Protection of Young Persons Act (Germany)

Last updated
JuSchG
Jugendschutzgesetz (Aushang).png
The Protection of Young Persons Act (2009)
Deutscher Bundestag logo.svg The German Bundestag
  • Jugendschutzgesetz (Protection of Young Persons Act)
Territorial extentFlag of Germany.svg Federal Republic of Germany
Passed by Deutscher Bundestag logo.svg The German Bundestag
Passed4 December 1951 [1]
Enacted6 January 1952
Legislative history
Bill title
  • Polizeiverordnung zum Schutze der Jugend from 10 June 1943 (RGB. I S. 349) [2]
  • Gesetz zum Schutze der Jugend in der Öffentlichkeit (JÖSchG) from 4 December 1951 (BGB. I S. 936) [1]
  • Jugendschutzgesetz (JuSchG) from 1 April 2003 (BGB 2003 I S. 476) [3]
Bill citation Protection of Young Persons Act (Jugendschutzgesetz - JuSchG) [Unofficial English translation]
Amended by
Amendment by Article 7, Sub-Clause 2, Act of 27 December 2003 [BGBl. I p. 3007], Amendment by Article 3, Act of 29 December 2003 [BGBl. I p. 3076], Amendment by Article 2, Act of 23 July 2004 [BGBl. I p. 1857, 2600], Amendment by Article 2, Act of 27 February 2007 [BGBl. I p. 179, 251], Amendment by Article 3, Act of 20 July 2007 [BGBl. I, p. 1595], Amendment by Act of 24 June 2008 [BGBl. I, p. 1075], Amendment by Article 3, Act of 31 October 2008 [BGBl. I, p. 2149], Amendment by Article 1, Act of 3 March 2016 (BGBl. I p. 369), Amendment by Article 11, Act of 10 March 2017 (BGBl. I p. 420)
Keywords
Legal drinking age, Alcohol laws, Alcohol laws in Germany, Legal smoking age, Youth rights
Status: In force

The Protection of Young Persons Act (German: Jugendschutzgesetz or JuSchG) is a federal law in Germany to enforce youth protection in public spaces and regulate media consumption by minors. The act does not apply to minors who are married. [4]

Contents

History

General history

On 4 December 1951 the "Law for the Protection of Minors in Public" (Gesetz zum Schutze der Jugend in der Öffentlichkeit (JÖSchG)) was enacted and came into force on 6 January 1952 [1] in West Germany. The law was revised and re-enacted multiple times until in 2003 the law as well as the former "Gesetz über die Verbreitung jugendgefährdender Schriften und Medieninhalte (GjSM)" were merged into the newly legislated "Jugendschutzgesetz (JuschG)" which came into force along with the "Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag" [5] in the federal states of Germany.

A forerunner of the law was the "Lichtspielgesetz" from 1920, [6] which restricted the publication of movies in cinemas without former approval and review by a central commission. During the Nazi regime in Nazi Germany, the highly controversial "Polizeiverordnung zum Schutze der Jugend" (Police Ordinance for the Protection of the Youth) [2] came into force, which introduced punishments for the minor as well as the responsible adult failing to follow the regulation of the law. (RGBl. I S. 349). [7] This law was in effect until the newly formed Federal Republic of Germany enacted the new "Law for the Protection of Minors in Public" in 1951. [8]

Recent changes

  1. display self-inflicted murder or slaughter scenes or
  2. display frontier justice as the only way to enforce the alleged justice

Summary

The Protection of Young Persons Act regulates:

