Legal drinking age

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Map showing the legal age for buying alcohol around the World

The legal drinking age refers to the earliest age in a country that a person is legally allowed to buy or drink alcoholic beverages. The legal drinking age varies around the world, from countries in Europe where people may consume alcoholic beverages from a young age, or generally 16 or 17, to states in India where the drinking age is as high as 25. Some Islamic nations prohibit alcohol consumption by Muslims, or by anyone.

Contents

[edit] Africa and Middle East

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Country / Region De jure Notes
Drinking age Purchase age
Algeria 18[1]
Botswana 16[1]
Cameroon 18[1] 21[1]
Egypt 18 for beer. 21 for wine and spirits.[1][2]
Eritrea 16[1]
Ethiopia 18[1]
Ghana 18[3]
Kenya 18[1]
Libya 22[1]
Malawi 18[3]
Mauritius none[1]
Morocco none[4] 16[4]
Namibia 18[1]
Niger 18[1]
Nigeria 18[1]
Saudi Arabia illegal[1]
South Africa 18[1]
Swaziland none[1] 18[1]
Sudan illegal[1]
Uganda 18[1]
Zambia 16[1]
Zimbabwe 16[1]
Lebanon 18[1]
Cyprus 18[3]

[edit] Americas

 This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (May 2009)
Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Argentina 18[1]
Bahamas 18[1]
Belize 18[1]
Bolivia 18[1]
Brazil 18[1]
Canada 18[1] in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec. Underage drinking by 16-17 year olds under parental supervision is permitted in Manitoba. Underage drinking by minors, under parental supervision in a residence or a temporary residence, is permitted in Alberta [5] and New Brunswick.
19[1] in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut. Underage drinking under parental supervision is permitted at home in the provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario[6] and Saskatchewan.[7] (To be clear, in British Columbia, only children of the supervising parents are allowed underage drinking, not any other minors or guests. Consumption of alcohol in another person's home is subject to other laws.)[8]
Chile 18[1]
Colombia 18[1]
Costa Rica 18[1]
Cuba none[1] 16 [1]
Dominican Republic 18[1]
Ecuador 18[1]
El Salvador 18[1]
Guatemala 18[1]
Haiti 16[1]
Honduras 18[9]
Jamaica 16[1]
Mexico 18[1] 18[1]
Panama 18[1]
Paraguay 20[1]
Peru 18[1]
Puerto Rico 18[1]
United States
(50 States and D.C.)		 21[1] The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 states that revenue will be withheld from states that allow the purchase of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21. Prior to the effective date of that Act, the drinking age varied from state to state. Some states do not allow those under the legal drinking age to be present in liquor stores or in bars (usually, the difference between a bar and a restaurant is whether food is being served). Contrary to popular belief, since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, few states specifically prohibit minors' and young adults' consumption of alcohol in private settings. As of January 1, 2007, 14 states and the District of Columbia ban underage consumption outright, 19 states do not specifically ban underage consumption, and an additional 17 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage consumption laws.
Federal law explicitly provides for religious, medical, employment and private club possession exceptions; as of 2005, 31 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage possession laws. However, non-alcoholic beer in many (but not all) states, some including California, Idaho, Texas, and Maryland, is considered legal for minors (those under the age of 21).[10]

By a judge's ruling, South Carolina appears to currently allow the possession and consumption of alcohol by those 18-20 years of age.[11]
Uruguay 18[1]
Venezuela 18[1]

[edit] Asia

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Afghanistan illegal[1]
Armenia none
Azerbaijan 18[1]
Brunei illegal[1]
Bangladesh illegal[12]
Cambodia none[13]
People's Republic of China 18[1] Introduced in January 2006.[14]
Georgia none[1] 16[1]
Hong Kong 18[1]
India 18–25 (varies between states).[1] Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Gujarat, Manipur and Mizoram.[15] However, minors generally have easy access to alcohol.
Indonesia none[1] 16[1]
Iran illegal[16]
Iraq 18[1]
Jordan 18[17]
Japan 20[1]
Kuwait illegal[18]
Macau none[1] none[1][19]
Malaysia none[1] 18[1]
Mongolia 18[20]
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) 17[1] Alcoholic beverages are served on Saturdays.
Pakistan Illegal (21 for non-Muslims)[1]
Philippines none [1] 18 [21]
Saudi Arabia illegal Forbidden by Sharia (Islamic Law, with qur'anic and other traditional legal inspirations). Offenders are typically punished with lashes.
Singapore 18[1]
South Korea (Republic of Korea) 18[1] Anyone who will be over 18 by the end of the year can drink and purchase alcohol.
Sri Lanka 18[1] Drinking laws in Sri Lanka aren't followed through thoroughly and minors are able to purchase alcohol from supermarkets, pubs and clubs easily.
Taiwan 18[22]
  • It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to consume alcohol.[23]
  • Parents, guardians, and others taking care of people under 18 shall prohibit underage drinking,[24] or risk administrative fines of 10000 to 50000 new Taiwan dollars when the situations are serious.[25]
  • One shall not supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 6.[26] A violator shall be administratively fined 3000 to 15000 new Taiwan dollars.[27]
Tajikstan 18[1]
Thailand none 18[1]
Turkmenistan 18[1]
United Arab Emirates - Expatriate, non-Muslim residents may request a liquor permit to purchase alcoholic beverages; it is illegal for such holders to provide drinks to others.[28]
Vietnam none
Yemen illegal

