Germany’s Alcohol Prices Remain Low as Consumption Trends Shift Amid Dry January

Germany continues to offer some of the cheapest alcoholic beverages in the European Union, with prices approximately 14% below the EU average as of October 2025 and reports also citing an 86% lower pricing figure compared to the EU average, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Italy holds the position for the lowest prices on alcohol, at 19% below the average, while Finland reports the highest costs, more than doubling EU average prices by 110% to 210%, depending on the source. Countries like Denmark, Belgium, and Poland also have alcohol prices above the EU norm.

Despite alcohol's affordability, German consumption has shown a decline, with the average amount of pure alcohol consumed per person over 15 years dropping from 12.1 liters in 2012 to 11.2 liters in 2022—a level that places Germany ninth in Europe regarding per capita alcohol intake. This translates roughly to about 448 half-liter glasses of beer annually per person.

This decrease coincides with rising health awareness and initiatives such as Dry January, a movement encouraging abstention from alcohol during January to improve health. Participants report benefits such as better sleep, fewer headaches, weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, and enhanced immune function. Representatives from Barmer health insurance underline these health improvements and note that Germany’s hospitality sector has observed a noticeable trend of patrons choosing to moderate their alcohol consumption.

Such developments showcase a societal shift toward greater restraint and healthier lifestyle choices, even as alcohol remains relatively accessible in terms of cost compared to other European countries.