Table summary

Legal sourceImageDescriptionAge limits
<14 years<16 years<18 years
(§4 JuSchG)
Licensed premises
Baren in Tubingen mit neuem Bar-Bereich 2019 001.jpg Remaining in a restaurant or barRestricted1,2Yes (until 12 a.m)2
Remaining in restaurants or bars
  • visiting an event held by the youth welfare
  • while travelling
Yes (Unrestricted)
Nightclubs and similar establishmentsNo
(§5 JuSchG)
Discotheques
Laser show disco (2).jpg Remaining at a discotheques or dancing eventsRestricted2Yes (until 12 a.m.)
Remaining at a discotheque or dancing event
  • visiting an event held by the youth welfare
  • for artistic participation or folklore programmes
Yes (until 10 p.m)Yes (until 12 a.m)
(§6 JuSchG)
Gambling
13-02-27-spielbank-wiesbaden-by-RalfR-093.jpg Remaining in a gambling establishment and participating in gamblingNo
(§7 JuSchG) JuSchG)
Events or premises of undesirable impact on young people
Rotlichviertel Frankfurt Main.JPG Remaining at events or premises with undesirable impact on young peopleNo
(§8 JuSchG)
Places with undesirable impact on young people
Remaining at places with undesirable impact on young peopleNo
(§9 JuSchG)
Alcoholic beverages
Aufsess Bier.JPG Selling, furnishing or permitting consumption of spirits and food products containing spirits above negligible amountsNo
Selling, furnishing or permitting consumption of beer, wine, wine-like beverages or sparkling wine or mixtures of beer, wine, wine-like beverages or sparkling wine and soft drinksNoRestricted3Yes
(§10 JuSchG)
Tobacco products and e-cigarettes
Cigarette smoking.jpg Selling, furnishing or permitting consumption of tobacco products or e-cigarettes and cartridges (with and without nicotine)No
(§11 JuSchG)
Movies
Q's Cinema.jpg Visiting the cinemaYes (until 8 p.m)2,4Yes (until 10 p.m)2,4Yes (until 12 a.m)2,4
(§12 JuSchG)
Computer games and movies
USK 0.svg USK 6.svg USK 12.svg USK 16.svg USK 18.svg
FSK 0.svg FSK 6.svg FSK 12.svg FSK 16.svg FSK 18.svg
Selling or furnishing computer games and moviesYes4
(§13 JuSchG)
Arcades
Daytona Twin.jpg Using electronic arcade machinesYes4

1 Unaccompanied children <16 years only permitted in a restaurant or licensed premises during the time of 5 a.m until 11 p.m. to consume a meal or a have a non alcoholic beverage.
2 No restrictions if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
3 The consumption of beer, wine, wine-like beverages or sparkling wine or mixtures of beer, wine, wine-like beverages or sparkling wine and soft drinks in public is generally permitted for minors aged 16 years or older. However, if the minor is accompanied by his parent or legal guardian the age limit the consume such beverages drops down to 14 years.
4 If specific age-limit for movies/games/arcades are followed.

Enforcement

Police operation in Bensheim, Hesse. Several minors have to dispose of illegally-obtained alcohol. Jugendschutz Alkohol 01.jpg
Police operation in Bensheim, Hesse. Several minors have to dispose of illegally-obtained alcohol.

Contrary to the former "Polizeiverordnung zum Schutze der Jugend", the "Jugendschutzgesetz" does not penalize children and young people but rather the responsible adult failing to enforce the provisions of the law. All licensed premises and operators of events have to place a clearly-legible copy of the act at the premises or place of event. [14]

Making media which is indexed for being considered "harmful to young persons" accessible to minors as well as violating further provisions which are set out in § 15, 21 and 28 JuSchG can be prosecuted by imprisonment up to one year or a fine.

Violations in context of protection of young persons in the public are considered a misdemeanor/regulatory offence, which can be fined up to €50,000. [15]

Gambling in casinos

Gambling in a licensed casino (Spielbank) is additionally to the general prohibition for minors to participate in gambling by the Protection of Young Persons Act, prohibited by state law in all German states. The age limit varies with 13 out of 16 states requiring a minimum age of 18 years to participate in gambling and enter a licensed casino. [16] However Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony are exceptions, as they require a minimum age of 21 years. [17] [18] [19]

