Health Ministers of the German States Unite Behind Proposal to Reform Juvenile Protection Act
Germany’s health ministers have voiced their support for a reform of the country’s juvenile protection act, with a particular focus on the abolition of the concept of “accompanied drinking” for individuals aged 14 and above. This was announced by the Ministry of Health of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on Thursday, following a conference of health ministers in Weimar.
According to State Secretary Sylvia Grimm, the consumption of alcohol by minors poses significant health risks. Studies have shown that the adolescent brain is more susceptible to damage from alcohol than that of adults. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, an unusually high number of minors were hospitalized in 2022 for alcohol-related issues.
Statistics reveal that 6.9 percent of girls and 12.4 percent of boys between the ages of 12 and 17 regularly consume alcohol. The health ministers’ conference has called on the federal government to strengthen the juvenile protection act and increase preventive measures.