"I stopped drinking as soon as I became a minister"

While New Year's receptions in government agencies are still associated with a glass of Crémant, the Luxembourg Ministry of Health serves non-alcoholic beer instead of sparkling wine. Health Minister Martine Deprez decided to start the year without alcohol with a message to the public: "Alcohol is a problem that needs to be addressed."

Deprez herself emphasises that she used to drink very moderately, but since her appointment to the post, she has consciously given up alcohol completely. At receptions at the ministry, there is not a drop of alcohol: only non-alcoholic alternatives. The reaction of her colleagues? The expected scepticism and fears that people would not last long. But the minister is convinced that her employees are setting an example for society.

The minister emphasises that the goal is not prohibition. It is about destroying the "normality" of alcohol, which is so deeply rooted in everyday life. "Many people don't realise how much they drink. But once you start recording how much you drink in a week, the amount is surprising." This awareness effect has become part of Dry January's mission — to give people the opportunity to take a step back and look at their lifestyle.

De Prez considers the reaction of the wine sector to be somewhat unexpected. Similar initiatives have been carried out by NGOs such as Fondation Cancer in the past, but they have been less noticeable. Now that Dry January has received government support, the opposition has become more visible. The minister plans to meet with Horesca representatives in person in the near future to explain that the initiative is not directed against the sector, but rather in support of the human right not to drink and to be accepted in society without pressure or ridicule. "Just as smoking indoors once became unacceptable, so too should it be the norm not to drink alcohol."

Particular attention is paid to comparisons with other countries. According to Deprez, Luxembourg ranks among the highest in Europe in terms of the proportion of people who regularly consume large amounts of alcohol. These are statistics that are difficult to dismiss. In the United Kingdom, for example, Dry January is being followed by a new initiative called "Sober Spring," which covers the entire spring season. Luxembourg is not yet ready for this, but the discussion has already begun.

This creates a paradox: on the one hand, the state promotes wine tourism, while on the other, it encourages people to give up alcohol. When accused of double standards, Deprez responds that such paradoxes are inevitable in state policy. The same applies to tobacco, for example: it generates revenue for the budget, but is also subject to strict regulations.