The Finnish state-owned alcohol retail monopoly, Alko, recorded a 3.6% rise in sales to 30.266m litres in the period from January to April, 2003.
Sales of strong spirits, including vodka, gin, brandy, whisky and rum, were up by 2.4% at 6.566m litres, while sales of other spirits rose by 11.1% to 2.637m litres.
Sales of fortified wines were down by 1.2% at 1.351m litres. However, wine sales rose by 10.2% to 12.249m litres, while beer sales fell by 7.5% to 5.808m litres.
