Youth protection and funfairs: What you need to know

The funfair weekend starts in Bocholt on Friday. In keeping with this, the city of Bocholt points out the regulations on alcohol and youth protection.

The funfair days are just around the corner and most children and young people are getting in the mood for the funfair with great anticipation. However, the colourful hustle and bustle is not just about fun.

The exuberant atmosphere on funfair days often leads to alcohol abuse, especially among young people. The consequences of alcohol abuse among young people are alcohol poisoning with the associated serious health consequences.

Against this background, parents are particularly called upon to talk to their children about the consumption of alcohol and the dangers of addiction, because children and young people should know how alcohol works and how harmful it can be. They are often unaware that alcohol consumption can cause considerable damage to their health as they are still growing up.

To shake young people awake in this respect, the city of Bocholt is using the youth protection posters of the "Bocholt rüttelt wach!" campaign designed by Bocholt schoolchildren for the Bocholt funfair and warns with the motifs "Voll versagt!... klar, fährt sich's besser!" and "Du entscheidest... not the alcohol!" from the consequences of abusive alcohol consumption.

The Youth Protection Act stipulates that alcoholic beverages may not be sold to children and young people under the age of 16, nor may they be allowed to consume them. For other alcoholic beverages, such as spirits, the following even applies: only from the age of 18. Even an adult who passes on alcoholic drinks to minors in his clique is liable to prosecution.

Adults, publicans and tradespeople are called upon to ensure compliance with the legal youth protection regulations in order to protect young people.

The Youth and Family Department also calls on all parents to fulfil their duty of supervision during the fair and to observe the provisions of the Youth Protection Act.

The Youth Protection Act at a glance:

Young people
• under the age of 16 are not permitted to purchase and consume alcohol.
  
  
• The purchase and consumption of wine, sparkling wine and beer is permitted
from
• the age of 16.
  
  
Other
• alcoholic beverages such as spirits, liqueurs and alcopops as well as all tobacco products, cannabis, e-cigarettes and e-shishas are only permitted from the age of 18.
• The sale and distribution to minors is a punishable offence.
  
  
• Young people under the age of 16 are only permitted in restaurants and at dance events if accompanied by a person with parental authority or guardian. 16- and 17-year-olds are permitted to be present unaccompanied until midnight.

During the days of the funfair, the consumption of cannabis is generally prohibited on the funfair site and in its vicinity by general decree of the city of Bocholt. Further information and a map of the prohibition zone can be found at www.bocholt.de/kirmes-sicherheit.