German Government’s Addiction and Drug Commissioner, Hendrik Streeck, has expressed concerns over the German public’s problematic relationship with alcohol and tobacco. “We have an alcohol and tobacco problem in Germany” Streeck told the Welt, “and it’s something we need to talk about.” He attributed the issue to a deeply ingrained culture of drinking and a slow societal change.
Streeck reiterated his demand to abolish the concept of “accompanied drinking” in Germany, where children as young as 14 can consume alcohol with their parents. “Drinking alcohol does not become less harmful just because adults are present” he emphasized. Abolishing the rule could lead to a reduction in alcohol consumption, he argued.
The commissioner does not support a debate on increasing the minimum age for alcohol consumption, as he believes it is not a viable solution in Germany. He cited the Prohibition era in the United States in the 1920s as an example of the negative consequences of a restrictive approach, which led to a surge in the black market and many people poisoning themselves with bootlegged and poorly produced alcohol. Instead, Streeck advocates for a prevention and education-focused approach to address the issue.