The Vienna Addiction and Drug Coordination Center (SDW) has criticized frequent discount campaigns on alcohol in supermarkets, stating that they lead individuals with alcohol problems to drink even more.

“Such discount campaigns are counterproductive from an addiction prevention perspective. The more is offered, the more is bought,” Lisa Brunner, Head of Addiction Prevention at SDW, told ORF.

In Vienna, supermarkets frequently offer discounts of up to 25% on alcohol on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as before public holidays.

Approximately one million Austrian citizens exhibit problematic drinking behaviour – defined as consuming more than one litre of beer per day for men and slightly less for women. Of these, around 370,000 are considered alcoholics.

“It has been proven that people drink more when they have alcohol at home,” Brunner added, urging supermarket chains to voluntarily cease their discount campaigns.

Spar asserts that it only runs these discounts occasionally, with promotions for wine occurring just three times a year. The REWE Group, which owns Billa, stated that it trusts customers to manage alcoholic beverages responsibly.