Survey on the use of intoxicating substances: No wish among residents in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County to welcome stronger alcoholic drinks in grocery shops

The answers to the survey show that age limits are well monitored in retail trade regarding nicotine products, alcohol and gambling. Both young people and adults answered that young-looking people were asked to present an identity document in over 80 percent of the purchase situations. Around half of the respondents had observed minors using alcohol or nicotine products in public spaces. The public use of drugs among minors was very rarely observed – only one in ten responded to have identified such a situation.

Most respondents feel that their municipality of residence is a safe place to live. To the question ‘Over the past 12 months, have you been scared of intoxicated people in the street or in another public place in your municipality of residence?’, 29 percent of adults and 19 percent of young people responded in the affirmative. The open answers did not point to any concrete actions, but persons under the influence of intoxicating substances were perceived as unpredictable because their body language was difficult to interpret, and they often behaved erratically.

In response to the question ‘Over the past 12 months, have you been harassed or disturbed by an intoxicated person in the street or in another public place in your municipality of residence?’, 17 percent of adults and 12 percent of young people answered yes. Adults emphasised in their answers that they observed requests for money, shouting, sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour, whereas young people emphasised that they were offered intoxicating substances and that they experienced sexual harassment, shouting and threats of violence.

To the question ‘What measures should, in your opinion, be taken to prevent harmful effects of the use of intoxicating substances?’, residents provided quite a few constructive and realistic suggestions to mitigate the harmful effects caused using intoxicating substances. In most of the answers to open-ended questions, residents expressed their wish to keep the access to alcohol at the current level. In Western Uusimaa, residents wish to keep stronger alcoholic beverages under the monopoly of Alko and, thus, not to introduce stronger alcoholic beverages in grocery shops. Additionally, residents wish that the age limits for alcohol, nicotine products and gambling alongside with their prices be raised even further.

In response to the question ‘What measures should, in your opinion, be taken to prevent harmful effects of the use of intoxicating substances?’, respondents outlined several measures. At municipal level, they were related to raising awareness of intoxicating substances and reducing bullying in schools, and combatting loneliness among children and young people.

At family and community level, the measures were related to strengthening the sense of community, enabling meaningful activities for children and young people, reducing inequality, encouraging adults to set an example regarding the use of intoxicating substances and having adults present in the everyday life of children and young people.

Respondents expressed their wish that the police and the youth services increase their presence and surveillance in certain neighbourhoods. Social and healthcare professionals were asked to offer early support for family issues, support for parenthood, and identification of and early support for issues related to mental health and the use of intoxicating substances.

Each of the above-mentioned proposals is in practice cross-sectoral substance abuse prevention, already implemented by municipalities, wellbeing services counties and authorities. The responses to the survey will be used in substance abuse prevention and promotion of health and well-being in the municipalities and the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.

Thank you very much to everyone for taking the survey and congratulations to the winners of the prize draw.

A survey on the use of intoxicating substances was conducted to identify residents’ views on how intoxicating substances are used in their neighbourhood and municipality. The topics raised in the questions included visibility of different intoxicating substances in public spaces, age limit monitoring and safety in neighbourhoods regarding the use of intoxicating substances. The survey was conducted for the first time simultaneously in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, the City of Helsinki and the Wellbeing Services County of Vantaa and Kerava. It was available online and on paper between 23 September and 13 October 2024.

In Western Uusimaa, the survey was taken by 4,873 residents. Some municipalities and neighbourhoods are abundantly represented among the respondents and some other areas less represented, which means that no general conclusions can be drawn from the results for the entire Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County. This news article has been produced based on the answers given by the residents of the Western Uusimaa municipalities* who took the survey. Municipalities are free to present the results specific to their municipality separately on their own websites.

*Espoo, Hanko, Ingå, Karkkila, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi, Lohja, Raseborg, Siuntio, Vihti