Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

Germany plans to eliminate accompanied drinking for 14- and 15-year-olds, asserting the move will safeguard young individuals from the adverse health and social repercussions of alcohol consumption. The legal provision, currently permitting minors to purchase and consume alcohol in the presence of their parents, will necessitate parliamentary approval before becoming effective.

The German government's move aligns with a 2024 study indicating alarmingly high underage alcohol consumption rates, with 6.9 percent of girls and 12.4 percent of boys aged 12 to 17 partaking in weekly drinking.

In a rare celestial event, German citizens congregated in various locations to observe a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday evening. While Europe, North America, and West Africa witnessed the spectacle, Germany's cities saw a surge in demand for eclipse glasses, with many resorting to makeshift viewing methods in their absence. The Perseid meteor shower added to the evening's celestial allure, prompting some onlookers to continue their vigil into the night.

Germany's intelligence services face a significant overhaul as the government approves plans to expand their powers, making them more capable of addressing hybrid threats such as cyberattacks, espionage, and disinformation campaigns. The reforms grant the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) broader capabilities, including the authority to independently take certain operational actions in specific scenarios.

However, critics caution that these measures could erode the distinct separation between intelligence services and police functions, a concern echoed by the Left Party.

Germany witnessed a record-breaking year thus far, with accommodation providers reporting an unprecedented number of overnight stays in the first half of 2026. Hotels, guesthouses, holiday rentals, and campsites registered 223.8 million overnight stays, narrowly exceeding the previous high set in 2025. Domestic tourists continue to dominate the market, accounting for 187.4 million overnight stays, while international visitor numbers saw a modest 0.5 percent increase from the previous year.