Some 41.3% of Danish consumers have deliberately abstained from alcohol for a period over the past year, a new survey commissioned by Blå Kors Danmark has found.
According to the survey, which was conducted by Voxmeter, a growing number of Danes are choosing to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption altogether, suggesting changing attitudes towards drinking across the country.
It found that 45% of respondents had considered giving up alcohol for a period of time, while almost a third (30%) said they now live alcohol-free as a conscious lifestyle choice. This is up from 21.1% in 2025.
Demographic trends
Abstaining from alcohol is most pronounced among younger consumers. More than half (55%) of respondents aged between 18 and 34 said they had considered giving up alcohol for a period, while 46% reported having already done so during the previous year.
“Young people are at the forefront of the development, but we see a movement across the population,” commented Morten Skov Mogensen, secretary general of Blå Kors Danmark.
“Unfortunately, alcohol is still a given in many contexts, but not quite in the same way as before. We see that more people are actively taking a position on what role alcohol should have in their lives.”
Health and wellbeing
As the survey found, health and wellbeing is the primary motivation for consumers to give up alcohol, with more than half of respondents (52.2%) who have chosen not to drink alcohol said they did so to improve their sleep, increase their energy levels or gain other health benefits. Some 36.8% said they simply did not feel like drinking alcohol.
“For many, it’s not about giving up anything,” Mogensen added. “It’s about getting something in return in the form of greater well-being on various parameters, and that’s a welcome development. We drink a lot of alcohol in Denmark, and young people are still European champions in drinking.”
According to Statistics Denmark, the average person aged over 18 purchased 8.8 litres of pure alcohol in 2025, down from 9.1 litres in 2024.
The survey was conducted between 12 and 19 May 2026 and included 1,002 adults aged 18 and over. Read more here.
Key findings
- 45% of Danish consumers have considered giving up alcohol for a period of time.
- 41.3% have consciously abstained from alcohol for a period of time in the past year.
- Among 18-34 year olds, 55% have considered quitting alcohol, and 46% have abstained from alcohol for a period of time.
- 52.2% choose not to drink alcohol for health and well-being reasons.
- 36.8% lack desire for alcohol.
- 30% indicate that they live without alcohol as a conscious lifestyle choice (21.1% in 2025).
