Young drivers use nitrous oxide on Copenhagen nightlife route

Young drivers in Copenhagen are using nitrous oxide while driving a specific route through the city’s nightlife district, according to interviews conducted by the Danish Road Safety Council.

The council’s managing director, Jakob Bøving Arendt, said multiple students from vocational schools in the capital described a “party route” through the Inner City, passing bars and nightclubs on Nørregade, Gothersgade, and Skindergade. One student even drew the route, which was later shared on LinkedIn by the council’s deputy director, Karina Petersen.

“It’s pretty wild stories we’re hearing,” Petersen said. “Some drive this route past several clubs in Copenhagen while inhaling gas because it’s supposedly more fun to be out among people when you get high.”

The council interviewed around a dozen students, with the account of the route recurring several times. While not statistically confirmed, Arendt said the fact that some could map the route and others recognized it points to a dangerous trend.

Copenhagen Police confirmed awareness of the phenomenon. “It’s extremely dangerous,” said Deputy Police Inspector Henning Pedersen. “Beyond fines or imprisonment, you risk harming yourself or others. We’re present in the nightlife and monitoring for impaired drivers.”

Nitrous oxide induces a brief high, causing dizziness, unsteady movements, and euphoria, typically lasting 1-2 minutes. It can lead to fainting and impair the ability to navigate traffic safely, according to the Danish Health Authority.

Last year, Denmark tightened penalties for driving under the influence of nitrous oxide after several fatal accidents, including one where a 65-year-old man was killed outside a BabySam store in Valby. A subsequent trial saw an 18-year-old sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated negligent homicide, though the court did not conclusively prove nitrous oxide impairment.