JUICE, NOT BOOZE SAYS FINNISH PM TO RUSSIAN PEER

[AussieMark]

Juice, Not Booze Says Finnish PM to Russian Peer

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's teetotal prime minister defied diplomatic etiquette and Finnish culture this week by serving his Russian counterpart apple juice instead of vodka with dinner.
"Finnish culture stipulates as a norm that guests of this caliber are served alcoholic beverages," Maisa Moijanen from the Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce told Reuters. "Vodka is an integral part of the dinner setting in Russia...Wine can be skipped. Vodka can't!"

But when Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and his wife dined at the home of Finland's Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen this week, they had to wash down their elk steak with water and apple juice.

"I do not want to give my children the example that alcohol consumption is part of a meal," Vanhanen said when quizzed about his choice of tipple.