted by the [[Government of Finland|Finnish government]] in 1932 following a [[referendum]], they created a company called ''Oy Alkoholiliike Ab'' which was fully owned by the government. The first stores were opened on the 5th of April, 1932, at 10:00. (The date and time form the number 543210, still appearing in trivia quizzes.) During the [[1939]]-[[1940|40]] [[Winter War]] the company mass-produced [[molotov cocktail]]s for the [[Finnish military]], production totalling 450,000 units. In [[1969]] the company's name was changed to ''Oy Alko Ab''. This company not only distributed, but imported and manufactured, alcohol. [[Image:Alko.png|thumb|right|150px|Alko's previous logo until [[2006]], before it changed to the current logo]] In the 1980s, Alko switched from desk service to self-service. In [[1995]], when Finland joined the EU, the monopolies in production and import had to be lifted. Thus, the corporation was separated into ''Alko'' (distribution), ''Primalco'' (production) and ''Havistra'' (bulk sales), which formed the ''Altia Group''; only Alko retained a monopoly. In 1998, Alko was separated from the Altia Group, and is now entirely separated from it, although Alko continues to be the major customer of Altia. Altia Group (with Primalco and Havistra) was reorganized later to the current [[Altia]]. ==Other alcoholic monopolies== *[[Systembolaget]] — [[Sweden]] *[[Vinmonopolet]] — [[Norway]] *[[Vínbúð]] — [[Iceland]] *[[Alcoholic beverages in Canada|Provincial Liquour Crown Companies]] — [[Canada]] **[[LCBO|Liquor Control Board of Ontario]] — [[Ontario]] **[[Société des alcools du Québec]] — [[Quebec]] *[[National Alcohol Beverage Control Association]] — [[United States]] **[[Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board]] — [[Pennsylvania]] == External links == *[http://www.alko.fi/ Alko - Official site] {{fi}}, {{sv}}, {{en}} *[http://www.isokaato.com/hinnasto/ Isokaato.com, an unofficial price list included alcohol over 22%] {{fi}} [[Category:Finnish government enterprises]] [[Category:Alcohol monopolies]] [[Category:1932 establishments]] [[de:Alko]] [[fr:Alko]] [[nl:Alko (winkel)]] [[no:Alko]] [[fi:Alko]] [[sv:Alko]]