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City of Cologne takes action: three kiosks closed due to danger to young people!
The city of Cologne is closing kiosks in Mülheim and Kalk due to violations of youth protection and trade law. Follow strict controls.
City of Cologne takes action: three kiosks closed due to danger to young people!
In Cologne, the clash between laws and reality is once again visible at the kiosk. As part of strict controls, the city has closed several kiosks because they stubbornly ignored the applicable laws for the sale of tobacco and alcohol. The districts of Kalk and Mülheim were particularly affected, where four operators had to finally close their doors. That reports Radio Cologne.
These drastic measures can be attributed to repeated violations. Among other things, it was the sale of tobacco and alcoholic beverages to underage buyers and the lack of the necessary permits for the sale of electronic cigarettes that spelled doom for the kiosks. “The public order office has set clear limits and is planning ongoing controls in collaboration with the customs and environmental authorities,” explains a city spokesman. Even after the official closure, illegal substances continued to be sold in a kiosk in Kalk - from the trunk of a car!
Multiple violations of the law
The list of offenses is long: In addition to sales to young people, duty-unpaid and unauthorized e-cigarettes were also confiscated Express reported. These shocking discoveries are not only a problem for the operators themselves, but also for society, which wants to uphold the responsible use of such products. What is particularly sad is the fact that in the affected kiosks, underage test buyers were repeatedly provided with tobacco products and illegal snus products.
Particularly explosive: During a check in February 2025, an employee of an affected kiosk even tried to escape with illegal goods and injured a law enforcement officer in the process. This shows how serious the situation is and how far legal awareness is in some cases.
Strict regulations regarding the protection of minors
The violations are not only frivolous, they also result in severe penalties. The protection of minors is a clear matter. For example, no tobacco products may be given to children and young people. And drinks with a medium alcohol content may only be sold to young people aged 14 and over when accompanied by a person with legal guardianship, according to the provisions of the Youth Protection Act pretend.
The kiosk operators in Cologne now need to reorient themselves. The city has made it clear that it is no longer willing to tolerate violations of current laws. Anyone who violates the Youth Protection Act will face fines of up to 50,000 euros, and the possibility of running a business in the future will be severely restricted.
The essence of these controls is clear: it is up to every kiosk operator to show a good hand in complying with the regulations in order to secure their own existence in the long term and at the same time live up to their responsibility towards the young generation.