diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index fbfad7fe..e9d12764 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID=
 GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET=
 GOOGLE_REDIRECT_URI=https://pressekonto.com/auth/google/callback
 
-# Abo-/Bestandsschutz-Gate (WS-5). Ist der Schalter aus, darf jeder einreichen
-# (Dev-Default). Für den Launch auf true setzen: Einreichen zur Prüfung erfordert
-# dann ein aktives Abo, einen bezahlten Einzelkauf oder Bestandsschutz
-# (grandfathered). Siehe User::hasActiveBooking().
-BILLING_ENFORCE_BOOKING=false
+# Abo-/Bestandsschutz-Gate (WS-5). Default (auch ohne Env-Key) ist true:
+# Einreichen zur Prüfung erfordert ein aktives Abo, einen bezahlten Einzelkauf
+# oder Bestandsschutz (grandfathered) — siehe User::hasActiveBooking().
+# Nur für lokale Entwicklung bewusst auf false setzen (Gate offen für alle).
+BILLING_ENFORCE_BOOKING=true
diff --git a/config/billing.php b/config/billing.php
index 9997334c..f0021108 100644
--- a/config/billing.php
+++ b/config/billing.php
@@ -8,13 +8,18 @@ return [
     |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     |
     | "Speichern" ist immer frei; "Speichern & zur Prüfung einreichen" ist
-    | hinter eine aktive Buchung gegated. Bis das Tarif-Modul (Phase 9D/9E)
-    | die echte Buchungs-Prüfung liefert, bleibt das Gate deaktiviert —
-    | User::hasActiveBooking() gibt dann für alle true zurück.
+    | hinter eine aktive Buchung gegated (Stripe-Abo, offener Einmalkauf oder
+    | laufende Legacy-Vereinbarung inkl. Bestandsschutz).
+    |
+    | Default bewusst true (safe by default, R1.1 03.07.2026): Ein in
+    | Produktion vergessener Env-Key darf das Gate nicht öffnen — sonst
+    | könnte jeder ohne Zahlung veröffentlichen. Deaktivieren nur explizit
+    | via BILLING_ENFORCE_BOOKING=false; dann gibt User::hasActiveBooking()
+    | für alle true zurück.
     |
     */
 
-    'enforce_booking' => env('BILLING_ENFORCE_BOOKING', false),
+    'enforce_booking' => env('BILLING_ENFORCE_BOOKING', true),
 
     /*
     |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Billing/HasActiveBookingTest.php b/tests/Feature/Billing/HasActiveBookingTest.php
index 1c7e059c..c346c658 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Billing/HasActiveBookingTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Billing/HasActiveBookingTest.php
@@ -73,3 +73,62 @@ test('a cancelled legacy agreement does not count as booking', function () {
 
     expect($user->hasActiveBooking())->toBeFalse();
 });
+
+test('an active legacy agreement outside its current period does not count as booking', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->create();
+
+    UserPaymentOption::factory()->create([
+        'user_id' => $user->id,
+        'payment_option_id' => PaymentOption::factory()->create()->id,
+        'status' => UserPaymentOptionStatus::Active->value,
+        'current_period_start' => now()->subMonths(2)->startOfMonth(),
+        'current_period_end' => now()->subMonths(2)->endOfMonth(),
+        'grandfathered_until' => null,
+        'stripe_subscription_id' => null,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($user->hasActiveBooking())->toBeFalse();
+});
+
+test('a grandfathered agreement with valid protection counts as booking', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->create();
+
+    UserPaymentOption::factory()->create([
+        'user_id' => $user->id,
+        'payment_option_id' => PaymentOption::factory()->create()->id,
+        'status' => UserPaymentOptionStatus::Grandfathered->value,
+        'grandfathered_until' => now()->addYear(),
+        'stripe_subscription_id' => null,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($user->hasActiveBooking())->toBeTrue();
+});
+
+test('a grandfathered agreement with expired protection does not count as booking', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->create();
+
+    UserPaymentOption::factory()->create([
+        'user_id' => $user->id,
+        'payment_option_id' => PaymentOption::factory()->create()->id,
+        'status' => UserPaymentOptionStatus::Grandfathered->value,
+        'grandfathered_until' => now()->subDay(),
+        'stripe_subscription_id' => null,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($user->hasActiveBooking())->toBeFalse();
+});
+
+test('a grandfathered agreement without an end date does not count as booking', function () {
+    // NULL = abgelaufen/ungültig (User-Entscheidung 19.06.2026).
+    $user = User::factory()->create();
+
+    UserPaymentOption::factory()->create([
+        'user_id' => $user->id,
+        'payment_option_id' => PaymentOption::factory()->create()->id,
+        'status' => UserPaymentOptionStatus::Grandfathered->value,
+        'grandfathered_until' => null,
+        'stripe_subscription_id' => null,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($user->hasActiveBooking())->toBeFalse();
+});
diff --git a/tests/Feature/PressReleaseBookingGateTest.php b/tests/Feature/PressReleaseBookingGateTest.php
index 60c7557d..22733bf6 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/PressReleaseBookingGateTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/PressReleaseBookingGateTest.php
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
 <?php
 
+use App\Enums\PressReleaseStatus;
+use App\Enums\UserPaymentOptionStatus;
 use App\Models\Category;
 use App\Models\Company;
 use App\Models\PressRelease;
 use App\Models\SinglePurchase;
 use App\Models\User;
+use App\Models\UserPaymentOption;
+use App\Services\PressRelease\BookingRequiredException;
+use App\Services\PressRelease\PressReleaseService;
 use Database\Seeders\RolesAndPermissionsSeeder;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Queue;
 use Livewire\Volt\Volt as LivewireVolt;
 use Tests\TestCase;
 
@@ -60,6 +66,36 @@ test('with the gate on a paid single purchase unlocks the submission action', fu
         ->assertSee('Zur Prüfung einreichen');
 });
 
+test('submitting without a booking is rejected at the service level', function () {
+    /** @var TestCase $this */
+    config()->set('billing.enforce_booking', true);
+    Queue::fake();
+    ['pr' => $pr] = draftForGate();
+
+    expect(fn () => app(PressReleaseService::class)->submitForReview($pr))
+        ->toThrow(BookingRequiredException::class);
+
+    expect($pr->fresh()->status)->toBe(PressReleaseStatus::Draft);
+});
+
+test('a legacy grandfathered booking allows submitting for review', function () {
+    /** @var TestCase $this */
+    config()->set('billing.enforce_booking', true);
+    Queue::fake();
+    ['customer' => $customer, 'pr' => $pr] = draftForGate();
+
+    UserPaymentOption::factory()->create([
+        'user_id' => $customer->id,
+        'status' => UserPaymentOptionStatus::Grandfathered->value,
+        'grandfathered_until' => now()->addYear(),
+        'stripe_subscription_id' => null,
+    ]);
+
+    app(PressReleaseService::class)->submitForReview($pr);
+
+    expect($pr->fresh()->status)->toBe(PressReleaseStatus::Review);
+});
+
 test('with the gate off the notice never shows', function () {
     /** @var TestCase $this */
     config()->set('billing.enforce_booking', false);