New survey: Majority want to raise the age limit for alcohol

03.06.2025 - Three out of five Danes are ready to raise the minimum age for buying all alcohol to 18, according to a new survey. This comes at a time when Danish youth have once again been named European champions in binge drinking.

In a new Voxmeter survey, 58.3 percent of Danes say it is a good or very good idea to raise the age limit for the sale of all types of alcohol to 18 years. Photo: ColourboxIn a new Voxmeter survey, 58.3 percent of Danes say it is a good or very good idea to raise the age limit for the sale of all types of alcohol to 18 years.

Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds can legally place beer, Breezers, and many ready-mixed cocktails on the checkout belt at the local supermarket in Denmark, but if you ask Danes, that should be a thing of the past.

In a new Voxmeter survey, 58.3 percent of Danes say it is a good or very good idea to raise the age limit for the sale of all types of alcohol to 18 years. This is welcomed by Morten Skov Mogensen, Secretary General of the social aid organization Blue Cross Denmark.

“It is very positive that a clear majority of Danes support raising the age limit. It shows a growing understanding of how harmful alcohol can be for young people, and how important it is that we as a society take responsibility,” says Morten Skov Mogensen.

Support for a higher age limit for alcohol sales comes at a time when the international ESPAD survey (The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) again confirms that Danish youth drink more and start earlier than in other European countries. They are, so to speak, European champions in binge drinking.

“We have a deeply rooted alcohol culture in Denmark, so young people’s alcohol consumption does not come from nowhere. It is a culture that needs to change, and that takes time, but an important step along the way is the framework, and here an 18-year age limit can help make a difference,” says Morten Skov Mogensen, emphasizing that the Danish Health Authority recommends that young people under 18 should not drink alcohol.

Voter support across parties

The Voxmeter survey also shows that there is broad support for an 18-year age limit for the sale of all alcohol across voters from different political parties.

67.7 percent of Social Democrat voters support the proposal, as do 61.6 percent of Moderates voters and 53.4 percent of Liberal Party voters.

“It is remarkable that the majority of government party voters are in favor of an 18-year limit, when the very same government has introduced that 16- and 17-year-olds may buy alcohol with up to six percent alcohol content,” says Morten Skov Mogensen.

“I hope this gives the government and the rest of the parliament a reason to pause and listen. Danes are ready for change, and the younger generations deserve action,” continues the Secretary General of Blue Cross Denmark.

Facts about the survey:

The representative survey was conducted by Voxmeter on behalf of Blue Cross Denmark.1,022 respondents participated in the survey, which was conducted from 7 May to 16 May 2025.

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Source: Blue Cross Denmark