Cycling while intoxicated: More Danes are taking the risk

04.08.2026 - Nearly one in five Danes has ridden a bicycle, e-bike, electric scooter or similar vehicle while under the influence during the past three years, according to a new YouGov survey.

Bright summer nights bring more Danes onto their bicycles. But as cyclists move through the streets at all hours, not everyone is sober when they get into the saddle, according to a new survey commissioned by the insurance company Gjensidige.

On summer evenings, cycling is often the chosen way home from parties and social gatherings where alcohol has been consumed. Although Denmark has no fixed blood alcohol limit for cyclists, even a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5 per mille can affect a person’s ability to move safely in traffic.

The YouGov survey found that almost one in five Danes had, during the previous three years, operated a bicycle, e-bike, electric scooter or another small vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances. Bicycles were by far the most commonly reported vehicle.

“Balance, judgement and reaction time are significantly impaired when you consume alcohol. This increases the risk of losing control of the bicycle, falling or failing to notice other road users. Cycling while intoxicated is not only a risk to your own safety, it also puts other road users in danger,” said Lene Rasmussen, Claims Director at Gjensidige.

She added that taking the risk can also be costly. Although cyclists are not subject to a specific legal blood alcohol limit, a person can receive a fine of DKK 1,500 if the police consider them too intoxicated to cycle safely.

Young adults take the greatest risks

The results indicate that intoxicated riding is especially common among young adults. Four in ten respondents aged 18 to 29 said they had ridden a bicycle or another small vehicle while under the influence during the previous three years.

Among this age group, 29 per cent reported riding a conventional bicycle while intoxicated, compared with 13 per cent of all respondents. Nine per cent of respondents aged 18 to 29 had ridden a moped while under the influence, while 7 per cent had used an electric scooter.

According to Rasmussen, the findings show that many people still underestimate how strongly alcohol affects their ability to travel safely in traffic.

“A useful rule of thumb is that if you consider yourself too intoxicated to drive a car, you should not get on a bicycle either. The bicycle can always be collected the following day,” she said.

A little advance planning can reduce the risk of making a poor decision late in the evening, Rasmussen added.

“If you already know that you are going to drink more than would be responsible for a cyclist, leave the bicycle at home. That way, you avoid the temptation later in the evening.”

Survey results

The survey was conducted by YouGov for Gjensidige among 1,030 respondents in June 2026.

Respondents were asked whether, during the previous three years, they had operated any of the following vehicles while intoxicated or under the influence of other substances. Multiple answers were permitted.

Vehicle or response	All respondents	Ages 18–29
Conventional bicycle	13%	29%
Standard e-bike	3%	6%
Electric scooter	2%	7%
Speed pedelec, capable of up to 45 km/h	2%	5%
Moped	2%	9%
None of these	82%	60%
Don’t know	1%	1%

The findings underline the need to include cycling and other forms of micromobility in discussions about alcohol-related road safety. Choosing not to drive a car does not remove the risks created by alcohol when a person continues their journey on two wheels.

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Source: Gjensidige press release, 4 August 2026. Survey conducted by YouGov for Gjensidige.