Possible increase in legal drinking age for beer and wine in Germany?
In the heart of Europe, Germany is currently debating a significant change in its alcohol purchasing laws. The German government is considering raising the minimum age for purchasing beer and wine from 16 to 18, aligning it with the age currently required for spirits.
Currently, young Germans aged 16 can purchase and consume beer, wine, and sparkling wine in public. Those between 14 and 16 can engage in supervised drinking in public under the watchful eye of a legal guardian. However, the age for buying hard liquor (spirits) and all alcoholic beverages independently remains at 18.
This proposed change is part of a broader effort to reduce youth alcohol consumption, which is viewed as a public health concern. The shift to 18 would bring Germany closer to the majority of European countries that set 18 as the legal age for all alcoholic drinks.
Politicians, such as Simone Borchardt, health policy spokesperson for the conservative Union parliamentary group (CDU), support this potential general ban on all alcoholic beverages until the age of 18. However, the response from other political parties and the general public in Germany remains unclear.
Borchardt emphasizes the need for careful consideration of the practical effects of such a ban. She advocates for a reduction in alcohol consumption among young people through education, prevention, and consistent enforcement of youth protection laws.
Christos Pantazis, health policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, also highlights the problematic nature of alcohol consumption among young people from a medical perspective. He suggests that a general increase in the minimum age for beer and wine could be a sensible step. Pantazis also calls for further efforts to educate young people about the risks and consequences of alcohol consumption.
It's unclear what specific prevention strategies are being considered by the German government beyond education and enforcement of youth protection laws. Some speculate that a comprehensive ban on all alcoholic beverages for young people might be on the table, but this remains uncertain.
As the debate unfolds, the potential impact of raising the minimum age for purchasing all types of alcohol on alcohol-related issues among young people in Germany remains to be seen. The proposed changes are expected to be debated in the Bundestag possibly after summer 2025.
The debate in Germany about revising alcohol purchasing laws, led by politicians like Simone Borchardt, extends beyond just spirits to include beer and wine, advocating for a unified 18-year-old minimum age for all alcoholic beverages. Christos Pantazis, from the SPD parliamentary group, echoes this stance, suggesting an increase in the minimum age for beer and wine as a sensible approach to mitigating health-and-wellness concerns, particularly mental health issues related to alcohol consumption among young people.
