Can anyone tell me what the rules are re: non-drinking teenagers in restaurants & bars?
Is it early doors for under 18`s?
In UK, I *think* (I really don`t know) it`s generally an 8pm kick-out time for under 18`s (or under 16`s?) but what are the rules in Switzerland (VD)?
If it is a bar/restaurant is it up until 10pm?
Does anyone know?
Advice gratefully received.

As far as I know there are no fix rules. Beer and wine can be consumed by over 16s here. Here the responsibility falls more with the parents...

Believe it or not, some Swiss cities/towns actually have curfews for children although I think that the cutoff is 16 rather than 18.

Wow... things have changes since I was a kid. I know that this is not the case in Zurich. Perhaps snoopy you could tell us which ones do have a curfew? It would be good if we could compile a list here for people with a similar query in future.

Ok, here are the ones I know of. Naturally, to what extent they are enforced is a different matter...

Bad Zurzach (AG) under 15 to be home by 2300
La Neuveville (BE) under 16 to be home by 2200
Geneva (GE) under 16 to be home by 2200 (used to be 2100)
Ins (BE) school-age to be home by 2300
Interlaken (BE) school-age to be home by 2200
Rubigen (BE) under 14 to be home by 2300
Urtenen-Schönbühl (BE) school-age to be home by 2200
Sutz-Lattringen (BE) school-age to be home by 2200
Nidau (BE) school-age to be home by 2200
Täuffelen (BE) school-age to be home by 2100
Lausanne (VD) under 15 to be home by 2200 (2300 in Summer)
Nyon (VD) under 16 to be home by 2200

Surprising to see Geneva and Lausanne in there (and I can imagine that it is not enforced actively). The canton of Bern is where most towns/villages have curfews. Many make an exception if the child is on the way home from an event such as a sports event.

There are certainly others that I don't know about. It would be interesting if other EFers can add to the list.

This is incredible. Are there rules concerning cracks in pavements too?

Never knew this can exists!

Where can one find a list of this for the whole of Switzerland?

Thanks!

Haven't you ever seen the police bans demanding ID and then putting the under-age kids in the back of the van for a ride home and stern words with the parents?

This happens in Zurich

I think it started during the drug crack-down. The idea being to limit exposure of youngsters to the drug culture.

Funny... surely there must be some document somewhere stipulating this...knowing the swiss

Yeah, kids have to be home here by 2200 too (under 16)
But as far as I know, non- alcoholic drinking in bars & restaurants is OK with accompanying parents.
(as late as you like)

Thanks to all for taking the time to respond to this. I consider myself duly informed.

Not sure I agree with you. Given the federal structure of government, there seems to be no need for any "higher" authority to know what rules the local authorities impose.

That's certainly not right. Under 18's generally are not allowed in bars, but IIRC, the law says no under 16 - no alcohol though, until 18. Restaurants, licensed or not, have no kick out time enforced by law.

There's no federal and little cantonal regulation about going out. I've found some information about Lausanne (which is the biggest city of Vaud):

I doubt that all rules are regularly enforced, but teenagers aged 12-15 and younger need written permission from their guardian to frequent restaurants and bars without him. With permission they're allowed to stay in these venues until 20:00. Some bars and the night clubs don't allow guests under 18.

After 22:00, teenagers under 18 are only allowed outside to walk home.

Sources:

http://www.lausannefamille.ch/N11733...s-publics.html
http://www.lausannefamille.ch/N117341/l-alcool.html
http://www.lausannefamille.ch/N11733...nocturnes.html


Alcohol on the other hand is regulated mostly at the federal level. Beer and wine are sold to 16 years old and older. Liquor and alcopops to 18+ years old. This applies to both restaurants and shops. Ticino is stricter and sells all alcohol only to 18+.

You got around in your early years!