Denmark will prevent minors from purchasing alcohol and raise fees on nicotine products to combat an alarming spike in usage, the health ministry announced on Tuesday.
“Children and the young are starting to drink too early, and they drink too much,” Health Minister Sophie Lohde said at a press conference.
She also stated that youngsters were eating more “snus,” a sachet inserted under the upper lip that contains synthetic nicotine and is frequently flavored to appeal to younger consumers.
As a result, sales of drinks containing more than 6% alcohol will be prohibited to people aged 16 to 18, who could previously purchase drinks having up to 16.5 percent alcohol.
Simultaneously, snus taxes will be quadrupled, rising the average price of a packet by 12 kroner (1.6 euros), making it the same price as a pack of cigarettes.
It will also be illegal for smoking substitute products to contain “enticing aromas and smells,” according to the government.
According to national health officials, by the age of 15, 22 percent of girls and 27 percent of males are weekly drinkers.
According to a 2019 ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) research, 40% of 15-to-16-year-old Danes have gotten drunk in the previous 30 days, the most in Europe, where the average is 13%.