New figures from Denmark’s National Health Profile 2025 show a continued decline in the share of Danes drinking more than 10 units of alcohol per week. But according to Alkohol & Samfund, Denmark still has a very strong alcohol culture, and among young people binge drinking appears to be increasing.

A new report from the Alcohol and Society research series finds that more than half of all alcohol consumption takes place in contexts that lead to intoxication. The authors warn that this pattern is not marginal but normalised, and that it drives both acute harms and long-term health risks.

Even small amounts of alcohol weaken sleep quality, while binge drinking can disturb sleep for several days. Professor Solja Niemelä highlights that alcohol has no safe use limit and is not a health product. She also calls for routine low threshold conversations about alcohol use in health and social services.

A new European study shows that Danish ninth-grade students continue to lead in alcohol consumption, drinking more and starting earlier than their peers in other countries. Nearly 70 percent have consumed alcohol in the past month, and over half have engaged in binge drinking. While there is a slight decline in youth alcohol use, Denmark’s levels remain the highest in Europe, according to the ESPAD survey.

Youth anxiety and binge drinking remain high; online alcohol purchases are rising, with more teens also receiving alcohol from parents.