The German laws regulating alcohol use and sale are some of the least restrictive in the world. The foremost function of restraints, as far as they exist, is youth protection. In contrast to many other countries, the legislation is not designed to keep young people away from alcohol completely, but rather to teach them an appropriate approach to alcohol consumption.
Video Alcohol laws in Germany
Drinking age
Underage drinking in private is not regulated by a specific legal restriction. However, protection from physical and mental harm is part of parents' general obligation to care for a child. Regarding alcohol purchase and alcohol consumption in public places (such as pubs and restaurants), Germany has three drinking ages regulated by § 9 Jugendschutzgesetz (Protection of Young Persons Act):
§ 9 Alcoholic drinks
(1) The following bans shall apply to restaurants, stores and other points of sale:
1. Distilled spirits as well as drinks or food products containing distilled spirits above negligible level must not be sold to Children and Adolescents.
2. Other alcoholic drinks must not be sold to Children and Adolescents below the age of 16 years.
Nor must their consumption by said persons be tolerated.
2) Sub-Clause 1, No. 2 shall not apply to Adolescents accompanied by a Custodial Person.
- At 14
- minors are allowed to consume and possess undistilled (fermented) alcoholic beverages, such as beer and wine, as long as they are in the company by a Custodial Person. (§ 9 JuSchG (2) Sub-Clause 1, No. 2)
- At 16 - minors are allowed to consume and possess undistilled (fermented) alcoholic beverages, such as beer and wine without their parents or a Custodian. (§ 9 JuSchG (1) 2.)
- At 18 - having become adults, people are allowed access to distilled spirits, beverages containing distilled spirits, and food products containing non-negligible amounts of distilled spirits. (§ 9 JuSchG (1) 1.)
Those limits do not apply to married adolescents. (§ 1 JuSchG (5))
The Youth Protection Act uses the term Branntwein--which was originally the German word for brandy--to refer to all distilled alcohol beverages. Branntwein has been superseded by Weinbrand in modern German to specifically refer to brandy.
Because of moral panic involving alcohol abuse among minors (a 16-year-old boy died after having consumed 45 shots of tequila in a bar in early 2007), some people demanded that the drinking age be raised. Most politicians, however, spoke against that notion, pointing out instead that such abuse was already forbidden according to current laws, which simply needed to be enforced. In Germany and the rest of Europe, alcohol consumption by adolescents is traditional and generally accepted.
Maps Alcohol laws in Germany
Enforcement
Violation of restraints will involve prosecution for vendors who sell alcohol to underage persons and also for bystanders who do not intervene in underage drinking. Although restrictions are nationwide and well-known, some salespersons violate the law at times. Minors themselves can never be prosecuted for alcohol consumption under age. Supermarkets and stores generally check minors for their identity card. The law is less thoroughly enforced in many bars and restaurants, but this can vary by location.
In 2008, the federal state of Lower Saxony started a series of trap purchases, conducted by specially trained police cadets, aged 16 or 17, who pose as customers. In 77% of all tests alcohol was sold illegally in shops, filling stations and kiosks. In 2009, about 3000 trap purchases were carried out in Lower Saxony, in 1327 cases (44%) alcohol was sold without age verification to underage persons. Hundreds of summary proceedings led to administrative fines ranging from 500 to 3000 euros. The standard rate for the illegal sale of one bottle of spirits is 1500 euros. Thus, alcohol trap purchases bring a return of around EUR2 million annually. Other German states, especially Schleswig-Holstein, are considering implementing the Lower Saxony model, but states like Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Baden-Württemberg object to it.
Other legislation
Closing hours
Closing hours for bars and discotheques are not appointed by the state, but rather by towns and cities, generally or for individual locations. In recent years most towns have begun to abolish closing hours.
Licensing laws
The permit is not required if alcohol-free beverages, free samples, prepared food is sold or administered or in connection with a accommodation establishment beverages and prepared food is delivered to residents. Every other establishment which does not apply to this scheme requires a Liquor license (Gaststättenkonzession). In most cases a Liquor license is always then required, when alcoholic beverages are served or sold for consumption in the premises. Furthermore on-licence premises have to place a clearly legible notice with the restrictions of the Protection of Young Persons Act (Jugendschutzgesetz) and the bartender must ensure that alcoholic beverages may not be sold or served to underage or visibly intoxicated persons.
Off-licence
Germany does not require any licenses for the production, wholesale, or retail sale of alcoholic beverages.
Drinking and driving
Germany has strict laws regarding operation of motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol and other psychoactive substances. There are a series of different rules and penalties tied to various blood alcohol levels.
- 0.00% for those under the age of 21 or with less than two years' experience, professional drivers, bus drivers, truck drivers, and drivers transporting passengers commercially;
- 0.03% in conjunction with an accident or traffic offense;
- 0.05% otherwise.
- 0.16% for cyclists, where not in conjunction with any other traffic offense or accident. From 0.16%, cyclists face the same penalties as driving a car at that limit.
Penalties start at a EUR500 fine and one-month license suspension. Above 0.11%, the penalty is a EUR500 fine and the withdrawal of the driver's licence for at least six months, but usually about one year (penalty is set by the court); from 0.16%, reissue of the licence requires a successful Medical Psychological Assessment (MPU), often referre. Violators above 0.11% within ten years of a prior offence above 0.05%, there is a minimum EUR1000 fine and a one-year licence withdrawal; the driver has to successfully pass an MPU and is required to prove to the court that they have been sober for the last twelve months, before they can get their licence back. For repeat offenses, the fine is multiplied by the ordinal of the offence (doubled, tripled, etc.), regardless of the amount by which the driver was over the limit. These minimum penalties are usually exceeded by the German courts. From 0.11%, the courts usually also require the DUI offender to do unpaid community service.
In addition to fines, impaired drivers are generally given points on their Verkehrssünderkartei (literally: "traffic sinner card") which are managed by the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg.
It is however legal to consume alcohol while driving, provided the driver remains under the legal blood alcohol limits.
Alcohol consumption in public
Public parties are prohibited nationally on Good Friday, and regionally on other holidays such as All Saints' Day. Buying alcohol remains possible at these times.
Beyond this, Germany has very few restrictions on alcohol consumption in public. Exceptions are sometimes made in the context of highly controversial football (soccer) matches, where police executives may ban the sale of alcoholic drinks inside stadiums and deny entrance to drunk fans. In 2009, the private railway company Metronom, which operates in parts of Northern Germany, introduced a much-discussed complete ban on alcohol in its trains. Some cities have banned alcohol consumption in certain areas and at certain times, such as Göttingen in Nikolaistraße between midnight and 8:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays, or in Hannover Hauptbahnhof.
Until 2009, it was acceptable for employees in many fields of work (especially construction workers, gardeners and the like) to consume medium quantities of alcohol during work hours. However, occupational safety legislation has since tightened down and has induced a significant decrease of alcohol consumption during work hours.
See also
- Alcohol belts of Europe
- Beer in Germany
- Reinheitsgebot
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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