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Cologne hits hard: Four kiosks closed due to child protection!
The city of Cologne closed four kiosks in Mülheim due to violations of the Youth Protection Act and announced severe penalties.
Cologne hits hard: Four kiosks closed due to child protection!
In the heart of Cologne, the city administration has taken strict measures against illegal sales practices in several kiosks. Four of these sales outlets were permanently closed because they repeatedly violated the Youth Protection Act and regulations on the sale of tobacco and alcohol. The aim of these drastic measures is to send a clear signal to traders that laws in the sale of food, tobacco and alcohol must be taken seriously. This reports Express.
The affected kiosks are located in the districts of Kalk and Mülheim. Here, minors were repeatedly offered tobacco products, alcohol and even banned snus products. Operating electronic cigarettes without a valid tax stamp or EU approval is another serious violation that has been uncovered. Such violations are not an isolated case: The city of Cologne has been carrying out regular test purchases throughout Cologne since November 2024, which made it clear how big the problem is in the industry.
Test purchases uncover grievances
The reasons for these measures are not arbitrary. With the approaching start of the carnival session on November 11th. the pressure on traders increased. Above all, young people are used as buyers to check compliance with the Youth Protection Act. For example, a 17-year-old trainee was not allowed to buy an alcoholic mixed drink at a kiosk until his identity was verified, while a short time later he was able to do so at another kiosk without such a test. Ralf Mayer, the head of the public order office, admits that he expected negative results. He makes it clear that compliance with youth protection in retail is essential in order to avoid dangerous situations for young people. Intensive controls are carried out to ensure that no alcoholic beverages or tobacco products are sold to minors, which was clearly confirmed in the test purchases - hard alcohol and tobacco were illegally sold to young people at 39 of the 50 sales outlets checked.
Penalties for unreliable providers
The consequences for the operators are severe: business ban proceedings have already been initiated against three people responsible. These individuals must now demonstrate that they are following lawful practices before being permitted to operate a business. Fines of up to 50,000 euros can be imposed for violations of the Youth Protection Act - a serious threat to the economic existence of the operators concerned. The sale of illegal goods from a vehicle or backyard in Kalk also makes it clear that the problems are deep-rooted.
The city of Cologne is determined to take action against such violations and is planning further measures. In the retail sector, clear rules must be followed: alcohol may not be sold to anyone under the age of 16, and when purchasing from the age of 16, companies are required to always ask for ID. This shows that many operators do not take this responsibility seriously, which is loud Shopfitting can have fatal consequences.
No matter how small or inconspicuous the kiosk may be, the rules of the Youth Protection Act also apply here, and the city of Cologne is proving that it is prepared to take tough action to ensure the safety of its citizens.