The Temperance Movement

The temperance movement was the first significant grassroots political movement in Finland. Other great 19th-century movements came to be as its offshoots—feminism from the women’s temperance movement, socialism from the workers’ temperance movement and so forth.

In Loimaa, there was a riot at the Aittamäki Manor brewery in 1905, when hundreds of local activists broke into the storages and toppled barrels. It is said that afterwards, people could see men lying in the ground and drinking beer from the ditches.

A country-wide alcohol prohibition law came into effect in 1919, with not a single Member of Parliament voting against. It remained in force until 1932.

The prohibition law was widely circumvented. In the Loimaa area, home-distilled spirits became common. In Mellilä, a local policeman was so indulgent in consuming the products of illegal distillers that the matter had to be discussed in the municipal council. During the 1920s, Estonian moonshine (pirtu) began to be smuggled into Finland. It was transported by truck from the archipelago in 100-liter containers, with herring placed on top to disguise the contents.

Despite its poor reputation, the prohibition was somewhat successful. The overall consumption of alcohol was reduced. The finances of many low-income households improved. But the culture of alcohol consumption changed. Social norms that regulated communal drinking were broken. Previously, people had drank mild beer with friends and family while eating, chatting, and working simultaneously. Now they were drinking booze in secret, accompanied by like-minded individuals, which would often result in violence and bouts of irresponsible behavior.

Caption: Constable Huhtala and police dog Max, 1924.
Photo: Loimaa-Seura Collection.