Surge in alcohol consumption leads to health concerns in Iceland

Alcohol consumption in Iceland has surged in recent years, with nearly a quarter of the population engaging in what is termed “risky drinking.” Health Minister Willum Þór Þórsson revealed this data in response to questions from Minister of Food and Fisheries Bjarkeyjar Olsen Gunnarsdóttir about alcohol consumption trends over the past decade, focusing on both adults and younger individuals.

The reports indicate that 24% of Icelanders are partaking in harmful drinking patterns, with men exhibiting a higher tendency—27% compared to 21% of women in 2022. Concerns have also been raised over the sharp increase in cases of cirrhosis, which have grown eightfold due to rising alcohol consumption.

Overall alcohol consumption in Iceland has followed an upward trajectory, briefly dropping in 2021 but rebounding to 6.6 liters per capita. However, it decreased slightly to 6.3 liters in 2022. Notably, among individuals aged 15 and older, consumption increased to 7.8 liters per capita in 2022.

The link between alcohol consumption and liver diseases is well-documented. Recent studies indicate that the incidence of cirrhosis rose from 0.77 per 100,000 people annually in the 1984-2000 period to 6.1 per 100,000 from 2016-2020—a clear correlation with increased alcohol consumption over recent decades.

In addition to liver diseases, alcohol is also associated with various types of cancer and contributes to approximately three million deaths globally each year, alongside being a factor in 13% of all traffic accidents worldwide. The growing trend prompts calls for clearer regulations regarding alcohol sales in Iceland.