Dortmund Prohibits the Sale of Nitrous Oxide to Minors
Dortmund, Germany – The city council of Dortmund has unanimously approved a ban on the sale of nitrous oxide to children and young people, a spokesperson for the city announced recently. The ban is in line with a proposal put forward by the city administration.
**Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) had announced in the summer of 2024 that he intended to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide. However, no law for a uniform ban was passed in the Bundestag, although Lauterbach expressed confidence in its passage in November 2024.
"The abuse of nitrous oxide, especially among young people, is a worrying development that we cannot ignore. That’s why we in Dortmund are taking the initiative," said Mayor Thomas Westphal. Violations of the ban will be punishable by a fine of up to 1,000 euros.
The ban is based on warnings from health experts about the consequences of nitrous oxide consumption. Inhalation of the gas poses both acute and long-term health risks. These include perceptual disturbances, numbness, coordination difficulties, cardiovascular damage, dizziness, unconsciousness, and long-term nerve damage.
The nervous system and mental development of minors are not yet fully mature, the reasoning for the ban states. They are particularly at risk of underestimating the risks of consumption.
The Dortmund police have welcomed the ban on nitrous oxide. The police department noted that consumption among young adults has increased in recent years, including in road traffic. There have been repeated traffic accidents where there is suspicion that nitrous oxide consumption was a contributing factor. "It is a completely underestimated danger," said Police President Gregor Lange.
Since a nationwide solution for a partial ban on the party drug nitrous oxide is no longer realistic before the election, other cities are also considering a ban for minors. In Hamburg, the sale to children and young people has been prohibited since the beginning of the year. According to Interior Senator Andy Grote (SPD), excessive consumption had become a real problem, especially in the St. Pauli district. Violations can result in fines of up to 5,000 euros.
The city of Osnabrück also passed a sales ban for young people on January 1. In the Lower Saxony city, the reason was also the health consequences that party drug consumption can have. According to the administration, these range from unconsciousness and brain damage to frostbite and lung tears during consumption, to nerve damage and spinal cord damage with regular consumption. In neighboring countries such as the Netherlands and Great Britain, the sale and possession of nitrous oxide are prohibited.