[edit] Europe

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Albania none
Austria 16, 18 for distilled beverages in some states Upper Austria, Salzburg and Tirol prohibit the consumption of distilled beverages below the age of 18, while Carinthia and Styria prohibit drinks containing more than 12% or 14% of alcohol respectively in this age bracket. Carinthia additionally requires adolescents to maintain a blood alcohol level below 0.05%, while Upper Austria prohibits "excessive consumption", and Salzburg prohibits consumption that would result in a state of intoxication. Prohibitions in Vienna, Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg apply only to alcohol consumption in public. Vienna additionally prohibits the consumption of alcohol in schools under the age of 18.[29]
Belarus 18
Belgium (Bars etc.) 16 / 18 for distilled & strong spirits (>22%) none / 18 for distilled & strong spirits (>22%)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 16 18
Bulgaria 18 Usually not asked for an ID.
Croatia 18
Cyprus 17
Czech Republic 18[30]
Denmark none 16 (Stores) 18 (Bars) To buy alcohol in stores one must be 16, however some bars have a limit at 18. There is no drinking age, only a purchase age, and an adult can buy alcohol for a minor. By tradition youths are privately allowed to drink alcohol after their confirmation.[31] If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID-card and they are identified having sold alcohol to an underage, they are fined. A national ID-card, obtained in the local town hall, can serve as age verification.[32] This card is rarely used though, since a passport or moped-licence can be used.[33]
Estonia 18
Finland 18 (up to 22%), 20 (all alcohol) 18 (up to 22% ABV in stores and all alcohol in bars), 20 (all alcohol); alcohol may not be sold to intoxicated customers.
France 16; for drinking strong liquor on premises: 18[34] It is not customary to request identification, unless the person is manifestly of inappropriate age. It is, however, illegal to sell alcohol to a minor under 16.[35] It is illegal for someone under the age of 16 to be at a bar without an adult, even if drinking a non-alcoholic drink.
Germany 16 16, 18 for distilled beverages[36] Possession or consumption of alcohol by minors is not outlawed, but it is illegal to sell them alcohol or let them drink in public below the respective drinking age. "Normal" alcoholic beverages (not distilled beverages) may be consumed by minors in public when in presence of a legal guardian; drinking in private is not controlled. The restrictions on distilled beverages apply also to mixed drinks containing them.[36]
Gibraltar none 16
Greece none 17
Hungary 18 18
Iceland 20[37] Possession or consumption of alcohol by minors is not an offence but supplying them with alcohol is. However, law allows alcohol possessed by a minor to be confiscated.
Republic of Ireland 18 in public, none in private [38] 18[38]
Italy none none, 16 (limit to get served alcoholic drinks in public places) South Tyrol prohibits both serving and purchase for people under the age of 16 and to everybody in a state of inebriation[39]. Milan has enforced a ban on under 16's purchasing alcohol. Heavy fines are given to propieters and parents if a transaction is completed.
Liechtenstein 16 for wine, beer and cider
18 for spirits & spirit-based beverages. eg. alcopops		 Wine, beer and ciders as well as some other party drinks which may not contain spirits can be purchased by the age of 16. Spirits as well as alcopops can be sold only to people above the age of 18.[40]
Luxembourg 16
Latvia 18
Lithuania 18
Macedonia 18
Malta none 17
Moldova No minimum age (beer),
18 (wine and spirits)
Montenegro none 18
Netherlands 16 in pubs or cafes, drinking in public is not allowed. 16 (under 15% ABV),
18 (15% ABV and over)
Norway none[41] 18 (under 22% ABV),
20 (over 22% ABV)		 Drinking age is often erroneously perceived by the public as being 18 even though minors consuming alcohol are never held criminally responsible.
Poland none 18 Usually asked for an ID, but not very strongly when with adult.
Portugal none 16
Romania none 18 Wine and beer are not considerd alcoholic drinks, so may be bought at an early age.
Russia 18 21
Serbia none 18
Slovakia 18 18
Slovenia none 18
Spain 18
Sweden 18 (bars and restaurants) 20 (Systembolaget[42] stores)

18 (beer with 2.25%–3.5% ABV in normal shops)

