City of Cologne closes four kiosks due to serious violations of the law!

City of Cologne closes four kiosks due to serious violations of the law!

In Cologne, the public order office is sounding the alarm: After serious violations of the Youth Protection Act and tobacco and alcohol legislation were discovered in recent months, the authorities closed and sealed four kiosks in the Kalk and Mülheim districts. This consistent measure is intended to show that there is no legal vacuum for illegal business in the city. That's how he reports Cologne City Gazette, that all four kiosks were caught multiple times selling tobacco, alcohol and other alcoholic products to minors.

The city of Cologne's control measures are the result of large-scale, intensive tests that have been carried out since November 2024. The public order office not only carries out regular inspections, but also test purchases, where violations of age restrictions are “shockingly high”. There were also serious problems with the closed kiosks: During a check in February 2025, an employee of one of the kiosks tried to escape with illegal goods and resisted. In addition, an operator asked a young test buyer to conceal her identity and harassed her in doing so.

Strict controls and high fines

The city of Cologne has set itself the goal of further increasing the control pressure. Electronic cigarettes without a valid tax stamp and products not approved for EU sales were seized in all four closed kiosks. Such violations have far-reaching consequences: operators face fines of up to 50,000 euros. These high penalties are not only intended to serve as a deterrent, but also to help permanently stop illegal structures. The Press release from the city of Cologne clearly emphasizes that three responsible people are already involved in coercive, fine and warning proceedings.

Another problem that alarms the authorities is the lack of training of sales staff. Employees are often not sufficiently prepared to heed the provisions of the Youth Protection Act. This stipulates that proof of age must be clearly checked and imposes a strict ban on the sale of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to children and young people. The Lekkerland Magazine informs that in the event of violations, employees must refuse to hand in if their age cannot be verified.

Future of kiosks in Cologne

The outlook for the affected kiosks is anything but rosy. Since the operators are considered repeat offenders, a permanent operating ban cannot be ruled out. According to the well-founded investigations and the clear signal from the city, this could mean the end for numerous kiosks if no measures are taken to ensure commercial and legal security. The controls will continue in order to uncover any straw man constructions and to counteract further violations.

Overall, it is clear that the issue of youth protection and compliance with applicable laws has top priority in Cologne - both for the authorities and for those affected who have to comply with the rules. A good hand in checking and enforcing legal regulations is required here. The urgent question of how to effectively protect young shoppers remains central to the future development of these kiosk businesses.