Excessive alcohol consumption is leading to more than one person being hospitalised every single day in Luxembourg, according to data published by the health ministry.

Between 2018 and 2023, there were 3,639 hospitalisations in Luxembourg due to excess alcohol consumption, an average of 1.6 per day.

Of the 3,639 hospitalisations, 3% concern young people aged 12 to 18, according to figures released by Health Minister Martine Deprez on Monday, in response to a written parliamentary question jointly submitted by DP deputies André Bauler and Gilles Baum.

In their question to the minister, the MPs point out that, according to the German press, the number of alcoholic teenagers who have had to be hospitalised is falling, having dropped by 28% between 2022 and 2023.

Asked whether the same trend is occurring in Luxembourg, Deprez revealed that 3% of all people hospitalised are teenagers, which is equivalent to more than 100 young people over the period from 2018 to 2023.

“Compared to the German study mentioned above, among the population of young people aged 12 to 18, the proportion of adolescents hospitalised in Luxembourg for alcohol poisoning was 0.040% and 0.043% in 2023,” she said, adding that in Germany the rate was 0.19% in 2022 and 0.14% in 2023. “Given the low number of cases, it’s difficult to identify a clear trend,” the minister added.

More hospitalisations in summer

At the request of the deputies, Deprez also revealed that from 2018 to 2023, hospitalisations due to excessive alcohol consumption were more frequent during the months of July to October, especially among adults. According to the data, during that period, 362 hospitalisations due to alcohol were reported in July alone, making it the month with the highest number. February, on the other hand, was the month with the fewest hospitalisations, at 232.

In one of its latest campaigns on the risks of alcohol, the Health Ministry has emphasised that alcohol is the cause of around 60 health problems, including some cancers, and its consumption is associated with a greater risk of injury, violence and accidents.

Alcohol consumption is also associated with a decrease in economic efficiency and the emergence of other problems, such as absenteeism from work, decreased productivity and performance and an increase in crime.

(This article was originally published by Contacto. Translation and editing by Audrey McGaw)