Young Danish men increasingly turn down alcohol compared to a decade ago. A new study from the Center for Substance Abuse Research reveals this shift. Fewer males aged 15 to 25 have tried alcohol or drank recently versus a similar 2014 report.
Cannabis use also dropped sharply among young men. Researcher Kirsten Frederiksen noted the declining trend primarily affects young males. She suggests younger generations may be more cautious than their predecessors.
Simon Boesdal, 20, from West Jutland, enjoys nights out without alcohol. He says young people now better at refusing substances and questioning their benefits.
Alcohol experimentation fell from 95.1% to 93.3% among 15-25 year olds since 2014. Young men drove most of this decrease while young women remained stable.
Cannabis experimentation plummeted from 44% to 31.6% in the same period. Young men's rates dropped dramatically from 51% to 35.6%.
Denmark's youth still lead Europe in drinking, Frederiksen acknowledges. But she detects a cultural shift among young men. More haven't tried alcohol, and more 18-25 year olds abstained recently.
Frederiksen believes non-drinking became more acceptable. Group pressure still exists but not drinking grew more normal. She observes greater health, wellness and performance focus in education.
Sober-curious movements gain traction as people explore alcohol-free living. Copenhagen resident Jacob Kowal Kjærås notices more people declining alcohol at parties or choosing non-alcoholic beers.
He says fewer comment when someone drinks cola or alcohol-free beer now versus five years ago.
Cannabis use among young men now roughly matches young women's rates. Previously, young men used significantly more. Frederiksen attributes this to reduced risk-taking willingness.
Increased awareness about illegal drug risks contributes to this change. Stories circulate about contaminants in cannabis and product uncertainty.
The decline isn't due to substitution with cocaine. Cocaine use remains stable, primarily among people over 26.
Opioid misuse among youth shows slight decrease in recent measurements.
Tobacco smoking plummeted from 15.4% to 2.7% of young people since 2014. Frederiksen calls this drop dramatic but notes increased use of other nicotine products.
Young people now use alternatives like small white nicotine pouches and flavored puff bars. These often sell illegally on platforms like Snapchat. Snus use now matches cigarette levels.
This represents a genuine behavioral shift rather than temporary trend. Young Danes increasingly prioritize health and conscious consumption over traditional party culture.