Hjallerup Market introduces safety measures for young drinkers

This year’s Hjallerup Market in North Jutland has expanded its safety measures to protect young attendees who drink too much, with dedicated staff, clear signage, and a colour-coded pickup system to ensure they get home safely, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

The market, which draws around 20,000 young people for its Thursday night concert, has seen cases of excessive drinking in past years, according to Michael Ottesen, chair of the market committee. “We’ve had young people drink themselves into a stupor, and we’ll likely see that again this year,” he said. “But we have staff trained to handle it.”

To streamline departures, the pickup area is now divided into red, yellow, and green zones—each corresponding to buses, taxis, or private vehicles. Clear signs will guide disoriented attendees to the correct transport. “We have a direct route from the SafeHouse to the ‘Kiss and Goodbye’ area, where they can board a bus, take a taxi, or be picked up by parents if that’s what they want,” Ottesen explained.

SafeHouse, a volunteer organisation that promotes nightlife safety in Aalborg, will also be on site, escorting intoxicated young people to the pickup zone, where security will ensure they leave safely.

The market has also centralised food stalls between the main tent and fairground to prevent people from lingering in isolated areas if they become unwell. “We don’t want to control the young people, but it’s much easier to help them and assess their needs when they’re in a central location,” Ottesen said. Surveillance cameras cover the entire area, allowing staff to quickly assist anyone in distress.

Over the four-day event, the market’s own stalls are expected to serve more than 50,000 litres of draught beer.