NordAN adopts resolutions on comparable alcohol data and stronger protection of young people
13.10.2026 - At its General Assembly in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, on 8 October 2026, the Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network (NordAN) adopted two resolutions addressing important challenges for alcohol policy in the Nordic and Baltic region. The first calls for better and more comparable data on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm, while the second stresses the importance of maintaining strong age limits and protecting young people from alcohol-related risks.
Better data for better alcohol policy
The first resolution, Towards more comparable alcohol data in the Nordic and Baltic countries, addresses a longstanding problem: despite the geographical and political similarities between countries in the region, comparing their alcohol statistics remains surprisingly difficult. Differences in definitions, data collection methods and reporting practices make it challenging to assess alcohol consumption, alcohol-related deaths, hospitalisations and other harms across national borders.
The need for reliable and comparable information was also repeatedly raised by Faroese participants during the NordAN conference. Presentations and discussions highlighted the difficulties smaller societies can face in obtaining sufficiently detailed and consistent alcohol-related statistics. These challenges are particularly relevant when countries want to understand their own situation, compare developments with neighbouring countries or evaluate the effects of alcohol policies.
The resolution calls on governments, statistical authorities, public health institutions and relevant regional bodies to improve the availability and regular publication of alcohol-related data, make methodologies more transparent and strengthen cooperation around common indicators. Better comparability would help countries learn from one another and provide a stronger evidence base for policy decisions.
Protecting young people as age limits come under pressure
The second resolution, Protecting young people through strong alcohol age limits, responds to recent developments in which established protections are being questioned or weakened, often with arguments relating to personal freedom, employment opportunities or administrative convenience.
In Sweden, the Moderate Party (Moderaterna) proposed in June 2026 lowering the minimum age for purchasing alcoholic beverages below 22% alcohol by volume at Systembolaget from 20 to 18 years. The proposal was presented as a way to give young adults greater freedom and move purchases into a regulated retail environment. However, the existing 20-year age limit is an important part of Sweden's approach to reducing alcohol availability among younger age groups.
Denmark provides a different example, where alcohol age restrictions have recently been strengthened, although a universal 18-year purchase age has still not been introduced. Since 1 April 2025, young people aged 16 and 17 can no longer purchase beverages containing more than 6% alcohol, compared with the previous limit of 16.5%. However, they can still legally buy beer and other alcoholic beverages containing up to 6% alcohol. The reform represents progress towards stronger protection of young people, but Denmark has not yet established 18 as the minimum purchase age for all alcoholic beverages.
Estonia has already introduced a change concerning young people's employment in alcohol-related activities. Amendments that entered into force on 13 July 2026 allow employees aged 16 and 17 to participate in the preparation, offering for sale and sale of alcoholic beverages under adult supervision. Previously, such work was generally restricted to adults, apart from certain activities involving unopened alcohol products. The change was introduced to expand young people's employment opportunities, particularly in hospitality and catering.
NordAN's resolution emphasises that opportunities for young people to gain work experience should not come at the expense of their health and safety. It calls for maintaining strong minimum purchase ages, protecting young workers from inappropriate or unsafe alcohol-related environments, ensuring effective age verification where alcohol is legally sold, and reducing distance sales and home delivery.
A shared regional position
Both resolutions reflect NordAN's role as a platform for cooperation between civil society organisations across the Nordic and Baltic countries. While national circumstances differ, the underlying concerns are shared: alcohol policy needs reliable evidence, and established public health safeguards should not be weakened without proper consideration of their consequences.
The resolutions were adopted by the NordAN General Assembly on 8 October 2026 in Tórshavn and will serve as common reference points for the network's future policy discussions, advocacy and cooperation.
