German government leaders have expressed openness to raising the minimum age for purchasing wine and beer from the current 16 to 18.
Alcohol consumption among young people is “highly problematic from a medical point of view,” said Christos Pantazis, health policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, in the Rheinische Post on Monday.
“A general increase in the minimum age for beer and wine could therefore be a sensible step,” he added.
However, such a measure must be “embedded in a credible and comprehensive prevention strategy,” Pantazis continued. He said that “further efforts are needed to educate young people about the risks and consequences, better protective mechanisms and clear restrictions on access.”
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The health policy spokesperson for the conservative Union parliamentary group, Simone Borchardt (CDU), told the newspaper that a general ban on all alcoholic beverages until the age of 18 has “appeal,” but its practical effect must be “carefully weighed.”
The key thing, she said, is “that we significantly reduce consumption among young people overall and take action through education, prevention, and consistent enforcement of youth protection laws.”
The minimum age at which people in Germany can drink and buy alcohol such as beer, wine, and sparkling wine is currently 16.
High-proof alcohol is only permitted from the age of 18.
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