The Youth Protection Act serves to protect children and young people. For example, children and young people are not allowed to be present in amusement arcades. Brandy and drinks containing brandy or food that contains brandy in more than a small amount may not be given to children and young people and consumption may not be permitted. Other alcoholic beverages (e.g. beer, wine, cider, etc.) may not be given to children and young people under 16 years of age. Consumption must also not be permitted.
People under the age of 18 are not permitted to smoke in restaurants, in public or by persons subject to supervision in public. Tobacco products may not be given to anyone under the age of 18.
They must not be allowed to use solariums.
Failure to comply with the bans shown by way of example represent an administrative offense and affect tradespeople as well as people over the age of 18.
The specialist offices for consumer protection, trade and the environment (VS) are responsible for all violations according to the JuSchG and punish them accordingly. Reports of violations are recorded by the VS offices and the police. This also applies to the punishment of violations if, for example, video stores hand out films to children and young people contrary to the age group or if retailers hand out films or computer games accordingly
to sell.
It is pointed out that the VS offices are not responsible for the protection of minors in the media in the sense of the law on the protection of minors in the media.
