Changes in Danish public attitudes and norms regarding alcohol consumption and alcohol policy, 1985-2011

Abstract

AIMS-To describe and explain changes in public opinions regarding alcohol consumption and policy in Denmark in recent decades. Since the late 1990s Danish alcohol policy has become more restrictive, and alcohol consumption has decreased. METHODS AND DATA-Five national surveys and one Nordic survey (1985, 1989, 1994, 1997/98, 2002 and 2011) were reviewed, and the data regarding attitudes towards alcohol consumption and alcohol political questions were identified and compared. RESULTS-Although Danes perceive the total alcohol consumption to be rather high, there is no support for a more restrictive alcohol policy. CONCLUSIONS-There is no clear direction regarding the development of attitudes toward different alcohol political questions over time. There is no support for the regulation of alcohol price or availability. Danes seem to view alcohol consumption as a private issue that requires self-control and self-discipline more than political intervention. KEYWORDS-alcohol policy, attitudes, changes in public opinions.

How do drinking cultures change? – or do they?: A provisional model based on evidence of transitions in Denmark

“…Percentage of respondents who agree with statements on youth drinking 1 and drinking in the adult general population 2 . Source: (Elmeland & Villumsen, 2013) 1 The wording was: 1985 "Do you find that the majority of the youth (younger than 20) in general drinks the right amount, a little too much or way too much?". 1994 "Do you find that the young people (younger than 18) you know drink the right amount, a little too much or too much?"".…”

“…Norms on drinking and intoxication; the cultural position of alcohol in societyElmeland and Villumsen(Elmeland & Villumsen, 2013) recently examined trends in public attitudes and opinions towards Danish drinking. Based on the 2011 survey data they reported on the responses to questions regarding youth drinking and alcohol consumption among the Danish adult general population (figure 9).…”

‘Wet’ eldercare facilities: three strategies on the use of alcohol and illicit substances

“…Voluntary treatment and individual autonomy are the core principles in both Swedish and Danish alcohol policy (Elmeland and Villumsen, 2013;Gunnarsson 2010), but both countries have also set out general policy goals to reduce the consumption of alcohol (Demant and Magelund Krarup 2013;Bodin and Romelsjö. 2007;Ekendahl 2011).…”

“…Whereas Swedish national policies has framed alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse as two sides of the same coin, the Danish policy has viewed these as two rather different phenomena. Denmark is the only Nordic country that has not had a state monopoly on alcohol and has emphasized individual autonomy for those who consume alcohol (Demand and Magelund Krarup 2013), but the need to introduce control for those with substance use disorder has also been emphasized (Elmeland and Villumsen 2013).…”

“…There are numerous interventions that primarily aim to reduce the harm of illicit substance use (Fugelstad et al 2007) and alcohol use (Ågren 2000;Lindgren 2008;Mørk and Simic 2010;Karlsson and Gunnarsson 2017;Elmeland and Villumsen 2013), but in Swedish policy debates, harm reduction remains controversial and has been criticized for 'sending the wrong signals' (Johnson, Richert, and Svensson 2017, 312). The Danish debate, on the other hand, has been more positive (Andersen and Järvinen 2007).…”