spiritsNEWS

spiritsNEWS - December 2024

The latest study by the German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA), “Drug Use Among Adolescents in the Federal Republic of Germany 2023”, reveals that regular alcohol consumption among both 12- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 25-year-olds has been steadily declining for over 20 years. Furthermore, the age of first alcohol consumption has risen from 14.1 years in 2004 to 15.1 years in 2023. Since 1986, the percentage of male adolescents (12-17) who consume alcohol regularly (at least once a week) has dropped from 36% to 12.4% in 2023, a reduction of about two-thirds. Among female adolescents (12-17), this figure has decreased from 19.7% to 6.9%. A similar trend is observed among young adults. Binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks on one occasion) has also shown a decline.

Our German member association – BSI- applauds these positive long-term developments. For decades now, BSI member companies have been advocating for responsible and moderate enjoyment of high-quality spirits, which are intended exclusively for adults. Spirits are luxury products that, due to their alcohol content, are typically consumed in moderation.

For years, the BSI has supported two initiatives to reduce risky alcohol consumption among children and adolescents:

1. “Youth Protection Training Initiative – SchuJu” (www.schu-ju.de): This initiative provides online and offline training for staff in retail, hospitality, gas stations, and online commerce to ensure the strict enforcement of youth protection laws, preventing spirits and spirit-based beverages from being accessed by minors.
2. “Tell it straight” (www.klartext-reden.de): This initiative supports alcohol prevention in families through measures like parent workshops and web-based training. It motivates parents to set and enforce boundaries regarding alcohol.

“Through the initiatives of the Working Group on Alcohol and Responsibility, the BSI has been making an evaluated contribution to prevention for years. This is part of our responsibility as the spirits industry,” stated Angelika Wiesgen-Pick, Managing Director of BSI. “Of course, these are just a few of many measures, but we believe that all societal groups must actively contribute to youth protection. The recent BZgA statistics are encouraging. While the COVID-19 pandemic, with factors like restaurant closures, affected alcohol consumption in 2020 and 2021, the key is maintaining the long-term declining trend of underage drinking. As an association, we will continue to actively support this effort through the measures of the Working Group on Alcohol and Responsibility in the future.”