The signs, which are placed at the cash desk, detail who can and cannot purchase alcoholic drinks and why. 'If they are under age we cannot sell to them, or if they are visibly intoxicated or if we suspect they are going to give the alcohol to minors.'
According Alko spokesperson Sari Askola, their use would have been decided by the local shop manager in reponse to issues arising amongst customers in his shop.
'We have these same signs in lots of languages,' she explained. 'In Finnish, of course, and in Swedish in the areas where people speak Swedish and Sami where they speak Sami. In areas where there are a lot of foreigners, we often have them in English and in other languages depending on what's needed. We have the signs in Polish, Russian, Persian and Kurdish.'
The rise in the number of foreigners in Finland has not had a big impact on the kind of drinks which Alko sells. 'We listen to what all our customers have to say and we make our purchases accordingly,' said Askola. However, increasing numbers of Finns going abroad has led to certain very specific requests.
'We have customers who are really interested in for example whisky and want a really specialist brand but often Finns contact us because they've been abroad, they've tasted a local speciality and the want to be able to get it in Finland. Or sometimes they just want a wine which they've tasted in a Finnish restaurant.'
