Alcohol in Denmark: Prices, Age Limits and Where to Buy Wine
Is alcohol expensive in Denmark? A Danish winegrower explains what wine costs, why, who may buy it since the 2025 rule change, and where to buy a good bottle, from the supermarket to the vineyard.
- Price levels 2024 and 2025
- Age limits since 1 April 2025
- About one hour from Copenhagen
What does alcohol cost in Denmark?
By Jesper Rye Jensen, winegrower and owner of Vesterhave VingaardUpdated 2026
Alcohol in Denmark is more expensive than the EU average but cheaper than in Sweden, Norway and Finland. In 2024 Denmark’s price level for alcoholic drinks was 125 against an EU average of 100. You can buy wine in supermarkets, wine shops and directly from vineyards such as Vesterhave Vingaard in Karrebæksminde.
Guests from abroad often ask me the same questions when they arrive for a tasting: is wine expensive here, can I buy it in the supermarket, and how old do you have to be? The answers have changed a little in recent years, because Denmark raised the age limit for stronger drinks in shops in 2025.
I grow wine by Smålandshavet in South Zealand, about an hour south of Copenhagen, so I see the Danish wine market from the farm side. This guide gives you the numbers with sources, explains the rules, and shows where to find Danish wine. For a wider introduction to our wine, read our Danish wine guide.
Is alcohol expensive in Denmark compared with Sweden, Norway and Germany?
Alcohol in Denmark is about a quarter more expensive than the EU average, but clearly cheaper than in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland. Germany and Italy are the places where Danes find cheaper drinks.
| Country | Price level for alcoholic drinks (EU = 100) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Iceland | 285 | The most expensive of the 36 countries compared |
| Norway | 226 | More than twice the EU average |
| Finland | 210 | About twice the EU average |
| Sweden | 146 | Almost half again the EU average |
| Denmark | 125 | A quarter above the EU average |
| Germany | 87 | Below the EU average |
| Italy | 84 | The lowest level in the comparison |
Source: Euronews (8 December 2025), price levels for 2024 across 36 European countries. An index of 125 means that drinks costing 100 euros on average in the EU cost about 125 euros in Denmark.
The newest figures from Eurostat
Eurostat’s comparison of 2025 prices shows the same pattern. Alcohol in Finland was priced 107 % above the EU average, while in Italy it was 18 % below, and both Iceland and Norway had higher price levels for alcoholic drinks than any EU country, according to Eurostat (June 2026).
Why Swedes and Norwegians buy wine in Denmark
The price gap is one reason. The other is how alcohol is sold. In Finland, Norway and Sweden, drinks above 3.5 to 5.5 % alcohol can only be sold in government owned monopoly stores, according to the Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network. Denmark has no such monopoly, so wine and spirits stand on the shelves in ordinary supermarkets.
Why does wine cost what it does in Denmark?
A bottle of wine in Denmark carries excise duty based on its alcohol content, and VAT is added on top. For an ordinary still wine of 13 %, the duty is 8.45 kroner for a 75 cl bottle, according to the Danish Tax Agency’s legal guide, Den juridiske vejledning 2026, section E.A.3.2.5.
The duty itself is a small part of the price of a good bottle. What decides the price of Danish wine is mostly the cost of growing grapes this far north: small fields, hand harvest and low yields. Denmark only had 173 hectares of vines in 2022, spread over 146 businesses, according to Statistics Denmark (2024).
At Vesterhave Vingaard we pick all grapes by hand, and for our Amarone inspired reds we dry part of the grapes before pressing, a method called appassimento. That takes time and gives less juice per vine, which is why Danish wine is rarely a supermarket bargain.
Danish excise duty on wine in 2026
| Type of wine | Duty per litre | Duty on a 75 cl bottle |
|---|---|---|
| Wine from 1.2 to 6 % alcohol | 5.18 kr. | 3.89 kr. |
| Wine from 6 to 15 % alcohol | 11.26 kr. | 8.45 kr. |
| Wine from 15 to 22 % alcohol (for example port style wine) | 15.08 kr. | 11.31 kr. |
| Extra duty on sparkling wine up to 15 % | 3.35 kr. | 2.51 kr. |
Source: Den juridiske vejledning 2026-2, E.A.3.2.5 (rates per litre). The amounts per bottle are our own calculation from those rates. VAT comes on top of the duty.
What is the drinking age in Denmark?
You must be 18 to buy drinks with more than 6 % alcohol in Danish shops, and 18 to buy any alcohol in bars and restaurants. Young people aged 16 and 17 can still buy ordinary beer and other drinks up to 6 % in shops.
| Where and what | Minimum age | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Shops: drinks up to 6 % (for example ordinary beer) | 16 | Unchanged by the 2025 rules |
| Shops: drinks above 6 % (wine, spirits, strong beer) | 18 | Applies from 1 April 2025, physical and online shops |
| Bars and restaurants | 18 | Applies to all alcohol served |
Sources: Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network (March 2025), based on the Danish Safety Technology Authority, and VisitDenmark for bars and restaurants. Before 1 April 2025, 16 year olds could buy drinks up to 16.5 % in shops.
