Finland 2nd to Ireland - How'd this happen?

It appears as though Finland is slipping! In the latest Eurobarometer survey to come out (not sure why I've been so hung up on these reports lately), Ireland has been proven the country with the largest binge drinking problem. Finland and England were relegated to 2nd and 3rd, respectively. With the leading cause of death in Finns of working age being alcohol related, one would expect more from these statistics. What's going on Finland? Did the state's recent legislation moving the start time for selling booze to 9am really cause that much of a change? I somehow doubt it.

Binge drinking is defined by the poll as having 5 or more drinks in one sitting. While (among others) the Nordic council has taken up the issue, especially among the youth, things don't change all that much. Ultimately the choice must be personal. The state can do little to coerce people in this arena. It's a cultural mixed with personal choice, in the end. And perhaps some are starting to chose to drink less. Or they're just lying on these surveys- also a distinct possibility. There is, after all, a stigma associated with drinking til one hits the floor. I still need to do that research I talked about in the earlier post, as well as a holistic survey of the Eurobarometer's methods. I'll add that to the to do list.

And now I'm late for class...