Danish teenagers still drink the most in Europe

22.05.2025 - A new European study shows that ninth-grade students in Denmark remain at the top when it comes to alcohol consumption. They drink more and start earlier than 15- to 16-year-olds in other European countries.

Nearly 7 out of 10 Danish ninth-grade students have consumed alcohol within the past month, which is significantly higher than the European average. In Norway, 32 percent have consumed alcohol in the past month, in Sweden 24 percent, and in Iceland only 12 percent.

The study also shows that more than one in three Danish ninth-grade students have been drunk within the past month, and 55 percent have consumed five or more drinks on a single occasion – what is referred to as binge drinking. Denmark has the highest proportion of students who have engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days. In Norway and Sweden, the corresponding figures are 22 percent and 18 percent, respectively.

It is well known that Danish teenagers start drinking alcohol earlier and that their drinking habits are more oriented toward intoxication than those of young people in other European countries – and especially more than their Nordic peers. However, the study also shows a small decline in alcohol consumption among European youth, including in Denmark.

Inspiration from Iceland, which has turned the trend around

“It is positive that we see a slight improvement, but the youth drinking culture in Denmark is still concerning. We know that changing habits and behavior can be difficult, especially when it involves alcohol culture. There are many reasons why youth drinking culture develops as it does, but we know that adult attitudes and behavior shape those of young people. When parents and other adults get involved and make agreements with their children about alcohol, it makes a positive difference. Parents taking greater responsibility for young people’s drinking habits and helping to establish healthy local communities are key strategies if we want to prevent high alcohol consumption among youth,” says Maja Bæksgaard Jørgensen, Head of Section at the Danish Health Authority.

“In the ‘Fælles om ungelivet’ program, we are currently working closely with 15 municipalities and TrygFonden, focusing on parental involvement and the creation of local communities. The goal is to create strong, alcohol-free communities for young people,” says Maja Bæksgaard Jørgensen.

The inspiration behind ‘Fælles om ungelivet’ comes from Iceland, where efforts have succeeded in reversing the trend so that Icelandic youth now have the lowest alcohol consumption in Europe, instead of one of the highest.

“In ‘Fælles om ungelivet’ we aim to change the local culture. This is largely about involving parents, but also about building valuable communities outside the home. Many families can benefit when this engagement extends beyond the home. That is why it is important for us to work on establishing drug-free local communities where all young people can feel welcome,” says Maja Bæksgaard Jørgensen.

About the ESPAD survey ESPAD (the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) is an international questionnaire survey on substance use among 15- to 16-year-olds, conducted approximately every four years since 1995.

The survey provides a comparable picture of young people’s substance use in Europe and this year included 114,000 students from 37 countries. The Danish part of the survey included 5,484 ninth-grade students and was conducted by the National Institute of Public Health at the University of Southern Denmark. In June, a more detailed report on the Danish results will be published, focusing on the use of tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, and drugs among 15- to 16-year-olds.

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Read more in the ESPAD study Read more about Fælles om ungelivet