Young people still have to go home an hour earlier than their peers in other federal states

Upper Austria remains “unique” when it comes to protecting minors. What had only been a formality since the final subcommittee meeting on May 24th this year was decided yesterday in the state parliament. While in the other eight federal states young people under the age of 14 are allowed to go out until 11 p.m. and between the ages of 14 and 16 until 1 a.m., in Upper Austria they still have to be home one hour earlier.

Youth Protection State Councilor Michael Lindner (SPÖ) wanted to align the going-out times for young people with those of the other federal states because there was “no objective argument” for maintaining the current regulation. The Greens and Neos would also have been in favor of harmonization. The project failed because of the votes of the ÖVP and FPÖ, who had always spoken out against longer nights out for young people. According to Provincial Councilor Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (VP), there is a clear majority in Upper Austria against longer going out times. The previous regulation was “appropriate and correct”.

Newly anchored in the Upper Austrian Youth Protection Act, with the consent of all parties except Neos, is the ban on the purchase, consumption and possession of tobacco-free nicotine pouches and smokable CBD products for minors.

“Sunset clause” remains

Both products have become significantly more popular among young people in recent years. Like tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) is found in hemp plants, but unlike THC, which is classified as an addictive substance, it is not “psychoactive” and does not cause intoxication. In addition to plant flowers, smokable CBD products also include liquids for e-cigarettes and “vaporizers”. The ban is justified in the accompanying resolution, among other things, by the combustion process that is harmful to health and occurs when consumed in the form of “joints”.

The ban on tobacco-free nicotine pouches is a response to market developments and presents them as a “modern or even healthy alternative” to tobacco products. Although the pouches would not contain the carcinogenic substances found in tobacco, they would pose a potential risk in the form of nausea and even nicotine poisoning.
The so-called “sunset clause”, which sets the duration of the law’s validity for a period of five years, is also retained. (fep)

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