Aspects which are not covered by the law

Literature

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Gesetz zum Schutz der Jugend in der Öffentlichkeit – BGB 1951 I p. 936, Bundesanzeiger Verlag GmbH, retrieved 2019-06-05
  2. 1 2 Polizeiverordnung zum Schutze der Jugend (1934) (PDF), Der Reichsminister des Innern, archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-07-21, retrieved 2019-06-05
  3. Jugendschutzgesetz (JuSchG) – BGB 2003 I S. 476 (PDF), Bundesanzeiger GmbH, retrieved 2019-06-05
  4. Jugendschutzgesetz (JuSchG) - § 1, Bundeministerium für Justiz und Verbraucherschutz, retrieved 2019-06-12
  5. Staatsvertrag über den Schutz der Menschenwürde und den Jugendschutz in Rundfunk und Telemedien (Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag – JMStV) in der Fassung des Neunzehnten Staatsvertrages zur Änderung rundfunkrechtlicher Staatsverträge (Neunzehnter Rundfunkänderungsstaatsvertrag) (PDF), Kommission für Jugendmedienschutz, archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-03-30, retrieved 2019-06-05
  6. Lichtspielgesetz 1920, documentArchiv.de, retrieved 2019-06-05
  7. Neufassung der Polizeiverordnung zum Schutze der Jugend vom 9. März 1940 (RGBl. I S. 499); Geltung ab 23. März 1940.
  8. Bruno W. Nikles: Immer komplexer: Die Entwicklung der rechtlichen Regelungen zum Jugendschutz. In: Kind, Jugend, Gesellschaft. Zeitschrift für Jugendschutz. Heft 4, 2002, S. 119–125. [ dead link ] (PDF; 130 kB).
  9. Gesetz zum Schutz vor den Gefahren des Passivrauchens – BGBl. I p. 1595 (PDF), Bundesanzeiger GmbH, retrieved 2019-06-05
  10. Nichtraucherschutz: Zigarettenkauf erst ab 18, Handelsblatt, retrieved 2019-06-05
  11. Alterskontrolle an Zigarettenautomaten, rauch-frei.info, retrieved 2019-06-05
  12. Bundestag verabschiedet Jugendschutzgesetz gegen "Killerspiele", heise.de, retrieved 2019-06-05
  13. Rauchverbot für Minderjährige – Auch E-Zigaretten und E-Shishas erfasst, Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, retrieved 2019-06-05
  14. Jugendschutzgesetz (JuSchG) - § 3, Bundeministerium für Justiz und Verbraucherschutz, retrieved 2019-06-12
  15. Das Jugendschutzgesetz: Kann ein Bußgeld verhängt werden?, VFR Verlag für Rechtsjournalismus GmbH, retrieved 2019-06-12
  16. Casinos in Deutschland: Spielbanken Liste, Öffnungszeiten & Altersbeschränkung, casinoonline.de, retrieved 2019-06-05
  17. Landesglücksspielgesetz (LGlüG) – § 29 Teilnahme am Glücksspiel (1) (PDF), isa-guide.de, archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-12-24, retrieved 2019-06-05
  18. Spielbankordnung (SpielbO) – § 3 Teilnahme am Glücksspiel (PDF), isa-guide.de, archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-02-12, retrieved 2019-06-05
  19. "Spielhallen dürfen künftig erst ab 21 Jahren betreten werden - WELT". www.welt.de. Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  20. Erste Verordnung zum Sprengstoffgesetz (1. SprengV) – § 20, Bundesministerium für Justiz und Verbraucherschutz, retrieved 2019-06-05
  21. Ausgehzeiten – Wie lange dürfen Kinder und Jugendliche abends wegbleiben?, elternimnetz.de, retrieved 2019-06-05
  22. Feuerungsverordnung (FeuV) – § 6 (1), Bayerische Staatskanzlei, retrieved 2019-06-05
  23. REWE verstärkt Jugendschutz beim Alkoholverkauf, Presseportal, retrieved 2019-06-05
  24. Ab wann darf man eigentlich Feuerzeuge kaufen?, Hr. Mayr (for feuerzeug-guide.de), 17 June 2016, retrieved 2019-06-05