Luxembourg against alcohol
Olivie Strauss, Unsplash
The Luxembourg Ministry of Health has launched the campaign "Zéro alcool. 100% toi-même!" with the aim of changing public attitudes towards alcohol and reducing its consumption. The initiative is inspired by WHO recommendations that alcohol is responsible for one in 11 deaths in Europe, including 280 deaths annually in Luxembourg, or one person every 30 hours.
Alcohol is not just a habit or part of social culture. It causes more than 60 diseases, including mouth, liver and breast cancer. In addition, it increases the risk of injury, violence and depression, reduces economic productivity and increases crime.
Alcohol consumption remains high in Luxembourg:
- 34.3% of residents admit to excessive consumption at least once a month (Eurostat, 2019).
- 43 per cent of adults drink alcohol weekly and almost 9 per cent drink alcohol daily.
- Among young people (11-18 years), 42.7 per cent had already tried alcohol (HBSC, 2022).
The main objective of the campaign is to "deconstruct" the habit of drinking alcohol in a social context. The Ministry emphasises that choosing not to drink should be the norm, not the exception. The campaign also combats social dynamics where refusing to drink alcohol can be perceived as an aberration.
The slogan "Zéro alcool. 100% toi-même!" symbolises freedom from pressure and the acceptance of healthy choices. This initiative promotes a new way of looking at holidays, traditions and everyday life without alcohol.
