Only drinks containing 4,5% of alcohol are available in
normal markets. For instance
the beer that is available is beer nr.I and nr.III (olut I and III).The
beers,
dependent on percentage of alcohol are categorised. It rages from olut I,
olut III to olut IV (there is no olut II). It is always written on the
bottle.
These who are not pleased with the choice offered by
markets and other shops has to go to an off licence called ALKO (first Finnish word to your dictionary).
And there you can get waisted...under one condition: your wallet is
really fat.
In ALKO you can get imported beer that is over 4,5 - 5% of alcohol (olut
IV) for about 7-10 fmk. Finnish Lapin Kulta (Gold of Lapland) is already
available for 5 fmk. One important thing before I forget: the bottled
beer in Finland is sold in 0,33l bottles.
So it makes it really expensive as said above.
The price for the beer nr.IV is similar to other ones.
Although exaggerations
happen too. The good example is 0,33l bottle of German Erdinger for ONLY
(!!) 15.50 fmk.
You can get Vahva Olut or Nelosolut (=strong beers) for 8/9
fmk and these are from Finland. The prices for imported ones rages from 10 to
20 fmk.
Imported Vodkas are available from 100 fmk till...
Of Finnish production cost from 90 fmk or a little bit more than 100
fmk for 0,5l.
If it is not enough information visit the ALKO's site
or check
this page too. These pages may help you to get orientation in this small
world.
To chear you up we give you one tip: you are
allowed to bring 2
0,5l bottles of Vodka to Finland so maybe it wouldnīt be that bad idea to
use this limit. If it is still not enough go and see what official
customs guide
for travellers says.
In Vaasa there are 2 water sources where you can help your hangover thirst. Here are the addresses: Tammipiha i Toukolantie 1 (Prisma). The headache pills you can get at chemistīs the next day. I myself suggest burana pills they are unbeaten concerning headache.
To Finnish drinking culture, as everywhere, belong pubs
and clubs. In
Vaasa you canīt complain about the lack of them. The only thing you can
complain about are the prices.
The only place that is cheap or at least reasonable to
get drunk is on
the ferries or at home. Very often, because of obvious reasons the Finns
drink at home first and then go to dance the night away. The most beloved
destination "into coma" are from Helsinki to Tallin and from Vaasa to Umeå.
So if you want to experience it just go for it! But I donīt know if you like
it...(I mean imagine being in a floating pub and unable to leave
no matter how much you wanna stop the ride!)
Other solution are so called Happy Hours. During these periods
alcohol isnīt as expensive as usual.
So it means that you can become a proud owner of a plastic beer
glass for only 9/10 fmk. But this is really acception... The reality is
more sad. It looks two times expensive. Poor students have to suffer...
In Finnish pub/club/disco/bar (especially in this one where alcohol is the only attraction) the guest doesnīt have to worry this that suddently his/her glass will disappear from his grasp and will fly away through the bar door when the time to close come. The Finns are really organised. Half an hour before closing bar takes place mystery Valomerkki (this is after last call what means that you canīt order anything more from the bar even if you were Miss World). Anyways try, it didnīt work in my case. This sign is like metacommunication you can read between the lines: "you have last chance to get your last drink". They canīt sell it because of law regulations. If they did, they would easily lose their licence. So nobody wants to take risk.
If you take part in some student events donīt be surprised when you see very strange looking people. They probably will wear so called haalarit . At the beginning it may look pretty weird. But after a while you will get used to them. It is actually a very practical thing since you dont have to worry about getting your clothes dirty during partying. Every University in Finland has its own haalarit. Look what it looks like in Vaasa University.
At the end I suggest you to take part in a typical Finnish Saunayö = sauna night. It means sitting in sauna with some of your friends and having a cold beer. Thanks to the beer you can sit there much longer than usual. :)