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Alcohol checks at Belgian Christmas markets
Christmas markets across Belgium will carry out extra police checks to prevent alcohol abuse among people under the age of 16, said Paul Van den Meerssche of the FPS Public Health.
As secondary school students across the country get ready to finish their exams later this week, the Public Health department is concerned that many of them, including minors, will celebrate with drinks at Christmas markets.
"We are especially worried about the jenever stands and other booths where hard liquor is sold," Van den Meerssche told Het Nieuwblad. "We have seen this in the past, where the operators of drink stands at Christmas markets sell liquor to minors. And that’s something we really cannot tolerate."
The auditors of the FPS Public Health warn Christmas market stall holders that they risk hefty fines for selling alcohol to minors. In Belgium, the drinking age for beer and wine is 16, but for spirits, it's 18.
Comments
Fortunately alcohol served on Christmas markets visited by students and lots of adolescents is usually some sort of a hot punch , alcohol contents basically evaporating and ... attracting the visiting crowd wondering "what smells so good". Some shops serve it free on entry to their premises.
Great time to celebrate, but in sensible moderation.
Targeted control? Wow, what a concept! Rather different to certain Flemish communes putting an amnesty in place.
@Mikak1300GT - So THAT's what it's all about, is it, Mr. Farage's Gallbladder, undigested war-time gibberish? Leave Christmas markets be, wherever you are, I implore... ( wine might turn to vinegar). As long as you are around to put the record straight on any other matter, we're OK. Thank you again!