During a youth protection check on 23 April 2025, alcoholic beverages were sold to young people under the age of 16 in four of a total of 13 shops checked within the municipal area. This corresponds to a proportion of around 31 per cent and represents a clear violation of the Youth Protection Act.
The inspection was carried out by the trade office of the municipality of Rüdersdorf near Berlin with the support of two young mystery shoppers (13 and 15 years old). The aim was to check compliance with legal age requirements for the sale of alcoholic beverages. The test purchases took place unannounced in various sales outlets. They are carried out at regular intervals by the Trade Licensing Office.
The sale of alcohol to young people under the age of 16 is prohibited by law, as its consumption harbours considerable health and developmental risks. The organism of adolescents reacts particularly sensitively to alcoholic substances, which can have long-term physical and psychological consequences. Every year, over 10,000 young people are hospitalised for alcohol poisoning across Germany. Long-term harmful consequences such as high blood pressure, liver damage and mental illness have been documented.
The results of the inspection campaign make it clear that regular inspections of sales outlets are necessary in order to raise awareness of the issue of youth protection and to recognise violations of the law at an early stage. Appropriate regulatory measures are taken against the businesses concerned.
During the control measure, an incident occurred in which the young mystery shoppers were verbally assaulted by an uninvolved person. The situation was quickly brought under control by the trade office. This behaviour towards committed young people who make a contribution to the common good is expressly disapproved of.
The municipality of Rüdersdorf bei Berlin emphasises the importance of such controls for the protection of young people and calls on them to contact the trade office directly if they have any questions or uncertainties regarding the implementation of youth protection.