Germany mulls increasing drinking age for beer and wine to 18

The German coalition government has announced its intention to curb what it sees as a high level of alcohol consumption in the federal republic. Several proposals are being weighed up, including raising the drinking age for beer and wine to 18. 

German government to take action against youth alcohol consumption

The German government is taking aim at alcohol consumption among those under the age of 18, and has promised “concrete measures” to bring it down, according to a report in the Rheinische Post. 

Currently, although you need to be 18 to buy “hard liquor”, young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are allowed to buy and drink beer, wine and sparkling wine in public, unless they are visibly drunk, while young people between the ages of 14 and 16 are allowed to consume alcohol in public if they are accompanied by a legal guardian - what is known as “supervised drinking”.

Drinking age could be raised, and supervised drinking banned

All that could be about to change, however, with Federal Health Minister Nina Warken telling the Rheinische Post that she is in favour of banning supervised drinking. Christos Pantazis, a spokesperson for the SPD, also told the newspaper that the government was considering raising the legal drinking age for wine and beer. 

He described alcohol consumption among young people as “highly problematic” from a medical perspective and said that “a general increase in the minimum age for beer and wine could therefore be a sensible step”. 

Simone Borchardt, health policy spokesperson for the CDU added: “The protection of children and young people must be a priority - especially when it comes to the dangers of alcohol.” She said that education provided by the family wasn’t enough: “Rather, we need clear and binding rules that protect young people from long-term harm.” 

The proposal will likely be discussed in the autumn when the Bundestag returns from the summer break.