What this means for wine
All of our wines are above 6 % alcohol, so you must be 18 to buy them in a Danish shop or webshop. Beer below 6 % is the main drink that 16 and 17 year olds can still buy in shops.
Bring ID
Since 1 April 2025, both physical and online shops in Denmark must have signs showing the new age limits. If you look young, expect to be asked for ID at the till, also as a tourist. A passport or driving licence is the simplest proof.
Where can you buy wine in Denmark?
You can buy wine in Danish supermarkets and convenience stores, in specialist wine shops, online, and directly from the vineyards. There is no state alcohol shop in Denmark, so you will not need to look for a special store as in Sweden or Norway.
Supermarkets and kiosks
Wine, beer and spirits are sold in many convenience stores and supermarkets in Denmark, according to VisitDenmark. Most of the range is imported wine. Danish wine is harder to find there, because Danish production is small.
Wine shops and webshops
Specialist wine shops in Copenhagen and the bigger towns give advice and carry a wider range, sometimes including Danish wines. Many Danish producers also sell through their own webshops, which is often the easiest way to find a specific Danish wine.
Directly at the vineyard
The best place to buy Danish wine is where it is made. You taste before you buy, meet the people who grow the grapes, and find wines that never reach the supermarket. Our list of vineyards in Denmark shows where to go.
How much Danish wine is there?
Danish wine is a young and small industry. Denmark became an approved wine country in the EU in 2000, and the number of businesses growing grapes for wine rose from 71 in 2016 to 146 in 2022, according to Statistics Denmark (2024). More than half of them, 56.3 %, are east of the Great Belt, on Zealand and Bornholm.
Sales of Danish wine reached 34 million kroner in 2023, against 13 million in 2016, according to the same source. That is still small next to imported wine, so if you want to taste Danish wine on your trip, plan a visit to a vineyard or look for it on restaurant wine lists. Our guide to smørrebrød and wine gives ideas for what to drink with Danish food.
Can you buy wine directly from a Danish vineyard?
Yes. At Vesterhave Vingaard in Karrebæksminde you can buy our wines after a tasting, in the farm shop or in our webshop. Our vines grow by Smålandshavet, where the sea protects them from night frost and gives the grapes a long ripening season.
| Wine | Price | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Hvid Lagune 2025 | 300 kr. (50 cl) | Full white wine from Solaris and Pinot Gris, with pepper and a creamy texture. Hvid Lagune has scored 90 to 92 points from Falstaff. |
| Rosa Lagune 2025 | 300 kr. (50 cl) | Fresh, coral pink rosé with cherry, mint and crisp acidity. Rosa Lagune has scored 89 to 91 points from Falstaff. |
| Sort Lagune | 500 kr. (50 cl) | Powerful red aged one year in oak, with dark berries, smoke and mint. Sort Lagune 3 scored 93 points from Falstaff. |
| Hed Lagune 2019 | 300 kr. (37.5 cl) | Dessert wine in the style of a ruby port, 20 % alcohol, 93 points from Falstaff. |
Prices from our webshop, November 2026. Our wines are organic and carry the official organic label.
Taste first, then buy
At a tasting you typically try 4 to 6 glasses: white, a light rosé, red and a sparkling apple wine. The tour takes you through the organic fields, where we grow Solaris for white wine and Leon Millot and Regent for red, and into the winery with its fermentation tanks and oak barrels. Tastings and tours run from spring to late autumn, and you find the dates on our booking page.
A day trip from Copenhagen
Vesterhave Vingaard is at Vesterhavevej 204, 4736 Karrebæksminde, about one hour by car from Copenhagen and about 15 minutes from Næstved. Our page on wine tasting near Copenhagen explains how to plan the visit, and our guide to day trips from Copenhagen has more ideas for the same day.
What should drivers know about alcohol in Denmark?
The legal blood alcohol limit for all drivers in Denmark is 0.5 grams per litre, according to the European Transport Safety Council. Danes call it 0.5 promille. The limit was adopted in 1998, and there is no lower limit for specific groups of drivers.
Most guests reach us by car, so this matters on a vineyard visit. Our advice is simple: let one person drive and skip the wine. The driver can taste the wines at home, because you can buy the bottles you liked and take them with you.
If you would rather stay the night, we have two suites at the vineyard, one with a view of the vines and one with a view of both the vines and the sea. Read more in our article about a vineyard stay in Denmark (in Danish).
How do you buy Danish wine on a trip to Denmark?
