Court to rule on YouTube brothers over alcohol video

A court in Odense is due to rule on Friday whether YouTube brothers Oskar and Elias Hole broke marketing laws with a video showing ways to smuggle alcohol into festivals, DR reports. The case also concerns alleged hidden advertising for Kims Chips.

The brothers, who run the channel Kender du det, are accused of marketing alcohol to under-18s and encouraging dangerous behaviour. Their 2023 video, which has since been removed, showed eight ways to sneak alcohol into festivals, including soaking a tampon in vodka and inserting it into the rectum, and swallowing a condom filled with spirits.

Consumer Council Tænk reported the brothers to the Consumer Ombudsman over the video. The channel has more than 300,000 subscribers, including children and young people, said Uffe Rabe Krag, the council’s political director.

After a court hearing on September 18, the brothers posted a 20-minute video giving their account of the case. They acknowledged failing to disclose advertising, but denied encouraging young people to engage in dangerous behaviour with alcohol. They described the video as a mistake and said they had used water rather than vodka while filming, and had told viewers not to try the stunts at home.

The brothers said their channel is mainly aimed at young adults around their own age. They were 24 when the video was released. Krag disputed that defence, saying the channel and similar creators have large audiences of under-18s.

Prosecutors are seeking a fine of 250,000 kroner. The brothers and the Consumer Ombudsman declined to be interviewed before the ruling.