Dutch youth European champions of binge drinking, experts worry about alcohol

Alcohol, not cannabis, remains the most popular drug among young people. Many young people drink too much and are starting at an increasingly early age, with all the potential consequences for their health and well-being. This is evident from recent research by the addiction clinic Connection SGGZ. Young people are even being called the "European binge drinking champions."

The figures show that approximately eight in ten 18-year-olds have consumed alcohol at some point. By comparison, four in ten young people have used cannabis. Alcohol is not only twice as popular as cannabis among young people, but according to the clinic, it is also more addictive.

According to Connection SGGZ, alcohol use is often underestimated and not seen as a problem. "Alcohol is the most common addiction in the Netherlands, but at the same time, it's not the most frequently treated addiction. This way, the real risk is quietly 'poured' in the presence of young people, while the consequences can sometimes be serious," says Connection SGGZ.

High alcohol consumption among young people is alarming. It causes alcohol poisoning due to binge drinking, traffic accidents, and sexual assault. More than two thousand young people end up in the emergency room every year due to alcohol poisoning. But even moderate consumption causes significant damage to the immature, young body.

Starting to drink early (from age 14) not only increases the risk of alcoholism later in life, but is also harmful to brain development and overall health in young people.

The figures are particularly alarmingly high among students (university and higher professional education). A quarter of students drink excessively or heavily. This means they often experience problems in their daily lives due to excessive drinking. The study shows that students drink more than the general population.

More figures show this trend: alcohol consumption among young people (14- to 18-year-olds) is barely declining. Dutch young people are somewhere in the middle compared to their European peers. However, they are the European champions in binge drinking and getting drunk, which is dangerous for their health.

Connection SGGZ cites several reasons why these figures remain so high. According to the addiction clinic, the fact that young people drink heavily is likely related to the widespread societal tolerance for alcohol. "In the Netherlands, toasting is simply part of life, and adults often make it easy for young people to obtain alcohol ."

Connection SGGZ is critical of people who act as role models: they believe parents rarely set a good example, for example, by not drinking in the presence of their teenagers. Moreover, children are introduced to alcohol at a young age (see the video above), for example, at home, at parties, or in the sports club. "Alcohol consumption is the norm in many situations, and doctors and scientists are concerned about this. They advocate for a so-called 'denormalization' of alcohol, so that drinking becomes less common."

Figures from 2024 show that nearly 2 million people in the Netherlands drink heavily or excessively. Alcohol increases the risk of cancer, among other things. In addiction clinics, alcohol remains the most common addiction, ahead of cannabis and other forms of addiction such as gambling.

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