The easiest way to buy good Danish wine is to taste it where it is made. These five steps are what I would tell a friend visiting Copenhagen.
Pick a vineyard
Choose a vineyard you can reach in a day. Zealand has the most, and Vesterhave Vingaard is about one hour from Copenhagen.
Book a tasting
Check the dates on the vineyard’s booking page before you travel. Tastings run on set dates.
Bring ID
You must be 18 to buy wine in a Danish shop and to be served alcohol in bars and restaurants.
Plan who drives
The limit is 0.5 promille. Let one person drive and take a bottle home for later.
Buy what you liked
Buy the bottles you tasted at the vineyard, or order them in the webshop later.
A note for visitors from Sweden and Norway
Because Denmark has no monopoly shops and lower prices than Sweden and Norway, many Nordic visitors buy wine on their trip. Each country has its own rules for how much alcohol you may bring home, so check them with your own customs authority before you travel. We cannot advise on customs rules.
Gløgg season
From November to Christmas, Danes drink gløgg, hot spiced wine. If you are in Denmark in December, try our recipe for Danish gløgg with wine from a Danish vineyard.
Frequently asked questions about alcohol in Denmark
Is alcohol expensive in Denmark?
Alcohol in Denmark costs more than the EU average but less than in the other Nordic countries. In Euronews’ comparison of 2024 price levels for alcoholic drinks, Denmark scored 125 against an EU average of 100, while Sweden scored 146, Finland 210 and Norway 226. Germany and Italy were cheaper than the EU average.
Is alcohol cheaper in Denmark than in Sweden and Norway?
Yes. In the 2024 price comparison published by Euronews, alcoholic drinks cost about 125 in Denmark against 146 in Sweden and 226 in Norway, with the EU average set at 100. Sweden and Norway also have state monopoly shops for stronger drinks, while Danish supermarkets sell wine and spirits on their own shelves.
What is the drinking age in Denmark?
Since 1 April 2025, Danish shops may not sell drinks with more than 6 % alcohol to anyone under 18. Young people aged 16 and 17 can still buy ordinary beer and other drinks up to 6 % in shops. In bars and restaurants, the age limit for buying alcohol is 18, according to VisitDenmark.
Can you buy wine in supermarkets in Denmark?
Yes. Denmark has no state monopoly on alcohol, so wine, beer and spirits are sold in ordinary supermarkets and convenience stores, according to VisitDenmark. You can also buy wine in specialist wine shops, online and directly from Danish vineyards such as Vesterhave Vingaard in Karrebæksminde.
How much tax is there on a bottle of wine in Denmark?
Danish excise duty on still wine between 6 and 15 % alcohol is 11.26 kroner per litre, according to the Danish Tax Agency’s legal guide (2026). That is 8.45 kroner for a 75 cl bottle of 13 % wine. Sparkling wine pays an extra 3.35 kroner per litre, and VAT is added on top of the duty.
What is the drink driving limit in Denmark?
The legal blood alcohol limit for all drivers in Denmark is 0.5 grams per litre, often written as 0.5 promille, according to the European Transport Safety Council. The limit has applied since 1998. If you visit a vineyard by car, let a passenger do the tasting or take your wine home and enjoy it there.
Can you buy Danish wine directly from the vineyard?
Yes. Many Danish vineyards sell wine directly to visitors. At Vesterhave Vingaard in Karrebæksminde, about one hour by car from Copenhagen, you can buy our organic wines after a tasting, in the farm shop or in our webshop. A 50 cl bottle of Hvid Lagune or Rosa Lagune costs 300 kroner.
Jesper Rye Jensen
Jesper is the winegrower and owner of Vesterhave Vingaard, Vesterhavevej 204, 4736 Karrebæksminde. He grows organic wine by Smålandshavet in South Zealand, and his Blå Lagune 2019 received 96 points from Falstaff. Read more about us.
Sources
- Euronews: Alcohol prices in Europe, which countries are the most expensive? (8 December 2025, 2024 data)
- Eurostat: Comparative price levels for food, beverages and tobacco (June 2026, 2025 data)
- Den juridiske vejledning 2026-2, E.A.3.2.5: rates of duty on wine (in Danish)
- Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network: New age limits for alcohol sales in Denmark from 1 April 2025
- Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network: Denmark (monopolies in Finland, Norway and Sweden)
- VisitDenmark: Alcohol
- European Transport Safety Council: Drink driving in Denmark
- Statistics Denmark: Danish vineyards and wine sales (2024, in Danish)
Buy your Danish wine at the vineyard
Book a tasting at Vesterhave Vingaard in Karrebæksminde, meet the winegrower and take home the bottles you liked. Or order our organic wines in the webshop. You are welcome to write to us in English.
Questions? Write or call us in English.
[email protected]+45 40 55 77 04Vesterhavevej 204, 4736 Karrebæksminde, Denmark