Groningen Sees Rise in Unhealthy Drinking
Over 60% of city residents exceed recommended alcohol limits, placing Groningen among the top three provinces for unhealthy consumption.
Groningen ranks third among Dutch provinces for excessive alcohol use. While some areas are seeing a drop in heavy drinking, the city of Groningen is bucking the trend, with a sharp increase in unhealthy drinking habits.
More than half of adults in the municipality of Groningen exceed recommended weekly alcohol limits, with 6.7% of residents falling into the category of excessive drinkers, according to new data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), analysed by Afkickkliniekwijzer.nl. Unhealthy drinking — defined as more than five standard drinks per week — now affects 62.8% of city residents, up from 50.5% the previous year.
Across the entire province of Groningen, 6.3% of adults are classified as excessive drinkers, placing the province behind only Overijssel and North Holland. Though still above the national average of 5.7%, this figure marks an improvement from the 7.6% recorded in 2022.
Awareness is Growing, but City Trends Raise Concern
Marcel Seuninga from Addiction Care Northern Netherlands sees the province-wide decline as a positive development. "We’re seeing a slow shift in how people think about alcohol,” he explains. He attributes the trend to increased public awareness around the health risks of drinking — including links to colon and breast cancer, as well as mental health issues.
Despite this, the city of Groningen appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Analysts have not pinpointed a specific reason for the spike in city numbers, but the data suggests a growing disconnect between awareness campaigns and local behaviour.
While many municipalities in Groningen saw modest declines in excessive alcohol use, some experienced increases. Excessive drinking is highest in Het Hogeland (7.4%) and Westerwolde (7.1%). In Groningen city, the rate is 6.7%, slightly above the provincial average. The lowest rate is in Oldambt (4.3%).
Shifting Social Norms Around Alcohol
The study also examined adherence to the Health Council's guideline of no more than five drinks per week. In Groningen province, 56.1% of residents exceed this limit — slightly above the national average of 55.2%.
Seuninga challenges the long-held myth that moderate drinking, such as one glass of wine per day, has health benefits. “You drink for pleasure, not for your health,” he emphasises.
For those looking to cut back, Seuninga suggests trying a 40-day alcohol-free challenge. “You might sleep better, lose some weight, or just feel more energetic. Breaking the habit helps you experience the benefits.”