New statistics on risk behaviours among Hungarian youth reveal concerning trends: the two-decades-long decline in smoking has come to an end, frequency of alcohol consumption remains steady, and the proportion of energy drink consumers continues to rise.
Since the turn of the millennium, the Large Sample Youth Survey has examined the prevalence of risk behaviours (such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use) among young people. Based on the latest data, the outlook is far from optimistic; there is a clear need for stricter government regulations to curb these negative trends.
One in Five Young People Consume Energy Drinks Daily
The number of young people consuming energy drinks has steadily increased over the past decade. In 2012, only 3% reported daily consumption; today, that figure has multiplied sixfold to 18%. Daily energy drink consumption is particularly prevalent among younger respondents (22% of 15–19-year-olds and 20% of 20–24-year-olds), males (19%), those living in rural communities (23%), and individuals with lower educational levels (21% among those with only primary education and 24% among those without a high school diploma).
The Declining Rates of Smoking Have Stalled
New data from the Large Sample Youth Survey indicate that the declining rates of daily smoking — which has continuously been on the downward since 2004 — has taken a turn. In 2020, 17% of 15–29-year-olds reported smoking on a daily basis; in 2024, the figure rose to 19% (and 25% among 30–34-year-olds). Notably, newer forms of tobacco consumption are gaining ground: one in ten individuals aged 15–34 now use some type of e-cigarette at least weekly. There is also measurable, though still low, usage of snus and Elf Bars (which were banned in Hungary in 2022).
One in Ten Hungarian Youth Drinks Alcohol Weekly
Alcohol consumption levels among youth remain unchanged. The proportion of young people consuming alcohol at least once a week is consistent with previous data, with one in ten individuals aged 15–29 drinking alcohol regularly on a weekly basis.
Three in Ten Young People Say Drugs Are Easily Accessible
While the Large Sample Youth Survey does not directly measure the prevalence of drug use, it regularly surveys perceptions of drug use among peers and the estimated ease of access to drugs. In 2016, 36% of respondents aged 15–29 said they could easily obtain drugs if they wanted to; in 2020, that figure was 31%, and in the most recent wave of the survey, 30%.
Previous research from the Youth Research Institute shows that young people continue to view drug proliferation as one of the most pressing issues facing their generation, and a majority remain opposed to the legalisation of drugs. Among 15–29-year-olds, 68% support stricter drug regulations.
The Large Sample Youth Survey
The 2024 wave of the Large Sample Youth Survey consisted of 5,000 in-person interviews that were conducted throughout the autumn of that year. The survey has been conducted every four years since 2000. The sample is representative of Hungary’s 15–34-year-old population by gender, age, education, settlement type, and region. The 2024 wave of surveying was led by the Századvég Foundation.
