Alcohol:
Alcohol is a legal intoxicant which is age- restricted in retail. It is allowed for people over the age of 18. Person above 18 and below 20 are allowed to buy beverages such as beer, cider and wine which has less than 22% alcohol. Over 22% of alcoholic beverages, such as brandy, whiskey and rum can be purchased after the age of 20.
All alcoholic beverages are forbidden for persons under the age of 18, and strong drinks for persons under the age of 20. The age limit for all alcoholic beverages in the restaurant and licensed area is 18 years. If you are of legal age and you supply alcohol to a minor, you are committing a crime.
Finnish law prohibits driving a motor vehicle when the blood alcohol content exceeds 0.5 per million. It is always good idea not to drive vehicle when you have consumed even a little alcohol as it takes time to react to your body. It is important to think about other people’s safety as well.
Heavy drinking may cause vomiting, dehydration, breathing difficulties and unconsciousness. It also creates disorder in your life. Alcohol can cause acute pancreatitis. In long-term use, drinking can even lead to mental retardation and various nutritional disorders. In men, impotence, testicular atrophy and infertility are often the result of long-term use. Women may develop ovarian dysfunction, menstrual disorders and infertility. Alcohol also increases the risk of breast cancer.
Test your risk of alcohol use from here.
Drugs:
Drugs are illegal substances that can be produced either artificially or from plants. Drugs include amphetamine, ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, cannabis and LSD. The effects of different drugs are different, and the effects of the same drugs vary depending on the user.
Drugs are used in many different ways, none of which are risk-free. Intravenous drug users are at risk of getting infections and blood-borne viral infections such as hepatitis B and C or HIV. Drugs often lead to uncontrolled use, whereby the drug takes control of the person and the time it takes to acquire and use drugs for themselves. This can also lead to a cycle of crime when it comes to making money for buying the drugs.
Nicotine:
Nicotine is a legal intoxicant such as, cigarettes. If you are under 18, you are not allowed to consume or hold any tobacco products. Nicotine also includes dip tobacco and it is illegal product in Finland.
Addiction to nicotine develops quite rapidly. It is both physical and mental addiction. At high doses of nicotine you may get nausea and symptoms of intoxication. The surface blood circulation in the skin is reduced and the cold tolerance is reduced. Nicotine also raises blood pressure and pulse. Nicotine causes thousands of deaths every year in Finland.
The goal of the Smokeless Finland 2030 project is to promote smoke-free Finland. Read more about the project on the ASH website in Finland and on the Smokeless Finland 2030 website.