Test purchases reveal alarming youth protection deficiencies in retail!

Test purchases reveal alarming youth protection deficiencies in retail!

As part of a monitoring project, test purchases were carried out in the cities of Backnang, Murrhardt and Weissach to check compliance with youth protection regulations in retail. A total of 25 sales outlets were visited, and serious violations of the Youth Protection Act were found in 9 stores. The results show that in 13 cases, young mystery shoppers were able to purchase products that were legally forbidden to them. In seven cases, alcohol containing spirits such as schnapps and liqueur was offered, while in two cases tobacco products were sold to minors. In addition, four further violations were documented due to inadequate supervisory obligations. The Stuttgarter Nachrichten report on the upcoming fine proceedings against the affected traders and their employees.

In Baden-Württemberg there are strict regulations regarding the sale of alcohol and tobacco. People under 18 are not allowed to purchase spirits or cigarettes. Beer or wine may be purchased from the age of 16, although mixed drinks containing spirits such as alcopops are still prohibited. If violations occur, sellers face severe fines: selling spirits to young people can be punished with up to 3,000 euros, while selling tobacco products to minors can be punished with up to 1,000 euros.

Violations and consequences

The results of the surveillance trade make it clear that there remains a serious problem in dealing with the protection of minors. In particular, the authorities are concerned that in many cases, alcohol and tobacco are available to minors among the test purchases. These findings are not isolated; In Hamburg, for example, similar violations have been identified since the introduction of alcohol test purchases in 2013. An evaluation here showed that the Youth Protection Act was violated in two thirds of the test purchases. In contrast, the proportion of repeat purchases was only around a fifth, which seems to indicate some improvement, but also points to the existing problems. The consumption of alcohol and tobacco among young people can lead to serious health damage, as the Hamburg authority highlights in its report.

The Youth Protection Act stipulates that the supply of alcohol to children is completely prohibited and is regulated for young people. At the same time, the sale of tobacco products is only permitted if you are of legal age. For this reason, Hamburg has introduced a package of measures to reduce alcohol and tobacco abuse among minors. However, despite existing laws, minors continue to have relative ease in obtaining banned substances, highlighting the need for further action.

Outlook and appeal

The police plan to continue the test purchases in order to further strengthen responsibility in the area of ​​child protection. Retailers are appealed to take the current regulations seriously, because the protection of minors begins at the shop counter. The introduction of test purchases helps to monitor compliance with the law more strictly and prevent alcohol and tobacco sales to minors. In this context, it is crucial that salespeople in sales outlets receive comprehensive training in order to comply with legal requirements. A joint effort from politicians, police and retailers is required to protect the health and well-being of young people and promote responsible shopping. Further information on the measures to comply with the Youth Protection Act can be found on the website of the Hamburg Authority.