Altenburg authorities uncover youth protection violations in the sale of alcohol!

Altenburg authorities uncover youth protection violations in the sale of alcohol!

In Altenburger Land, the authorities have made impressive progress in child protection with the help of test purchases, as the current reporting by lvz.de shows. Consumption of alcohol and nicotine during adolescence can have serious consequences for young people's development. The sale of these products to minors is therefore strictly regulated. The test purchases were carried out with specially trained young people between the ages of 14 and 17, who acted under supervision to check compliance with legal requirements.

A total of 50 points of sale, including supermarkets and gas stations, were tested. The results show that legal provisions were complied with in 38 cases, while violations were found in 12 cases, or 24 percent. For comparison: In the previous year the proportion of violations was 28 percent. The authorities emphasize that regular checks are necessary to detect violations and to raise awareness among traders of the issue.

Rules and penalties in focus

According to the Youth Protection Act (JuSchG), the sale of spirits to those under 18 and beer and wine to those under 16 is prohibited. These regulations are important not only in Germany, but also in Switzerland, where the sale of alcoholic beverages is permitted in the canton of Ticino from the age of 18. Clear regulations apply to private and public sales outlets aimed at protecting the health of young people. In the event of violations, fines of up to 50,000 euros are possible, and dealers must expect further consequences, such as the withdrawal of licenses for repeated violations, as shown on fachanwalt.de can be read.

The test purchases in Altenburger Land are an important step in preventing the abuse of alcohol and tobacco. But monitoring is not only carried out on site. The situation in Switzerland also shows that test purchases are used to raise awareness among sales staff on the front line. In 2023, a total of 9,743 classic test purchases and 271 online test purchases were carried out there. These test nights managed to clearly identify sales rates in specific areas, such as bars and restaurants.

Future outlook and prevention

The authorities in Altenburger Land focus on prevention, dialogue and strengthening the sense of responsibility in retail. Future test purchases are already planned in order to continue to check compliance with child protection laws and to increase social awareness of this issue. Parents, teachers and the general environment also play a crucial role: early education about the dangers of alcohol and tobacco, combined with appropriate services such as advice centers and school programs, can help reduce consumption among young people in the long term.

Overall, it must be noted that the issue of youth protection is not only a concern of the authorities, but also requires responsibility and thinking on the part of the sales outlets and society. Only together can effective protection for the younger generation be guaranteed.