German alcohol laws
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The German laws regulating alcohol use and sale are some of the least restrictive ones in the world. The foremost function of restraints, as far as they exist, is youth protection. In contrast to many other states (e.g. the United States), the legislation is not designed to keep young people away from alcohol completely, but rather to teach them an appropriate way of alcohol consumption.
Germany has three drinking ages. Children are allowed to consume and possess undistilled alcoholic beverages, such as beer and wine, from ages 14-16, as long as they are in the company of their parents. Undistilled drinks are allowed without a parent beginning at the age of 16, although distilled liquor is prohibited until the age of 18.
Because of moral panic involving alcohol abuse among minors (a 16-year-old boy died after having consumed 52 shots of tequila in a bar in early 2007), some Germans began to demand that the drinking age be raised. Most politicians, however, spoke against that notion, pointing out instead that such abuse already was forbidden according to current laws, which simply needed to be enforced. In Germany and the rest of Europe, unlike the United States, alcohol consumption by adolescents is traditional and generally accepted.
Closing hours for bars and discotheques are not appointed by the state, but rather by towns and cities, generally or for individual locations. In recent years, however, most towns have begun to abolish closing hours. Public parties are prohibited nationally on Good Friday and Volkstrauertag (People's Memorial Day), regionally on All Saints' Day. Buying alcohol in supermarkets or fuelling stations remains possible at these times.
