Progress in youth protection is stagnating

Young people between the ages of 14 and 15 try to buy burnt spirits and cigarettes. A total of 1112 test purchases were made in grocery stores, petrol station shops, tobacconists and restaurants. In 265 companies (23.6 percent) the youth protection regulations were not complied with. Compared to the previous year, the rate remained almost the same. The strictest controls were in tobacco shops.

It is noteworthy that alcohol and cigarettes were sold in 49.4 percent of all cases despite ID checks and was only caused by the staff miscalculating the age. According to Dieter Krenmayr, head of the Institute for Addiction Prevention and project manager, technical aids at the checkout could avoid such errors.

State Councilor Michael Lindner (SP) would also welcome the “as soon as possible” implementation of such simplifications.