No more beer for 16-year-olds - government drug commissioner calls for stricter rules

Created: 2022-02-11, 2:30 p.m

By: Monja Stolz

The drug commissioner Burkhard Blienert calls for a realignment of drug policy: stricter regulations for the drinking age, controlled distribution of cannabis

Kassel – In Germany, 16-year-olds can already buy beer, wine and sparkling wine and drink it in public.

Compared to other countries, this is very early.

However, that could change now.

The federal government's drug commissioner, Burkhard Blienert, is in favor of a new regulation: "For me, there are many medical arguments in favor of raising the legal age for beer, wine and sparkling wine to 18," said the SPD politician to the newspaper Die Welt.

Accompanied drinking is also a no-go for Blienert: “We will see what is politically possible.

In any case, what is not really possible is so-called accompanied drinking.” According to the Youth Protection Act, young people from the age of 14 are allowed to drink beer, wine or sparkling wine in the presence of a person who has custody.

“We have to gradually move from a free rampant growth to a regulated, controlled use of tobacco and alcohol.

The availability is too low-threshold.” Blienert also described it as paradoxical “that you can buy tobacco of all things around the clock from vending machines almost everywhere.

We also need a well-founded debate on this."

Alcohol consumption is normal for many young people: "The availability is too low a threshold," says the federal government's drug commissioner.

© Monkey Business 2/Imago

"Reorientation of drug policy": Less advertising for alcohol, tobacco and Co.

The drug commissioner spoke out to the world against the advertising of addictive substances.

It is “necessary to clearly limit the advertising opportunities for alcohol and tobacco.

I also think advertising for gambling is inappropriate.” Here, however, “the responsibility does not lie with the federal government, but with the states”.

According to Blienert, a "reorientation of drug policy" is needed.

The focus should be “health, not criminal law”.

The realignment will probably also include the planned controlled sale of cannabis*.

At the time of enforcement, Blienert was unable to provide any precise information: "We need a broad exchange in society, politics and science for this.

That's why I'm not telling you when the shops will open." However, the drug commissioner was able to assure that this would happen during this legislative period: "There is a great willingness among the coalition partners.

We have already started the preparations.” The government does not want to follow the Dutch model.

(Monja Stolz)