Moral Regulation of Public Space and Drinking in the Media and Legislation in Finland

Abstract

At the beginning of 1995, well-mannered public drinking was permitted in Finland. Contrary to expectations, this liberalization did not result in the civilizing of drinking habits. It brought public boozing, public urination, and street violence. In the article we examine to what extent public drinking has been perceived as a threat to public order in the media and in the parliamentary debate on the Act on Public Order (612/2003). The regulation of public space by the media and Parliament is approached as moral regulation. The analysis reveals that the moral regulation of public space was directed particularly to young people both in the media and in Parliament. The regulation techniques identified include community policing, substance abuse prevention, and the new Act on Public Order. The dominating perspectives of moral regulation were those of publicity, the police, and the protection of the freedom of the middle classes by Rightists.