8 Signatures
Petition addressed to: German Bundestag Petitions Committee; European Commission
Important note: This is the expanded version of my petition. Since the first version had technical limitations, I created this upgrade to directly address the German Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) and to integrate the EU-wide perspective.
The German Bundestag and the Federal Government (BMJ) are requested to resolve: To implement a staged adulthood model until the age of 21. We demand protection based on scientific brain development while preserving political rights.
Core Demands:
- Protection at 21: Minimum age for tobacco, crypto-trading, gambling, and hard spirits raised to 21 years.
- Juvenile Law: Uniform application until age 21.
- Against Conscription: 18-year-olds should not be drafted for conscription (Wehrpflicht) while still being in a phase of biological development. Full national duties should only begin at age 21.
- Participation at 18: Voting rights remain at 18 years.
- Special status: Extra protection for 21-25 year olds, when in education or needing more time for a safe orientation.
Why this reform?
We are starting in Germany to create a blueprint for a modern EU-wide adulthood law. We demand laws that reflect the reality of human development!
Reason
Objective: This petition calls for a reform of the legal age of majority, moving away from the rigid 18-year limit towards a phased "protection model" up to age 21.
- Biological Maturity: Neurobiology shows that the brain (especially impulse control) isn't fully developed until age 24. The law must reflect this.
- Educational Reality: Many 18-year-olds are still in high school (Abitur). We need legal protections that respect their status as students.
- Financial Safety: A "protection wall" until age 21 is necessary to prevent young adults from falling into debt traps (e.g., crypto-trading or predatory contracts) before their lives have even truly begun.
Goal: Start the reform in Germany and subsequently advocate for an EU-wide harmonization to protect the next generation of Europeans.
Petition details
Petition started:
03/10/2026
Collection ends:
09/01/2026
Region:
Germany
Topic:
Civil rights
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