Why is the legal drinking age in Germany so young?

Answer 1

The drinking age is a part of the in Germany called "Youth protection act" (Jugendschutzgesetz). It sets all kind of minimum ages for example: the age to enter discos, use gambling machines, buy alcohol and tobacco.

By this a law a minor aged 16 and over has some more rights then teens and children. At 16 you may enter a restaurant without your parents until 11 a.m, you can buy and consume fermented alcoholic bavereages (beer, wine and cider), you can enter a disco until 12 a.m, you can buy and rent videos and video-games rated "FSK/USK 16".

These right let minors have some ownclearance. But until a person reaches the age of 18 the parents are still "resposible" and can set their own "rules".

However, i think the biggest difference is that the German culture is verry lax on alcohol. It is not seen as something bad or evil. German youth rather learns how to control alcohol consumption. And thats why it often works better rhan in other countries.