This is what the Trimbos study says

Commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), the Trimbos Institute conducted research into the knowledge about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption for the second time. There have been a few striking results.

This study, recently carried out by the Trimbos Institute, was carried out within the framework of the National Prevention Agreement. A total of 5901 adults (18 years and older) participated. The questions test awareness of alcohol harm in adults. Raising awareness about alcohol harm is one of the objectives of the National Prevention Agreement.

Relationship with cancer mostly unknown

(37%) are aware that (excessive) alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer.

(32%) knows that drinking one glass of alcohol a day increases the risk of breast cancer.

The relationship between excessive alcohol consumption and mental problems is also often unknown. The relationship with suicide (36%) is the least known.

Alcohol consumption and the growing child

52% of the adults knows that alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, crying baby and learning and behavioral problems in the child.

25% of all women drank alcohol before they knew they were pregnant.

Estimated harmfulness of alcohol consumption

35% of the excessive drinkers think that drinking more than one glass of alcohol every day is (very) harmful, compared to 63% of the adults who do not.

Drinking alcohol is considered normal

Eight out of ten adults think and are sure that their social environment considers drinking alcohol normal.

It is striking that 18-29 year olds more often think that their friends, family and other close ones have respect for people who do not drink alcohol than people aged 30 to 49 or over 50.