The amount of tobacco has increased by 9 percent in two years. The snus/slurry category has doubled from 2024 to 2025 and alcohol imports/production increased by almost 3 percent in one year. These are the factual figures and the major challenge for Naalakkersuisut to break.
- Naalakkersuisut is aware of the new figures, which show an increase in the use of tobacco and especially snus/slurry. This is a deeply worrying development, as it is well known that tobacco use causes illness, death and lost years of good life, states Anna Wangenheim to Sermitsiaq.
She states that Naalakkersuisut is working to enter into an extended health settlement with the parties in Inatsisartut, where health promotion and prevention are an important theme.
Sustainable intervention
Anna Wangenheim and Naalakkersuisut state that a solution should not be based on short-term interventions that are shaky and can be cancelled when a new coalition is formed. Previously, it has been experienced that interventions against tobacco as well as beer, wine and spirits have been changed after a long time by a new political majority in Inatsisartut.
- Experience shows that efforts in the area of alcohol and tobacco are most effective when they are maintained over a number of years. For this to be possible, it is crucial that the measures are long-term and maintained, even if there is a political change, says Anna Wangenheim, who adds that an expanded health settlement “strengthens the basis for the efforts and the probability that they can be maintained and thus achieve the desired effect is significantly increased”.
She also points out that when it comes to alcohol, it is the way in which it is consumed that poses the greatest challenge to public health in this country.
Drunk drinking
- Drunk drinking, where many things are drunk at once, is the cause of many serious injuries in society. There is a clear connection between alcohol consumption and violence, accidents, neglect, abuse and youth suicide, Anna Wangenheim states and adds:
- Naalakkersuisut wants, in cooperation with the settlement circle for the expanded health settlement. Stiles to insert a declaration of principles and intent on the development of a national alcohol settlement, which can set the framework for the work on future alcohol policy.
In conclusion, Naalakkersuisut for Health says that “Naalakkersuisut looks forward to meeting with the parties to discuss how we can together create an alcohol policy that is based on both responsibility and respect for the lives of citizens”.
