Can I give my 15-year-old child a beer or a cigarette at home, with the family?
In short
For cigarettes, no: giving tobacco products to anyone under 18 is banned, even at home. For alcohol, the law bans selling, serving and offering any alcohol to anyone under 16, and spirits to anyone under 18. Even so, do not give your child alcohol.
Video transcript
A family meal. A relative hands your 15-year-old son a beer and a cigarette. Not allowed: Giving tobacco products to anyone under 18 is banned, at home too. The law bans offering any alcohol to anyone under 16. The right way: Don't give a child cigarettes, e-cigarettes or alcohol. Offer them a soft drink instead. Consequences (Level 1 offence): Fine: Set by the court; Prison: None; If repeated: Penalty can be heavier.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- You cannot give any alcoholic drink, including beer and wine, to anyone under 16.
- You cannot give spirits (rakı, whisky, vodka, etc.) to anyone under 18.
- The law bans selling, serving and offering alcohol. Official sources explain this mainly for shops, cafés and wedding halls. They do not clearly say what applies at home. Even so, do not give your child alcohol.
- Selling tobacco and e-cigarettes to anyone under 18 is banned. Giving a tobacco product to a child is also banned; this rule applies at home too.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Giving a tobacco product to a child, or selling, serving or offering alcohol against the rules, can lead to a fine. Since 1 September 2026, this offence is level 1; the court decides the amount. If it happens again, the penalty can be heavier.
Legal basis:FOD Volksgezondheid – Tabak: wat zegt de wet
- Court / prison
- The law used to give 8 days – 3 months in prison (up to 6 months for producers and importers). Since 1 September 2026, these offences are level 1; there is no prison at level 1.
Legal basis:Wet 24.1.1977, art. 13-14 + Strafwetboek Boek I, art. 78 §1, 8°
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- The school or youth services may look into the family's situation
- Starting alcohol and nicotine at a young age increases the risk of lasting addiction
Why does this rule exist?
A developing brain is much more vulnerable to addiction. The rule protects children from alcohol and nicotine addiction at a young age (law of 24 January 1977).
Where can you go?
- Violence helplineFlanders 1712 (weekdays 09–18) · Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030 (partner violence), 103 (child abuse) · Emergency 112
- Child and family servicesFlanders: Kind en Gezin / Opgroeien · Wallonia and Brussels: ONE
- School guidance centreThe school's CLB / centre PMS
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 7 / 7 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 7 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
16 yaş altına bira ve şarap dahil hiçbir alkol verilemez
Wet 24 januari 1977, art. 6 §6 (Justel) - Found in an official source
18 yaş altına sert içki verilemez
Wet 24 januari 1977, art. 6 §6 - Corrected according to the source
Kanun alkolü satmayı, servis etmeyi ve ikram etmeyi yasaklar; resmî kaynaklar bunu satıcılar için anlatır, ev için açık hüküm yok
Vlaanderen.be – Regels voor verkoop van alcohol; Wet 24.01.1977 art. 6 §6 - Found in an official source
18 yaş altına tütün ve e-sigara satmak yasak; özel kişi olarak da çocuğa tütün ürünü vermek yasak
FOD Volksgezondheid – Tabak: wat zegt de wet (bijgewerkt 04/02/2026) - Corrected according to the source
Çocuğa tütün ürünü vermek: 208–24.000 € para cezası
FOD Volksgezondheid – Tabak: wat zegt de wet - Found in an official source
24 Ocak 1977 tarihli kanun
Wet van 24 januari 1977 betreffende de bescherming van de gezondheid van de gebruikers op het stuk van de voedingsmiddelen en andere producten - Corrected according to the source
Eski ceza: satıcı/ikram eden için 8 gün–3 ay (üretici/ithalatçı 8 gün–6 ay); 1.9.2026'dan beri seviye 1
Wet 24.1.1977, art. 13-14 + Strafwetboek Boek I, art. 78 §1, 8°
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?