Syrup particles

A syrup after which syrup particles are named.

In Switzerland, the term syrup article refers to a kind of legal article at cantonal level, which serves alcohol prevention and in which providers of alcoholic beverages are obliged to offer cheaper non-alcoholic beverages.

Although the name sounds casual - it refers to syrup in the sense of a harmless drink for children - it is used both in official language and in specialist literature, so it is a terminus technicus . For example, both the Federal Office of Public Health and the commentary on Bernese administrative law (“For health reasons, Bernese law also contains the so-called syrup article”) use the term.

Legal basis

According to Swiss law, the cantons are responsible for all areas for which the Confederation has not expressly declared itself responsible (Art. 3 BV ). Due to the lack of federal competence, the cantons are therefore responsible for the field of alcohol prevention.

Due to the cantonal competence, the measures applied in the area of ​​alcohol prevention are correspondingly diverse and differ from canton to canton. However, there are some similarities, such as the syrup particles in particular.

Design

The syrup article obliges hosts to offer a certain number of non-alcoholic drinks cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic drink with the same quantity. On the one hand, price dumping in the area of ​​alcohol sales should generally be reduced. On the other hand, consumers  - especially young people  - should not be tempted to consume alcohol just for cost reasons.

The specific design varies from canton to canton - some cantons have no such regulation at all. However, the obligation to offer three cheaper non-alcoholic drinks is widespread. For example, Article 28 of the Bernese Hospitality Act (GGG) stipulates:

"Alcoholic hospitality businesses have to offer at least three non-alcoholic drinks cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic drink in the same quantity."

Overview of the cantonal regulations

The following is an overview of the applicable rules, broken down by cantons:

Content of the syrup particles by canton

Canton	regulation	Number of non-alcoholic drinks	Remarks
Aargau		a selection
Appenzell Innerrhoden		a selection
Appenzell Ausserrhoden		at least 3
Bern		at least 3
Basel-Country		at least 2
Basel city		at least 3
Freiburg		at least 3
Geneva		at least 3	Reference to non-alcoholic offer
Glarus
Grisons		a selection
law		at least 3
Lucerne		at least 3
Neuchâtel		at least 3	Reference to non-alcoholic offer
Nidwalden		a selection
Obwalden		a selection
St. Gallen		at least 3
Schaffhausen		a selection
Solothurn		at least 3
Schwyz
Thurgau
Ticino		at least 3
Uri		a selection
Vaud		at least 3	Reference to non-alcoholic offer
Valais		a selection
train
Zurich		a selection

(As of June 8, 2017; Source: Federal Office of Public Health )

bibliography

• Markus Müller / Reto Feller (ed.): Bern administrative law. Stämpfli, Bern 2008, ISBN 978-3-7272-9819-6 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Syrup Article. In: Website of the Federal Office of Public Health. May 5, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2017 . 
2. ^ Müller / Feller: Bernese administrative law. 2008, p. 713.

Please note the information on legal issues!