Massive Loss of Life, Massive Costs: A Public Health Crisis Ignored
Germany faces a public health emergency driven by widespread alcohol and tobacco harm.
According to the new DHS Yearbook Addiction 2025, cited in Spiegel, nearly 150,000 lives are lost annually due to these harmful products. In detail, smoking causes around 99,000 deaths and alcohol leads to approximately 47,500 deaths each year.
The report, published by the German Central Office for Addiction Questions (Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen, DHS), paints a grim picture. It reveals:
- More than one-fifth of the adult population has high-risk alcohol use.
- About 9% of people aged 18 to 64 meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder.
These figures exclude those under 18 and those over 65, meaning the actual impact is likely even greater.
Alcohol Industry Wins, Population Loses
According to Alkoholpolitik, the DHS Yearbook Addiction warns that Germany continues to have some of the lowest alcohol prices in Europe.
For instance, the country collects just €44 per capita in alcohol excise duties, while countries with similar consumption levels, such as Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia collect between €167 and €218.
Germany’s per capita alcohol excise duty revenue is about 79.8% lower than the €218 per capita collected in the highest comparison country.
This indicates an inadequate pricing policy and that the alcohol industry is not paying for the harms that their products and practices cause to German people and society. Germany’s low-levels of alcohol taxation benefit the alcohol industry but harms the population.
Movendi International reaffirms that the alcohol industry prioritises profits at the expense of public health. For instance, the “Big Alcohol Exposed 2024” report reveals that in Germany, 50.4% of alcohol sales, amounting to €5.82 billion, stem from high-risk alcohol use. This highlights how much the industry depends on heavy consumption to sustain its profits.
Researcher Dr. Jakob Manthey highlights that a modest 5% price increase could prevent the deaths of around 850 people in a single year and generate an additional €1.4 billion in tax revenue.
Yet, Germany has not raised the beer tax since 1993, and wine remains entirely untaxed.
Inaction Despite Proven Prevention Tools
Scientific evidence consistently shows that raising alcohol prices through taxation is one of the most effective alcohol prevention strategies.
The DHS calls this a wasted opportunity, especially given that alcohol-related health complications already cost the German economy over €57 billion annually.
In contrast, as reported by Movendi International, the annual government revenue from alcohol taxation amounts to only €3.2 billion.
A recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe found that introducing a minimum tax share of 25% in the WHO European Region could prevent 40,033 deaths annually. Germany’s current tax level falls far below that threshold.
Spiegel reports that DHS Managing Director Christina Rummel criticises the political inactivity. For example, she notes that while orange juice prices continue to rise, the price of vodka remains stable. This illustrates the government’s misplaced priorities and failure to implement even basic prevention measures.
Worsening Trends in Tobacco and Nicotine Use
The DHS Yearbook also reports troubling figures related to tobacco, as per Alkoholpolitik.
- In 2024, 30.4% of the population smoked.
- Among 18 to 25-year-olds, the rate stood at 26.3%.
- Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, it was 6.8%
- Per capita consumption of ready-made cigarettes rose for the first time since 2019.
- Consumption of e-cigarettes and tobacco heaters also continues to grow, particularly among young adults.
Smoking remains the single most preventable cause of premature death in industrialised nations. Yet here too, Germany has failed to fully implement evidence-based tobacco prevention policies.
“Smoking is the greatest single health risk in industrialised countries and the most common cause of premature mortality.”
DHS Yearbook Addiction 2025
Alcohol Use Is Toxic: Why Isn’t Policy Keeping Up With Science?
“Alcohol is a cell poison,” says addiction researcher Dr. Jakob Manthey. He points out that Germany allows widespread alcohol advertising with minimal limits and regulations, reinforcing a toxic norm around alcohol use.
Movendi International highlights that the alcohol industry routinely undermines prevention by influencing policy and downplaying risks.
Countries with ambitious and evidence-based alcohol policies have significantly lower alcohol harm, while inadequate and out-dated alcohol policies such as Germany’s contribute to preventable suffering and loss of life.
Alcohol also increases the risk of cancer. According to scientific analysis reported by Movendi International over a 30-year period, reducing alcohol use in Germany could prevent an estimated 244,000 cancer cases.
A 100% price increase alone could prevent 213,000 alcohol-related cancers.
Call for Evidence-Based, People-Centered Alcohol Policies
The DHS is clear: Germany urgently needs a modern, evidence-based alcohol and addiction policy. They call on policymakers to place the health and wellbeing of communities above the profits of the alcohol and tobacco industries. Preventing harm caused by alcohol must be at the top of the national health agenda.
Public support is already strong. A national survey found that:
- 59% of Germans support a full advertising ban for alcoholic products.
- 76% support mandatory health warnings in advertising.
- 50% favour higher taxes on alcohol.
Comprehensive alcohol policies, especially excise tax reforms, advertising bans, and increased investment in support services are all proven tools. The cost of political inaction is measured in lost lives, rising healthcare costs, and avoidable suffering.
Sources
Alkoholpolitik.de: “Population Loses, Industry Wins: Politics is Inactive“
Der Spiegel: “Addiction Report: Nearly 150,000 Deaths from Alcohol and Cigarettes Annually“
German Centre for Addiction Issues (DHS): “Addiction Yearbook“