Germany’s national drug and addiction commissioner, Hendrik Streeck of the CDU party, is advocating for stricter regulations surrounding alcohol consumption, particularly for young people. In a recent statement to Ippen-Media, Streeck emphasized the need to eliminate the practice of supervised drinking for individuals under the age of 14, citing concerns about potential harm to children and adolescents.
Beyond addressing the supervised drinking aspect, Streeck stressed the importance of fostering a broader societal shift in attitudes towards alcohol. This would involve increased public awareness campaigns focused on educating about the risks associated with alcohol use and making it more challenging to access. Potential measures being considered include relocating alcoholic beverages away from checkout counters in supermarkets and restricting alcohol sales at gas stations.
While acknowledging positive trends indicating that young people are consuming less alcohol, Streeck underscored the ongoing requirement for increased public health education. He suggested moving beyond traditional methods such as posters and informational brochures, proposing the introduction of a dedicated health curriculum in schools.
The proposed health curriculum could encompass a range of topics, extending beyond alcohol to include general wellbeing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques and fever measurement. Streeck believes such a program would significantly contribute to preventative healthcare and enhance the health literacy of children.