Cabinet agrees on end of accompanied drinking for 14-year-olds

Education Minister Karin Prien had already driven the reform forward in the political debate. She argues that the previous compromise between the parental right to raise children and youth protection must be rebalanced. The line now presented is oriented toward positions that were brought into the debate in particular from Bavaria and other Union-led states.

In effect, the draft represents a tightening compared to the status quo. While 14-year-olds were previously able to consume alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, or sparkling wine in public when accompanied by their legal guardians, this is to be uniformly prohibited in future. For older adolescents between 16 and 18, the existing rules remain in place: they may continue to drink beer, wine, or sparkling wine in public, while hard liquors such as schnapps remain off-limits for them.

What is to change concretely

The proposal now goes into the parliamentary process. In the Bundestag, it is up to the coalition factions of the CDU and CSU, as well as other factions, to deliberate on the draft and amend it if necessary. Only after a resolution by parliament could the new regulation come into force. Observers expect an in-depth expert and political debate.

Critics of the draft see the previous exemption as an expression of parental educational responsibility and point to cultural customs, such as clinking glasses together as a family. Supporters of the tightening, on the other hand, refer to studies showing that early onset of alcohol consumption increases the risk of later addiction.

Arguments from supporters and critics

The draft law is part of a series of health policy measures with which the federal government wants to reduce the consumption of addictive substances among young people. These also include prevention and education programs in schools, as well as measures against smoking and excessive media consumption.

According to government circles, the current draft does not yet contain any definitive provisions regarding the exact timetable and possible transition periods. These are to be developed in the upcoming consultations with the states and professional associations.

It is important to distinguish this from the private sphere: In future, alcohol consumption in one's own apartment or in the family circle is to remain possible, provided no third parties are affected. The new regulation explicitly targets public spaces.

Next steps in the process

In political Berlin, the step is widely regarded as a signal of a stricter addiction policy. How the legislative process develops in the Bundestag now depends on the further coordination process.