Alcohol prices in Europe - Which countries have the most expensive drinks? Nordic countries lead the way
Alcohol prices vary significantly across Europe, with Nordic countries topping the list, while the bloc's larger economies register lower-than-average prices.
Alcohol prices vary significantly across Europe, often due to taxes used to reduce the harms of drinking. According to Eurostat, €1.50 of every €100 that households spend on average on goods and services in the EU goes on alcoholic beverages.
The price level index, which compares the same group of alcoholic drinks across Europe, is a good way to highlight cost differences. The EU average is set at 100, so a level above this figure means a country is more expensive than the bloc's average. A value below 100 indicates it is cheaper.
In 2024, the most expensive country in Europe for alcohol was Iceland. There, people pay €285 for drinks that cost an average of €100 in the EU. That's 185% above the bloc's average.
Elsewhere in the ranking, the price of this group of drinks is €226 in Norway, €210 in Finland and €203 in Turkey. This means that alcoholic drinks cost more than twice the EU average. Ireland, at €198, is also very close to this level. The three most expensive countries are all in the Nordic region. The other two Nordic countries also stand above the bloc's average: Sweden, at €146, and Denmark (€125).
The cheapest alcohol prices are recorded in Italy, Germany and Austria. Alcoholic drinks, which cost €100 in the European Union, are only €84 in Italy, €87 in Germany and €90 in Austria. In Spain, people pay €91 for the same group of drinks. This shows that alcohol is generally cheaper in the bloc's four largest economies compared to the average.
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