05.12.2024 - Denmark's drinking culture has long been a topic of concern, and Lægeforeningen (the Danish Medical Association) is urging a national conversation and decisive actions to address the significant role alcohol plays in the lives of Danes of all ages. In its "A break with the Danish drinking culture" report, Lægeforeningen outlines nine proposals aimed at fostering a sustainable and healthier alcohol culture.
Alcohol’s impact: a pressing issue
Denmark is among the European countries with the highest alcohol consumption among young people. Alarmingly, 40% of Danish 15-16-year-olds reported being intoxicated in the past month, compared to the European average of 13%. Additionally, approximately 400,000 Danes show signs of moderate alcohol problems, with 67,000 suffering from severe alcohol-related issues. Alcohol is linked to more than 200 diseases and conditions, and every month, one young Dane loses their life due to alcohol-related causes. Lægeforeningen emphasizes the need to reduce alcohol’s influence on public health and social inequality.
Proposals for change
To address these challenges, Lægeforeningen presents a comprehensive plan with nine actionable steps:
Raise the legal drinking age: Increase the minimum age for purchasing all types of alcohol to 18 years. This measure has proven effective, as evidenced by the significant reduction in alcohol purchases among 15-year-olds after the legal age was raised from 15 to 16 in 2004.
Introduce minimum pricing: Set minimum prices for alcohol, differentiated by alcohol content, to curb harmful consumption. This approach has shown success in regions like Scotland and Wales.
Restrict alcohol visibility: Mandate that spirits be stored out of sight in retail stores, similar to tobacco products. Consolidating all alcohol products in one designated area would reduce impulsive purchases and support stricter age controls.
Limit sales hours: Prohibit alcohol sales between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM to reduce availability during high-risk times for alcohol-related harm.
Ban alcohol sales at gas stations: Follow the example of 12 EU member states by eliminating alcohol sales at gas stations to prevent impulsive purchases and potential drinking and driving.
Prohibit alcohol marketing: Implement a total ban on alcohol advertising to protect children and young people from being influenced by positive portrayals of alcohol consumption.
Encourage alcohol-free agreements in schools: Establish mandatory parent meetings from grade six onwards to foster agreements about delaying children’s exposure to alcohol.
Remove alcohol from youth education institutions: Gradually phase out alcohol from high schools and vocational institutions over three years, promoting alternative social activities.
Promote alcohol-free communities: Encourage inclusive, alcohol-free social gatherings across society, from educational settings to workplaces.
A vision for the future
Lægeforeningen’s proposals aim to fundamentally shift Denmark’s relationship with alcohol. By reducing accessibility, restricting marketing, and fostering alternative social norms, these measures strive to create a culture where alcohol plays a less central role. The association highlights that these changes not only benefit individuals but also reduce societal costs linked to alcohol-related harm, violence, and accidents.
The call to action is clear: Denmark must take bold steps to ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for its citizens by confronting its deeply ingrained drinking culture. The time for meaningful change is now. As the chair of the Danish Medical Association, Camilla Rathcke, says: "It has gone too far. Therefore, we need to pull ourselves together. Healthier frameworks for our relationship with alcohol must be created, and politicians must take responsibility for this."
The full report: Et opgør med den danske drukkultur