Outrageous, unbelievable, silly law in the making

Our government is planning to ban image advertising of alcohol. This might sound like a sensible thing to do. But there are IMO great problems with the proposed law. There is a paragraph that specifically states that even when no remuneration is given for a review e.g. in a blog or a newspaper article, Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health, can still declare it to be image advertising and fine you. Only organoleptic reviews will be allowed, so we will be forced to write notes like: "gold colour, smells of peas and tastes of citrus." But saying things like "this wine will be fun when you're at a party" will be seen as image advertising and will be punishable with a fine. Valvira will be able to fine any article that isn't "true journalistic material". What does this mean? It means that Valvira, without defining what it means by any of these words, can arbitrarily fine anyone it wants to fine - even blogs where no money or goods exchange hands. Do I dare keep a blog anymore? One thing is for sure: if this blong will end, it will end with a bang not a whimper!


Edit: Viinipiru has more links about this in Finnish. Finnish readers, click here! 

Edit + 1: Ja Jokkerikin on nyt blogannut aiheesta, täällä!


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