Reducing alcohol consumption is difficult for many people. The government wants to break drinking habits with the start of the 'Dranguilo' campaign.
We all know that you are the 'Bob' once. Soon, if it is up to the government, the intention is that the term 'dranquilo' will also be used more often. The word refers to the Spanish tranquilo, which means take it easy. And that is precisely the purpose of the Dranquilo campaign.
Read also: 'The benefits of drinking less alcohol'
State Secretary Paul Blokhuis (VWS):“Drinking alcohol increases the risk of all kinds of health problems. We do not want to point a finger about this, but we do want to encourage people to deal with it consciously. This new campaign shows with a wink that taking it easy with alcohol – from not drinking at all for a while to skipping a round and everything in between – is very normal.”
The campaign – with a special focus on the elderly, students and rural youth – is the result of the agreements in the National Prevention Agreement to raise awareness of the use of alcohol and the level of knowledge about its effects.
One of its objectives is to reduce the percentage of excessive drinkers by 2040 from 8.8% to 5% and the percentage of heavy drinkers from 8.5% to 5%. However, alcohol use is deeply embedded in Dutch culture. Eight out of ten Dutch people over the age of 18 sometimes drink alcohol, often for fun. Last year, however, it appeared from the Alcohol Examination that VWS held together with the Trimbos Institute that 16% of the Dutch are considering drinking less in the future. This year, more people than ever participated in Dry January and non-alcoholic beer is becoming increasingly popular.
