“Just a couple of beers for the school trip, Mr Mortensen!” That tongue-in-cheek line is used by the Danish Cancer Society, Kræftens Bekæmpelse, to highlight how much attitudes towards young people and alcohol have changed over time. Its school initiative reminds teachers and parents that while some practices from the past now seem unthinkable, there is still a need to strengthen young people’s knowledge about alcohol and its consequences.

Many Danish teenagers are introduced to alcohol while they are still in the later years of compulsory school. Kræftens Bekæmpelse argues that schools therefore have an important role in giving pupils reliable information and creating space for conversations about alcohol before drinking habits become established.

To make this easier for teachers, the organisation has gathered free, age-targeted teaching programmes and materials for pupils from grades 0 to 10. The resources cover several health and wellbeing topics, including alcohol, smoking and nicotine, sun protection and grief. The alcohol, smoking and nicotine materials are designed particularly for older pupils and include articles, podcasts and films that can be integrated into regular teaching.

The initiative is part of Kræftens Bekæmpelse’s broader work with schools, aiming to make difficult subjects easier to discuss in the classroom. By providing ready-to-use materials, the organisation is helping teachers address alcohol and other health issues in a structured way, while giving young people better tools to understand the choices and risks they may encounter.

Find more from Danish Cancer Society (Denmark, August 2026)