It’s easier for children to buy alcohol and cigarettes while wearing a mask.
Zurich City Police regularly carry out test purchases with kids to check shops are keeping to the law.
During the latest tests, underage customers were served in almost half the shops – that’s significantly higher than before the pandemic.
The police believe masks are making it more difficult to determine the age of purchasers and are urging staff to check ID more carefully.
Citizenship remains one of the hardest on continent
The Council of States has rejected a popular initiative that would have let foreigners apply for citizenship after just five years, closing the parliamentary door on the biggest attempt in years to loosen one of Europe's strictest naturalisation regimes
More gun crime in Annemasse
Seven people are in French police custody after a shooting Monday evening at a drug-dealing spot in Ville-la-Grand, on the edge of Annemasse
Geneva land ownership change
The canton of Geneva is set to become the sole owner of the land beneath Stade de Genève, buying out a parcel held by federal railways CFF for CHF 15.84 million
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SNB interest rate stable
The Swiss National Bank has kept its key interest rate at zero, sticking with a policy that has held since June 2025 even as oil-driven inflation ticks higher
Phone company going to court
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