How can Remedy live in Finland?

[kexik]

We are visiting Helsinki right now and everything is strange here. For example we have just tasted Salmiakki, but it is uneatable! Can you guys from Remedy eat it? How many of these can you eat?

And the next thing, we have noticed that alcoholic beverages like koskenkorva are available at restaurants and bars but we could not find anything like that in a local supermarket. They did not have any wine or spirits, but we could find several types of Czech beers on the shelves (we are from the Czech Republic). Is koskenkorva illegal here?

[Danzaiver]

Remedy evolved to live in Finland :lol:

I think I couldn't live in Finland because of the cold but also RMD couldn't live in my country because they will die because of the heat :cool:

[Kahr]

We are visiting Helsinki right now and everything is strange here. For example we have just tasted Salmiakki, but it is uneatable! Can you guys from Remedy eat it? How many of these can you eat?

And the next thing, we have noticed that alcoholic beverages like koskenkorva are available at restaurants and bars but we could not find anything like that in a local supermarket Alko. They did not have any wine or spirits, but we could find several types of Czech beers on the shelves (we are from the Czech Republic). Is koskenkorva illegal here?
Well, first of all I'd say it's all about what you're used to. Finnish people are used to Finnish customs. Just like you are to yours.

Now I'm not Finnish myself so I can't speak for certain (although being right next door to them, I imagine there isn't that much difference). Salmiakki I can't speak for. Not entire sure what you mean.

But alcoholic beverages? Well, I could imagine it works the same way as it does in Norway. We have very strict regulations of alcohol. Anything with a high alcohol count (basically more or less anything above 4.5%) can't be sold at stores or markets. You have to go to special licensed stores to buy alcoholic beverages with higher alcoholic levels. Wine and liqour are found there. Not in regular stores.

Restaurants (as well as bars and pubs) can sell it, but they don't sell entire bottles (usually), and people usually drink in more moderate amounts because it's hell of a lot more expensive to drink out than to buy it yourself for home use.

If the Finnish system works anything like that, then that explains everything.

[MikkiRMD]

Can you guys from Remedy eat it? How many of these can you eat?

Hell, how many do you have?

And the next thing, we have noticed that alcoholic beverages like koskenkorva are available at restaurants and bars but we could not find anything like that in a local supermarket. They did not have any wine or spirits, but we could find several types of Czech beers on the shelves (we are from the Czech Republic). Is koskenkorva illegal here?

There's this thing called "liquor store" you may be familiar with. =) You can certainly buy strong alcohol without problems, provided you buy them from a licensed retailer; that is to say, an Alko store (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alko).

[kexik]

Thanks Mikko, tommorow I will look for some Alko store.

I've got a 170g package of it. I have tasted only one piece. Would you like some?

[AnttiApina]

Speaking of drinks: Why not buy Salmiakkikoskenkorva when were at it?

[Qud]

Hehe you should definitely try out three star Jaloviina, "kolmen tähden jallu" we call it :D

[kexik]

Well, we finally found an Alko store, hidden underground. It was not eqsy though... They did not have salmiakki-flavoured koskenkorva, but we bought a bottle of Jaloviina, then a bottle of some Finnish berry liqueur and a bottle of sake. The attendant at the cash register was very suspicious, she wanted to see our ID cards. We also had to buy an Alko bag and everyone was looking at us as we were walking down the streets.
On the up side, we are starting to be able to eat salmiakki. They are not so terrible now like when we tasted them for the first time.

[MikkiRMD]

Well, we finally found an Alko store, hidden underground. It was not eqsy though... They did not have salmiakki-flavoured koskenkorva, but we bought a bottle of Jaloviina, then a bottle of some Finnish berry liqueur and a bottle of sake. The attendant at the cash register was very suspicious, she wanted to see our ID cards. We also had to buy an Alko bag and everyone was looking at us as we were walking down the streets.

Well, you're buying alcohol; unless you look older than at least 25, chances are pretty good that you're going to get carded. (The fines for selling alcohol to minors are pretty steep, and thus they tend to err on the side of caution.)

I find your description of this momentous event kind of mystifying, though. There are, off the top of my head, at least four Alko stores within about a five-block radius if you're in the Helsinki center. I don't think they're particularly hidden, what with the signs and everything. I also find it a little unlikely that people stared at you -- or if they did, I doubt it had anything to do with the bag. I mean, this is Finland. People buying booze is just about as common as breathing.

[Morry]

I mean, this is Finland. People buying booze is just about as common as breathing.
I know what I'll be doing when I come to visit :P

[TheArtist]

How can Remedy live in Finland? How can the rest of the world not?! ;) :D

[kexik]

We are of course exaggerating a bit. :D But really, we could not find the Alko stores easily. We went through the city centre from the railway station to the port several times and there were no Alko stores to be seen. We also went to Kamppi centre, but there was no Alko store mentioned on the floor plan. We did not give up, however, so we looked everywhere in the Kamppi centre, but no Alko. Finally, we were able to find an Alko store in the Stockmann shopping centre. We found it by chance, we went down to the Herkku delikatessen and there was a glowing Alko sign placed near the stairs. When we were there the first time, we thought that Alko was the name of the supermarket, but after having this explained by Mikko, we went there for the second time and we knew there should be an Alko store there somewhere. At last, we found a sign which pointed us somewhere behind the supermarket and there, finally, was the Alko store. :D
Well, life in Finland is not so bad after all, we accidentally discovered lihapiirakka, which are great!

[AnttiApina]

Have you guys hunted any polar bears yet?

[shorty]

Been to the Moominvalley yet?