The Health Council advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to denormalise and discourage the use of alcohol. The council concludes that there is no safe level for alcohol use; 1 glass a day also comes with risks. This concerns risks for both public health and safety.
At the request of the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Health Council has issued an advisory report about the effects of alcohol on health in the broad sense. It covers not only the risk of illness and mortality, but also, for example, the risk of road traffic crashes and incidents of aggression and violence. The committee on Alcohol concludes, based on the current state of science, that there is no safe level for alcohol use.
There is strong evidence that any amount of alcohol increases the risk of 7 types of cancer. Alcohol also increases the risk of organ damage. According to the committee, there is insufficient evidence that moderate alcohol use gives health benefits, such as a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
The use of alcohol does not only increase the risk of cancer and organ damage, it also affects health in the broader sense. Any increase in alcohol use raises the risk of road traffic crashes. Also, alcohol use increases the risk of incidents of aggression and violence, which also increases the risk of injury – not only for the person who uses alcohol, but also for others. Moreover, alcohol affects the functioning of the brain and increases the risk of addiction.
The committee concludes that alcohol is harmful for public health and for safety, and advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to adapt current alcohol policies. According to the committee, policies should be aimed at denormalising and discouraging the use of alcohol for all population subgroups and all ages.