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"The European liquor trades," stated Deets Pickett, "have exerted themselves to the utmost to destroy the [Finnish Prohibition] law by encouraging smuggling and by pressure upon their governments to turn the diplomatic thumbscrews upon the tiny country struggling to protect its people."
This thumbscrew theory is opposed by the fact that Finland's present Government, including President Svinhufvud himself, has been notably anti-Prohibitionist from the start. When Norway prohibited beverages of more than 12% alcohol, thumbscrew pressure was applied. Spain threatened to place an embargo on Norwegian fish, whereupon the Norwegian law was relaxed for all drinkables except spirits, thus permitting Spanish sherry to enter Norway. In 1926 Norway by an 80% national referendum vote abandoned Prohibition, switched to State Liquor Control.