Germany's ban on the sale of nitrous oxide takes effect

People under the age of 18 in Germany can no longer possess or purchase nitrous oxide.

Also known as laughing gas, the substance has been increasingly circulating in Germany as a party drug.

A new law came into effect on Sunday that bans the purchase and possession of nitrous oxide by minors, while online sales and purchases from self-service machines are banned in general.

Consumption of nitrous oxide is associated with high health risks, especially for those under 18. These range from unconsciousness to permanent damage to the nervous system. Consumers inhale the substance, which is also used in medicine as a mild anaesthetic against anxiety and pain, using balloons.

Nitrous oxide may still be used in quantities of less than eight grams for professional applications such as cream dispensers.

Strict new rules now also apply to the chemicals gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO). These are known as knockout drops, and can be added to drinks as date rape drugs.

The police union welcomed the new law, saying nitrous oxide use had increased sharply, especially in party settings, partly because it was available without regulation.

At the same time, the union said a nationwide public awareness campaign is needed. It also questioned whether the fill quantity permitted is low enough. This corresponds to roughly the volume of a balloon and could easily be misused for consumption, it said.

The German Medical Association advocates limiting the amount that can be dispensed and also called for a ban on all forms of advertising and sponsoring.

The upper house of the parliament, the Bundesrat, approved the law in December. It had already been passed by the lower house, the Bundestag.