Sweden marks Folknykterhetens dag, People’s Sobriety Day, at a time when the country’s temperance movement is renewing its public role and alcohol policy is moving in a more liberal direction.

A new amendment proposal in the Estonian Parliament would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work in jobs involving the preparation, offering and sale of alcoholic beverages. Public health organisations warn that the proposal would weaken the protection of minors and send a contradictory message about alcohol prevention.

Movendi Sweden is urging the Swedish Parliament to keep the food-service requirement for alcohol serving licences, arguing that the Alcohol Act should continue to protect public health, safety and working conditions.

A new CAN report shows that people who buy alcohol directly from producers in Sweden drink more than both Systembolaget customers and alcohol consumers overall. Younger adults are also more likely to use the new farm sales option.

EHYT has adopted a new strategy for 2026 to 2029 and calls for stable funding for preventive substance use work through earmarked revenues from alcohol, tobacco, nicotine products and gambling.

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 debate article from the Drug Policy Centre argues that the idea of an inevitable global shift towards drug legalization does not match reality. Instead, it points to a growing number of countries pursuing a different path, keeping drugs illegal while responding to addiction with treatment, care and more targeted support.

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.

NordAN has submitted comments to the European Commission on Finland’s latest alcohol law reform. The network argues that the proposal is not just a small technical change, but another step in a wider pattern that gradually weakens Alko’s role while Finland still relies on the monopoly’s public health justification.

A long-running dispute over online alcohol sales in Iceland is now moving on two tracks at once. A court case due to be heard on 5 March will test whether the current sales model used by private operators is legal under existing law, while a new bill before Alþingi would change that legal framework by formally allowing licensed online alcohol retail. Together, the two processes could shape the future of Iceland’s alcohol monopoly system.

A new report from Folkhälsomyndigheten shows that drug use continues to fall among young people in Sweden, while levels among adults remain stable. Drug-related deaths are decreasing, but drug seizures are rising, pointing to increasing availability.

State funding for the EPT network, which coordinates NGO cooperation in preventive substance use work, will end in 2026, despite growing substance-related harms and broad opposition from civil society organisations.

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.

The third Monday in January is often called “the worst day of the year”, but Av-og-til says the health benefits of White January still matter, even if you slipped for a weekend.

Norway has launched overdosefare.no, a national digital alert system designed to warn when high-risk drugs are circulating and help prevent overdoses through rapid information-sharing and coordinated preparedness.

Icelandic prevention organisations say the current debate on alcohol policy should be grounded in facts, including a long-running police case on online alcohol sales that is now before the courts.

IOGT Norge says the football World Cup should not be used as a political tool to push for more liberal alcohol rules. The organisation argues that municipalities can already grant time limited exemptions, without weakening the alcohol law.

A new Nordic health report shows that diets are worsening, physical activity is falling and overweight is rising across the region. The NORMO 2025 data reveal that 56 percent of adults and one in five children now have overweight or obesity, while intake of sugary foods and drinks continues to increase. Alcohol consumption overall remains stable, but clear inequalities persist, with higher use and more binge drinking among people with lower education levels.

A new study led by Aarhus University Hospital shows that people who drink three or more alcoholic drinks a day suffer much larger and more serious brain hemorrhages, and at an average age 11 years younger than other patients. The results, published in Neurology, have already received major international attention.

A new survey shows that 6 in 10 Norwegians have experienced colleagues becoming too drunk at workplace Christmas parties. Av-og-til urges leaders to address alcohol expectations in advance and reminds employees that inappropriate behaviour at the Christmas party can still lead to consequences at work.