This is shown by a study carried out by the research institute YouGov for the interest organization Alcohol & Society and the non-profit organization TrygFonden.
This is a representative sample among 2002 people between the ages of 30 and 65.
– The survey shows that Danes believe that we generally drink too much. But also that there is great anxiety about touch in relation to talking about one’s alcohol habits, says Bjarne Stenger Elholm.
He is the head of the online and telephone consultancy Alkolinjen, which is run by Alkohol & Samfund.
According to the National Board of Health, when women drink seven items a week and men drink 14 items, they have a low risk of becoming ill from alcohol.
If women drink 14 items a week or more, and if men drink 21 items, according to the agency, there is a high risk of getting sick from alcohol.
One in three respondents in the survey believe that they have people in their close network who drink too much.
But at the same time, almost two out of three find it difficult to talk about the subject.
– There are many who want to help loved ones who drink too much. But it is very difficult for them because they feel that they are either too close or too far from the person, says Bjarne Stenger Elholm.
According to Alcohol & Society, previous research has shown that you as a relative can have a great influence on the drinker’s habits.
That is why it is good to take the plunge, says Bjarne Stenger Elholm. He points out that there may be help to be found for both drinkers and relatives at Alkolinjen.
If you ask Karin Friis Bach (R), chairman of the health committee in the Danish Regions, there is a need for political initiatives to reduce consumption.
Among other things, this can be done by postponing the time when many young people start drinking, as the debut, according to her, creates a basis for alcohol habits later in life.
Therefore, the regions would like the Folketing to raise the age limit for alcohol sales in the retail trade to 18 years, says Karin Friis Bach. Today, the limit for buying beer and wine is 16 years.
– If you raise the limit to 18 years, it will be on a par with what you also have in cafes and restaurants.
– We know that this will mean that young people will drink less, and we will also raise the age of debut. And both things are important, says Karin Friis Bach.
She also likes that health professionals in hospitals in several cases address adult patients when they suspect that they have an addiction.
Bjarne Stenger Elholm encourages everyone to think about how much alcohol they get on board per week.
And for those who are ready to talk to someone close about excessive alcohol consumption, the advice is: Try to plan the conversation, and have a caring approach.
The survey comes in connection with week 40. Here, actors in the field focus every year on the Danes’ alcohol consumption.