The question of how old is appropriate for young people to be allowed to legally consume alcohol in Europe and especially in Germany has been hotly debated by many different governments for many years. The main purpose of these German laws is to protect teenagers from heavy alcohol consumption, which, if left unchecked, can lead to a situation where these young people have no control over their senses; these laws do not limit them to drinking alcohol, but rather help them to have an appropriate approach to its consumption. The law that regulates alcohol consumption by setting the legal minimum age is known as the Youth Protection Act (JuSchG). It was adopted by the German government in 2002 with the aim of reducing the likelihood of excessive alcohol consumption leading to other crimes in the country. If you are under the age of 18 in Germany, you must present a passport, identity card or driving licence to prove that you are of legal age. In addition, when buying alcohol, you must provide proof of age, regardless of the alcohol content. In Germany, beer is about the same price as water, and drinking alcohol in public is both common and legal. But has the ease with which people can consume cheap alcohol created a harmful drinking culture? Due to the moral panic caused by excessive alcohol consumption among minors (a 16-year-old boy died after consuming 45 shots of tequila in a bar in early 2007)[3], some people demanded that the age of alcohol consumption be raised. However, most politicians have spoken out against this idea, pointing out instead that such use is already prohibited by the current law, which only needs to be enforced. [4] In Germany and the rest of Europe, alcohol consumption by young people is traditional and generally recognised.
[5] Chemically, alcohol is an organic compound formed when grains, vegetables or fruits are allowed to ferment. Medically, alcohol is classified as a sedative (as opposed to a stimulant like caffeine or a hallucinogen like psilocybin) with a variety of physiological effects. Most of these effects involve slowing down or hindering bodily functions. Alcohol, for example, inhibits motor functions and slows reaction times. The more you drink, the slower and more clumsy they become. Similarly, alcohol also hinders the brain`s communication pathways. While a drink or two can make a person looser and more relaxed, continued use leads to symptoms such as slurred speech, cloudy thinking, and poor decision-making. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to additional complications, including vomiting, memory impairment, drowsiness to the point of “fainting” and, in extreme cases, alcohol intoxication. Finally, long-term excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to serious physiological conditions, including (but not limited to) pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, liver disease, hyperglycemia, cancer, and various neurological disorders.
As noted, some people, as well as other politicians in the country, have called for an increase in the legal age for the purchase and consumption of alcohol in the country. The German government sees many reasons for the proposal to raise the age of alcohol consumption from 16 to 18. Children under the age of 16 are allowed to drink in the presence of their parents or guardians, which is still not good practice, even for the health of these adolescents. He also suggested having some restrictions on advertising for alcohol, tobacco and gambling, explaining that this could influence young minds and hinder their growth towards development. @Carrie, I totally agree. There is a strong difference between the United States and Germany when it comes to the age of alcohol consumption and the laws associated with it. “But for young people, drinking alcohol is part of their lifestyle, especially on weekends and holidays,” she added. Alcohol is consumed “too thoughtlessly and too carelessly”.
If you are under the age of 18, you must present a passport, identity card or driver`s license to prove that you are of legal age. In addition, when buying alcohol, you must provide proof of age, regardless of the alcohol content. According to the Youth Protection Act, beer, wine and wine-like beverages cannot be sold to children and youth under the age of 16. The minimum legal drinking age for spirits is 18 years. Germany| In response to a minor Green Party interpellation on February 18, 2020, the government said it saw no reason to raise the legal drinking age to 18. This article was written by Monesh Mehndiratta, a law student at Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun. The article talks about the culture of the drink and its legality in Germany. It provides for the legal age for alcohol consumption and associated laws. The minimum legal age for alcohol consumption in Germany is 16, although children must wait until they are 18 to drink spirits. This five-year difference from the United States, where the age of alcohol consumption is 21, appears to be significant. Does the cheap price of alcohol contribute to alcohol problems? Whenever we talk about the legal minimum age for alcohol consumption, there are 2 aspects related to this.
These are: The study recently published by the Lancet indicates that lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity caused nearly half of cancer deaths in 2019. Risk factors vary worldwide depending on the environmental and economic situation. […] This is a great article on more information and a comparison of German and US alcohol laws. […] In Germany, alcohol can be purchased at grocery stores, gas stations and even newsstands. It can be consumed in restaurants, cafes and snack bars, and it is not uncommon for people to drink in parks, on the street and even on public transport. As parents, it is their duty to educate and sensitize them to the proper and rational use of alcohol and its consumption, but even the state can impose certain restrictions to prevent these young people from consuming alcohol excessively. This is why some countries have set a minimum age for alcohol consumption. Germany gives 3 categories in this regard, which have been discussed above. But despite age restrictions, there have been illegal purchases and deliveries of alcohol and beer, especially to minors.
The government must address this issue as soon as possible and strengthen accountability. At present, the only liability a person faces is a civil penalty. There must be changes in the law over time and an increase in a particular crime to maintain harmony in society. So what are some of the alcohol laws you`ve seen in other countries? What is the age of alcohol consumption in which you live? We`d love to know in the comments below. Although the consumption of alcohol by minors is not explicitly regulated in Germany, the Youth Protection Act is protected by the Youth Protection Act, which, in addition to other activities aimed at adults, also covers alcohol, media, gambling and tobacco. In Germany, with the age of alcohol consumption in 3 stages, this seems to allow people to have the appropriate approach to alcohol consumption because it is not so taboo and taboo. Even with the high costs associated with getting a driver`s license and driving a car, coupled with the abundance of public transportation, alcohol-related accidents in Germany appear to be lower than in the United States. In addition, in some counties in some states, it is illegal to buy alcohol, regardless of age or time of day. Another way to think about it. Put someone in a room with a table. There`s a button on the table, and you say to that person, “I`m going to leave the room for 5 minutes, but whatever you do, don`t press the button.”