OREANDA-NEWS. January 19, 2015. A Finnish limit on personal alcohol imports from EU nations already decreased the volume of alcohol shipped across the Gulf of Finland by tourists and the recent hike in alcohol excise duty by Estonia could further escalate that trend.

Although the new limit is still large, with 110 liters of beer, 90 liters of wine and 10 liters of other alcoholic drinks allowed tax-free into Finland, arrests by Finnish authorities have already been made as many bring in great volumes for illegal re-sale.

Head of Estonian alcohol producer Liviko, Janek Kalvi, told Postimees the 15-percent hike in excise duty on alcohol in Estonia will continue the decrease in sales to tourists.

There are no precise statistics on how much alcohol tourists buy, but it is believed to be around one fifth of all sales in Estonia. Statistics show the state raked in five million euros less in alcohol excise tax than predicted, with a sharp drop in income coming in the second half of 2014.