The Flemish charity 'Kom op tegen Kanker' (Stand Up To Cancer) is calling for the legal drinking age in Belgium to be raised to 18 for all alcoholic beverages. This is due to links between alcohol use and seven types of cancer.
The legal drinking age in most EU Member States is 18, but Belgium is one of the few to allow teenagers to start drinking alcohol from the age of 16. 'Kom op tegen Kanker' believes that the country urgently needs a stricter policy, however, as alcohol use – even light to moderate – increases the risk of seven types of cancer, including colon and breast cancers.
Research shows that approximately 3,200 Belgians contracted cancer in 2020 due to alcohol consumption, making it a lifestyle-linked risk factor, second only to smoking. The charity is therefore pressing for the issue to be placed on the agenda for the upcoming elections.
The non-profit criticised the recently approved Interfederal Alcohol Plan for 2023-2025, as it primarily focuses on harmful and excessive drinking, insinuating that 'harmless' alcohol consumption also exists. "Scientifically, there is no safe lower limit for alcohol consumption. Alcohol has a significant health impact in both the short and the long term, and young people are particularly vulnerable to its negative effects."
Related News
- Belgians are heavy drinkers and vapers, health study says
- Drug use in Flemish nightlife lower than 20 years ago, but rise in alcohol and ketamine use
While only those 18 and over can purchase spirits, teenagers are able to purchase beer and wine from the age of 16 in Belgium. The charity is now demanding the legal drinking age to be raised to 18 for all alcohol – an increase which should be accompanied by better regulation enforcement.
Finally, 'Kom op tegen Kanker' believes that an age limit of 18 for all alcoholic beverages would provide clarity and remove the misconception that certain types of alcohol – such as beer and wine – are less harmful than others.
