Drinking and Smoking in Germany: A Look at Streeck's Suggestions
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In a bold move, Hendrik Streeck has reiterated his stance on eliminating the practice of "supervised drinking" in Germany, even for teens aged 14 and up. He warns that alcohol remains damaging, regardless of the presence of adults. Abolishing this rule might further reduce alcohol consumption.
Streeck believes that a general increase in the drinking age isn't the way forward. Instead, he advocates for prevention and education as the better approach.
- Hendrik Streeck
- Tobacco
- Germany
Areas to Consider
Current Policies
In Germany, the legal drinking age for beer and wine is 16, and 18 for spirits and hard liquor. Public drinking is even allowed in some contexts, like Berlin. Meanwhile, the sale of tobacco to minors is prohibited, but smoking accessories can sometimes be sold. There's concern about the rise of e-cigarette use among minors, with worries about dual use and early initiation into smoking and alcohol consumption. The Protection of Young Persons Act (JuSchG) regulates minors' access to certain establishments but does not comprehensively address tobacco accessories.
Proposed Changes
Recent search results don’t reveal specific proposals for significant changes to alcohol or tobacco policies for minors in Germany. However, the increased trend of vaping and concerns about early substance use might prompt discussions for policy adjustments in the future.
Views of Hendrik Streeck
There's no specific information available on Streeck's views regarding alcohol, tobacco, or supervised drinking policies for minors in Germany. Streeck is a renowned infectious disease expert, with a focus on HIV and COVID-19.
Federal Government's Position
The German Federal Government doesn't seem to have a specific stance on new policies for alcohol, tobacco, or supervised drinking for minors. Their focus appears to be on broader health initiatives and public health campaigns aimed at reducing substance use among youth.
- Hendrik Streeck, while primarily known for his work on infectious diseases like HIV and COVID-19, has expressed a strong view about the alcohol and tobacco problem in Germany.
- The current policies in Germany allow for a lower drinking age for beer and wine at 16, and 18 for spirits and hard liquor, while the sale of tobacco to minors is prohibited, but smoking accessories can sometimes be sold.
- Streeck believes in prevention and education as a better approach to tackling the alcohol and tobacco problems in Germany, rather than increasing the drinking age.
- Despite the concerns about the rise of e-cigarette use among minors and the lack of comprehensive regulation of tobacco accessories under the Protection of Young Persons Act (JuSchG), there is currently no specific information available on Streeck's views regarding policy changes for alcohol, tobacco, or supervised drinking for minors in Germany, nor any specific proposals for significant changes from the German Federal Government.
