By Rosie Leishman and Emma McGrath
As another school year begins, Danes are forced to confront their excessive drinking habits that international students are stunned by.
“147,000 Danes have an alcohol addiction so severe that they need help to stop.” – Thomas Røddik Korneliussen, head of communication and CSR at Blue Cross Denmark, Sept 6. 2024. Photo: Emma McGrath
It is clear to visitors that Danish alcohol consumption practices are among the highest in the world. It takes international exposure to the Danish lifestyle for locals to view their habits around alcohol as abnormal.
In Denmark, alcohol is the natural ingredient in social settings. “When we get together, alcohol plays a very central role. There is always alcohol on the table,” says Michael Jensen, Team Leader for development and knowledge department at Alkohol & Samfund, an NGO organization working towards a more sustainable Danish drinking culture.
Danes have held the European binge drinking title for the last 25 years. “We know that we drink early in Denmark,” said Jensen.
In Denmark, one youth aged 15-20 years old dies every month due to alcohol.
“Young people are dying,” said Jensen.
“In Denmark, we have an alcohol culture where drinking is frequent and often excessive,” said Thomas Røddik Korneliussen, head of communication and CSR at Blue Cross Denmark, “147,000 Danes have an alcohol addiction so severe that they need help to stop.”
With a population of 5.9 million, Denmark has 4,000 alcohol-related deaths per year. Which exceeds countries of similar population numbers, like New Zealand, with only 800 alcohol-inflicted fatalities.
Canada, despite having a population eight times larger than Denmark, has fewer alcohol-related deaths per year than Denmark.
The negative effects of alcohol and their alarming fatalities are common knowledge in Denmark, but knowledge alone is not enough to shift the strong currents of established culture and tradition.
Copenhagen’s romanticization of alcohol is illustrated by this mural depicting a woman holding a beer found on Gl. Kongevej, Copenhagen. Sept 6 2024
A culture fuelled by liberal alcohol laws that are unheard of outside of Denmark and the normality of drunkenness passed down from older generations. Open alcohol on all streets, the immense presence of alcohol-themed advertisements, and the ability to purchase certain drinks at the age of 16 are normal practices in Denmark, but notable differences to many who visit.
“It’s good for us to look in that mirror,” said Jensen, “and realize that normal to us, does not make this normal”.
Jonas Linnebjerg, 24-year-old Danish Medical student, started drinking nearly every weekend at age 15, a common practice among most Danes.
Linnebjerg said he realized the severity of Danish drinking culture after moving to university and meeting international students unfamiliar with the excessive consumption.
“What I’ve grown up with is normal, now meeting others it is clear, it’s not.”
“Many Danes might explain Danes drink so much because we are Vikings,” said Jensen, “but this simply is not true. Danes have not always been heavy drinkers.”
Alcohol consumption rose in the 1970s and 80s following the Second World War when alcohol was highly taxed and not readily available. Jensen explained during this time, there were significantly lower consumption levels in Denmark.
Drinking in Denmark peaked in the 1990s and unlike the rest of Europe, this statistic has remained steady.
This crowned Denmark as “the European champions in drinking– young and old” , said Jensen.
In the past ten years, the discussion around drinking has risen in Denmark. The Blue Cross believes there must be a cultural shift to a decline in the negative effects of alcohol.
“If we can change the culture, we will see a significant decrease in healthcare costs and, over time, a reduction in the number of people struggling with addiction and in the number of children growing up in homes with alcohol abuse,” said Korneliussen.
Liinebjerg shared this sentiment, believing this open dialogue about alcohol between children and parents is crucial to raising the next generation as responsible alcohol consumers.
Alkohol & Samfund are working to communicate to parents and youth in schools about the harmful risks of drinking. As well as politicians about what systemic change is needed.
“We have very liberal norms in Denmark. We need structural change, to shift social norms,” said Jensen.
In a picturesque Copenhagen setting, lies empty cans of alcohol, flooding the overflowing rubbish bins. Photo: Emma McGrath
Jensen explained when he visited New Zealand he was impressed with the strict alcohol restrictions.
The age for purchasing alcohol in New Zealand is 18, many public spaces are liquor-banned and there are tough alcohol advertising regulations.
“Denmark must do something about high prices, availability, and advertisement,” said Jensen.
This alcohol consumption also puts pressure on Danish healthcare systems, with ambulance callouts for preventable reasons, such as intoxication, representing a significant and disproportional use of resources.
This study published in the British Journal of Medicine discovered that 16% of all ambulance contacts among 15-24-year-olds in Copenhagen were alcohol-related, emphasizing an unhealthy drinking culture, particularly for Danish youth.
Despite being one of the world’s happiest nations, the Danes are paying a fatal price for the drinking culture they embrace so proudly.
This story is for an international audience in New Zealand or Canada who would be unaware and fascinated by the excessive drinking culture in Denmark. This could be published on https://www.rnz.co.nz/ or https://www.stuff.co.nz/