Overview

• Shortly before the debate, Bavaria’s health minister Judith Gerlach renewed her call to abolish so-called accompanied drinking for youths starting at age 14.
• The Bundesrat is considering a Bavarian motion that seeks to eliminate the legal allowance for alcohol consumption under a guardian’s supervision.
• Under current law, 14- and 15-year-olds may drink beer or wine with a custodial adult present, while purchases and unsupervised consumption are permitted from age 16.
• State health ministers have repeatedly urged a ban since 2024, yet no practical legal change has been enacted.
• Federal figures including minister Nina Warken and drug commissioner Hendrik Streeck support ending the supervised drinking exception.