Aarhus will improve the drinking culture of young people

The age limit for buying alcohol in Denmark is currently 16

Last week, Aarhus’ City Council adopted a new seven-point plan that seeks to reform the drinking culture in the Danish municipality. According to a press release, young people in Denmark drink more alcohol than adolescents and young adults in other countries.

This is partially due to the fact that the age limit for buying alcohol in Denmark is not 18 like in most European countries, but only 16. 

Teenagers feel pressure to drink 

In a recent survey, Aarhus municipality found that 37% of young people in upper secondary education have chosen not to attend parties or gatherings when they did not feel like drinking. Councillor for Health and Care Jette Skive commented on this fact, noting that it is not okay to have 1 in 3 people decline socialising for this reason. Taking this further, Skive stressed that people should feel comfortable saying no to alcohol. 

To relieve the pressure that teenagers and young adults feel, the municipality now seeks to create communities that are not centred around the consumption of alcohol. For this reason, it has collaborated with various bodies, from educational institutions to bars and nightclubs. 

As a result, nightlife venues have agreed to add more non-alcoholic alternatives to ensure that young people in Denmark have more choices and healthier drinking culture. Expanding on this, Councillor for Children and Young People Thomas Medom shared:

“A no to alcohol should not be a no to the community. It must be socially acceptable to say no to alcohol, and we must help young people make that choice.”

Raising the age limit to 18

In addition to the above measures, Aarhus’ City Council also wants to raise the age limit for buying alcohol from 16 to 18. Medom explained the reasons for this, revealing that countries with a higher age limit for the sale of alcohol tend to have fewer young people who drink.

What is more, Denmark is reportedly one of the few countries where it is still allowed to sell alcohol to people under 18. While Aarhus Municipality is eager to raise the age limit, it needs the help of national authorities to do so.

Aside from increasing the age limit and creating opportunities for alternative communities, the municipality has outlined several other points in its plan. The seven points are listed as follows:

• Strengthen parental responsibility';
• Young people know what works;
• Alternative communities;
• Equal alcohol-free alternatives;
• Young people listen to young people;
• Structural change;
• Build an alliance for a healthier alcohol culture.