Alcohol ban halves police reports in South Greenland

Police reports in South Greenland have fallen by more than half since a total ban on alcohol sales took effect on 2 October, DR reports. Greenland Police Director Bjørn Tegner Bay said officers have “much less to deal with” and welcomed the change.

The ban, introduced by Greenland’s politicians after an alcohol-related killing, prevents alcohol sales in both supermarkets and licensed venues. Police say reports have dropped across several categories of serious crime, including domestic disturbances, intoxicated people in public, violence and sexual offences.

With fewer incidents to respond to, police can spend more time on other work, including prevention and visits to municipal constables in small settlements, Bay said. He also pointed to fewer reports of disturbances at home and said the ban had had a significant effect on children’s sense of security.

South Greenland Municipality Mayor Malene Vahl Rasmussen, who put the ban in place, said the aim was to make the municipality a place where children and families could feel safe. She said the measure had affected children’s well-being, police work and health services, and that notifications to the municipality had also declined.

The ban followed the alcohol-related killing of a 37-year-old man in Nanortalik. There is currently no end date for the restrictions.

Greenland’s Health Council recommended two years ago raising the minimum age to buy alcohol from 18 to 21, establishing a public monopoly on alcohol sales and ending shop sales at weekends. Council chair Kjeld Møller Pedersen has said the measures could help protect children and young people.

In 2025, average annual consumption was 8.3 litres of pure alcohol per person aged over 14 in Greenland, compared with 8.8 litres per person aged over 18 in Denmark. A 2018 survey found that 34 per cent of people over 15 in Greenland and 25 per cent of people over 16 in Denmark drank five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion at least once a month.