The youth and the matter of alcohol at carnival City Council Bonn demands: No beer for young people

Bonn · City Council Bonn and the police appeal to shops, not to sell beer, wine or schnapps to underage drinkers. The Suchthilfe conducts conversations with parents of heavily alcoholized children and adolescents.

 Alkohol und Jugendliche - Bonn will dagegen präventiv vorgehen FOTO: ROLAND KOHLS

Alkohol und Jugendliche - Bonn will dagegen präventiv vorgehen FOTO: ROLAND KOHLS

Foto: Roland Kohls

Weiberfastnacht is approaching and thus a time in which the police, the city and the "Bonner Event Sprinter" have a lot to do - in the fight against alcohol abuse among children and young people. Even if, according to Norbert Tannert of the police station in the city centre, Bonn is a relatively quiet city in this respect, one does not sit on ones hands.

The efforts prior and during the Karnevalstage involved as three-pillar model „prevention, control and selected offers“. The employees of the public order office check in advance whether shops, kiosks and petrol stations have signs indicating that no alcohol is being sold to young people under the age of 16.

„In addition, we appeal to the sense of responsibility of business people," said Carsten Sperling, department head for administrative offences in the city order service: "They should not only think about their income. In addition, parents should also talk to their children about alcohol consumption. Carnival is not a free ride to ignore responsibilities.“

Alcohol can be swapped water and warm food

The outpatient addiction help "Update" from Caritasverband and Diakonisches Werk offers practical prevention on carnival days. For the 13th time already, the institution is offering the "Event Sprinter", where young people can find contact persons and help with hypothermia, test their blood alcohol level and exchange alcohol for water and hot food.

In 2018, 54 litres of alcohol and 95 cigarettes were sold there, so the offer is used - but a hot meal can also be provided free of charge. "We are not spoilsports, but accompany young people so that they gethome safe and sound in the evening," said facility manager Marion Ammelung.

This is what the sprinter stands for on Weiberfastnacht on the banks of the Rhine in Beuel and Rosenmontag in Heerstraße near Marienschule as well as on the carnival weekend with the trains in Tannenbusch and Ippendorf. They cannot completely prevent young people from ending up in hospital with alcohol poisoning.

The next day, update employees hold clarifying talks with them in the presence of their parents. The police check young people "who are extremely intoxicated", said Tannert, but also car drivers. Drunken drivers continue to be pulled out of the traffic.

On Weiberfastnacht (Women's Carnival Night), the Youth Welfare Office invites people to the marquee on Münsterplatz: Anafter-school party for 14- to 17-year-olds is organised there, which has always attracted around 1000 young people in recent years, according to department head Peter Bröxkes. They can celebrate there without alcohol or smoking. The party, sponsored by Haribo, starts at 1 p.m., and young people also receive drinks vouchers foranentrance fee of three Euro.

(Original text: Stefan Knopp / Translation: Mareike Graepel)

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