Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday
Government plans to end 'accompanied drinking' for young minors, German intelligence agencies granted expanded ability to respond amid growing hybrid threats, people across Europe witness solar eclipse and more news on Thursday, August 13th.
Germany plans to end 'accompained drinking' for 14- and 15-year-olds, aiming to protect young people from health and social effects of alcohol consumption. The minimum drinking age will remain 16 for beer, wine, and champagne, but rise to 18 for spirits and other stronger drinks. This change requires parliamentary approval before taking effect.
Germany's GKV association praised the move as a 'strong and important' boost to public health, citing a 2024 study showing alcohol consumption among children and young people has significantly decreased since 2004.
Spectators across Germany gathered to watch a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday evening, with the phenomenon visible in most of Europe, North America, and West Africa. Eclipse glasses sold out quickly at optician stores, leading some to use creative methods to view the eclipse, such as using cheese graters or DIY pin-hole projectors.
In a major intelligence reform, Germany's government granted the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) broader powers to respond to hybrid threats like cyberattacks, espionage, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns. The agencies would be able to take certain operational actions themselves in defined circumstances, such as disrupting foreign IT infrastructure during a cyberattack or neutralizing dangerous materials.
Germany recorded its highest-ever number of overnight stays in the first half of 2026, with accommodation providers reporting a record-breaking 223.8 million stays. Domestic tourism dominated, with 187.4 million overnight stays, while international travel saw a slight increase of 0.5 percent from the previous year.
The Brandenburg police conducted a week-long crackdown, issuing almost 28,600 speeding violations across 367 locations within the region. Officers measured the speeds of around 535,000 vehicles, with several drivers clocking extraordinarily high speeds, including one at 143 km/h in an 80 km/h zone and another at 101 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. The campaign aims to improve road safety, as speeding remains a leading cause of serious accidents in Brandenburg.
Written by urgent.news from The Local Germany's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
