RND commentary: An alcohol tax alone does not solve the problem

Germans drink too much alcohol. This is nothing new; few countries are as firmly established in society and promote free drinking as uncompromisingly as in Germany. There are even places in this country whose name is dedicated to the sole consumption of alcohol: beer gardens.

It's only natural that some academics and politicians are now calling for higher alcohol taxes. After all, the money to spend is finite.

Experts are calling for higher taxes on alcoholic beverages to curb consumption, which they say is still too high in our society.

Nevertheless, leveraging pricing isn't a panacea. Proponents like to argue that people drink less in Scandinavian countries, where alcohol is significantly more expensive. This may be true for Norway and Sweden. In Greenland, however, where a beer in a pub costs around €9.80, studies show that 56 percent of men and 48 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 24 have problematic alcohol consumption.

A comparison with Austria, France, and Luxembourg also shows that price alone isn't enough. Alcohol is also more expensive there on average than here, but consumption is still higher than in Germany.

The numbers reveal that money alone isn't the deciding factor. It's all about attitude. In Norway and Sweden, alcohol isn't viewed as a casual drink, but rather as an unhealthy stimulant that poses many risks. Never-ending summer evenings in the garden don't require a wide variety of alcohol.

At least Germany is on the right track: Overall alcohol consumption has declined in recent years, and young people are turning to beer, wine, and spirits significantly less often. The popularity of non-alcoholic beer, sparkling wine, and gin, however, is increasing. Drinking is apparently becoming more conscious: a glass of wine isn't just something to be enjoyed casually, but as a momentary pleasure.

This development should be encouraged. For that to happen, alcohol must be defined in Germany for what it is: as something that can cause harm, even in small amounts. As something with a high addictive potential. As something that makes one less sane. Alcohol shouldn't be cool, and those who don't drink shouldn't have to justify themselves.

But in a country where children are bombarded for minutes on television with how great beer is, that won't happen.

The way we deal with tobacco has shown how it can be done. Germany has taken far-reaching measures in this regard. The price of cigarettes rose, advertising was gradually banned, there were increasing numbers of smoke-free zones in public spaces, and the debate became more objective. The result: Within 25 years, the number of smokers has fallen from 22.2 to 16.2 million.