European Alcoho... / Resources / Country Profiles / Netherlands
Netherlands
Drinking alcohol is nowadays deeply rooted in the Dutch society. Alcohol consumption rose dramatically in the Netherlands from about 2 litres of alcohol per capita a year in the early 1950s to over 9 litres in the late 1970s. Per capita alcohol consumption peaked at 9.4 litres in 1979. While consumption decreased slightly throughout the 1980s, it started to increase again in the '90s, reaching 8.2 litres of alcohol per capita in 2000. [1]
While beer and wine consumption are popular, two other beverages are significant features in the Dutch consumption pattern. The first is the national spirits drink, known as jenever, a beverage that dates back to the sixteenth century. In the early 1980s, it accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the consumption of distilled spirits. The other beverage is fortified wine, which accounted for one third of the total wine consumption in the Netherlands in the late 1970s. [2]
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is very common among the adult population in the Netherlands. A survey from 1998 showed that 85 per cent of the population aged 16 years and over consumed alcohol. As drinking in the Netherlands is closely associated with hospitality and sociability, much more alcohol is consumed in the home than in licensed establishments. [3]
According to the WHO GENACIS study (regional survey conducted in 1999, total sample size 3634, ages 20 to 64 years), the rate of last year abstainers was 23.1% total, 14.4% males and 31% females. [4]
A cross-sectional general population survey carried out in Rotterdam in 1994 (total sample size 3537, ages 16 to 69) found that the rate of abstainers was 17.9% total, 11.6% males and 23.7% females. [5]
A cross-sectional general population survey carried out in Rotterdam in 1994 (total sample size 3537, ages 16-69) found the rate of excessive drinkers to be 8.2% (total), 14.2% men and 2.6% women. The same survey also found the rate of problem drinkers to 8.9% (total), 15.4% men and 2.9% women. A respondent was defined as an excessive drinker when he or she drank four glasses or more on at least 21 days per month or six glasses or more on at least nine days per month. To be classified as a problem drinker, a respondent had to report at least moderate problems in one of the five problem areas mentioned (score of one or more on the problem index) and he or she had to drink excessively. As drinking a lot on a few days (e.g. at the weekend) can also cause problems, for the categorization of problem drinkers, the definition of excessive drinking was extended with the category 'six or more glasses once or twice a week.' [6]
Youth Drinking: According to the 2001/2002 HBSC survey (total sample size 1273), the proportion of 15-year-olds who reported ever having been drunk two or more times was 35.3% for boys and 21.5% for girls. [7]
The SDR per 100,000 people for chronic liver disease and cirrhosis was 4.91 in 1999 and 5.07 in 2000. [8]
The number of alcohol-related road traffic accidents per 100,000 people was 15.25 in 2000 and13.91 in 2001. [9]
Alcohol Policy
In the Netherlands the present alcohol control legislation goes back to the year 1881 when a law was enacted introducing the so-called maximum system for both off- and on-premise retail sales of distilled alcoholic beverages. This legislation was renewed in 1904, 1931 and in 1964, at which point it was known as the Alcohol Licensing and Catering Act. This law, as well as other similar policies, were part of the Dutch government's attempt to control the retail sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages by limiting the number of licensed outlets on the basis of the number of inhabitants in the area to be served. [10]
In 1975, in response to a growing concern over alcohol misuse, the Health Minister advocated a policy of discouragement, resulting in the creation of a special commission of the Health Council. The new commission lacked political support, however, and so did not enact any new preventative measures.
In 1982, the existing Inter-ministerial Committee on Drugs Misuse Policy was charged with the development of an alcohol policy and was, therefore, transformed to the Inter-departmental Steering Group on Alcohol and Drugs Misuse Policies. This led to the publishing of a document entitled Alcohol and Society in 1986, which advocated a more comprehensive preventative alcohol policy.
Alcohol policy in the Netherlands is still evolving and, currently, there are several authorities responsible for preventative alcohol policies, including the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, as well as authorities at the local level. [11]
Alcohol Advertising
Marketing and advertising of alcoholic beverages are not controlled in the Netherlands by legislation. There is, however, a Committee for Advertisement Rules, which was founded in 1963 and which has set up codes of behaviour for all kinds of advertising. The committee consists of representatives from the business community. A code of practice governing advertising of alcoholic beverages has been in effect since 1977.
In 1987, the alcohol industry was given responsibility for regulating its own advertising and promotional activities. Negotitations resulted in the strengthening of existing rules and the establishment of the Code for Alcoholic Beverages, which took effect in September 1, 1990. Among other things, the Code states that the object of advertising may not be to increase alcohol consumption. Generic advertising is also prohibited, as are messages that are critical towards moderate alcohol consumption or dismissive of non-alcoholic beverages. [12]
[1] World Drink Trends (2002) (Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom, Productschap voor Gedistilleerde Dranken and World Advertising Research Center Ltd.)
[2] Brown, M.M., Dewar, M.F. & Wallace, P. (1982) International Survey: Alcoholic Beverage Taxation and Control Policies, Fifth Edition (Ottawa, Brewers Association of Canada).
[3] & [10] Hurst, W., Gregory, E. & Gussman, T. (1997) International Survey: Alcoholic Beverage Taxation and Control Policies, Ninth Edition (Ottawa, Brewers Association of Canada.)
[4] Preliminary results from the Gender, Alcohol and Culture: An International Study (GENACIS Project). International Research Group on Gender and Alcohol (http://www.med.und.nodak.edu/depts/irgga/GENACISProject.html)
[5] & [6] Garretsen HFL et. al. The development of alcohol consumption and problem drinking in Rotterdam 1980-1994: more problem drinking amongst the young and middle aged. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 1999, 34(5): 733-740.
[7] Currie C et al., eds. Young people's health in context. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study: international report from the 2001/2002 survey. Copenhagen, WHO Health Policy for Children and Adolescents (HEPCA), 2004.
[8] & [9] European health for all database. World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe (http://hfadb.who.dk/hfa)
[11] & [12] Bongers, I. M. B., van de Goor, I.A.M. & Garretsen, H.F.L. (1998) Social climate on alcohol in Rotterdam, the Netherlands: public opinion on drinking behaviour and alcohol control measures, Alcohol & Alcoholism, 32, 141-150.