 See also alcohol in Sweden. Bars/clubs often voluntarily choose to have higher age limits than 18, commonly 20 or 23.
Switzerland 16-18 (varies from canton to canton)
Turkey 18 Some new laws were introduced since 2005, by the AK Parti government.[43][44][45][46]

A minimum of 16 years of age are allowed to drink non-distilled beverages while being accompanied by parents.[citation needed] Most shop keepers in Turkey don't check ID, nor give a second thought before selling to under aged persons.
Ukraine 18[1]
United Kingdom

5 (in private)

It is illegal for anyone under 18 to drink alcohol on licensed premises (e.g. a pub or restaurant) unless they are over 16, having a meal with their drink, and the are accompanied by an adult (someone the age of 18 or over).children aged 5 and above may legally drink alcohol elsewhere.

16 (Liqueur chocolates)
18 Otherwise

 Children under 5 must not be given alcohol unless under medical supervision or in an emergency (Children and Young Persons Act 1933, Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937).[47][48]

The minimum age for the purchase of alcohol is 18. People aged 16 and 17 may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises (pubs/bars/restaurants) with a table meal. In England & Wales, an adult must order.[49] In Scotland, no adult is required to be present.[50][51] The legal age for the purchase of alcohol from an off-licence (store/supermarket) is 18 (16 for liqueur chocolates).

Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is illegal in Scotland, England and Wales. This means acting as the young person's agent.[52][53]

[edit] Oceania

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
American Samoa (U.S.) 18
Australia 18 Liquor laws vary by state. See Alcohol laws of Australia for more details.
Fiji 18 Was 21 from 2006-2009. Lowered to 18 on May 19, 2009.[54]
Guam (U.S.) 18
New Zealand None 18 laws prohibiting alcohol purchase by any person under 18 years of age, to actually drink alcohol (without the element of purchasing) is NOT currently an offence. Usually any person under 18 without a guardian who is found consuming alcohol in a public place will have the drink removed and if intoxicated will be returned to their home, or be held by police until sober. On 8 November 2006 the New Zealand Parliament rejected a bill to return the legal age to 20[55] after significant lobbying by the Keepit18 group[56] and others.
Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.) 21
Palau 21
Papua New Guinea 18
Samoa 16
Solomon Islands none
Tonga 18
Tokelau 29
Vanuatu 18

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw "Minimum Drinking and Purchasing Age Laws". International Center for Alcohol Policies. February 2007. http://www.icap.org/PolicyIssues/YoungPeoplesDrnking/AgeLawsTable/tabid/219/Default.aspx. Retrieved on 2007-09-17. 
  2. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Egypt
  3. ^ a b c "Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy - Country Profiles". World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/alcoholpolicycountryprofiles/en/index.html. 
  4. ^ a b "Minimum Legal Ages for Alcohol Purchase or Consumption Around the World". World Health Organization. http://www.geocities.jp/m_kato_clinic/mini-age-alcohol-eng-1.html. 
  5. ^ Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act section 87.3
  6. ^ "Liquor Licence Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.19". E-laws.gov.on.ca. 2007-07-01. http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90l19_e.htm#BK33. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  7. ^ Drinking Age Limits - International Center for Alcohol Policies
  8. ^ [1] - In British Columbia, as confirmed in 2006, only children of the parents supervising are allowed underage drinking, not any other miniors. This may be true for other provinces as well. In Quebec and Alberta, the legal drinking age is 18.
  9. ^ http://www.grsproadsafety.org/themes/default/pdfs/Drinking%20Age%20Limits.pdf.
  10. ^ Exceptions to Minimum Age of 21 for Possession of Alcohol as of January 1, 2007, Alcohol Policy Information System
  11. ^ Judge: State law barring underage drinking is unconstitutional
  12. ^ "Bangladesh". Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004. World Health Organization. 2004. http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/en/bangladesh.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-03-28. 
  13. ^ "Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Cambodia" (PDF). http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/policy_cambodia.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  14. ^ China bans under-age drinking, China Daily, 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  15. ^ "Alcohol Prohibition and Addictive Consumption in India" (PDF). http://www.eudnet.net/workshops/workshop10-2002/rahman.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  16. ^ "Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Islamic Republic of Iran" (PDF). http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/policy_iran.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  17. ^ "Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Jordan" (PDF). http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/policy_jordan.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  18. ^ Who Are The Abstainers?, International Center for Alcohol Policies, June 2000, http://www.icap.org/portals/0/download/all_pdfs/ICAP_Reports_English/report8.pdf 
  19. ^ "Food and Drink". Worldtravelguide.net. http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/153/entertainment/Far-East-Asia/Macau.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  20. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Mongolia
  21. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Philippines
  22. ^ Article 2 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law (zh:兒童及少年福利法) of the Republic of China, effective since 2003-05-28 in Taiwan Area, defines children and youth as people under the age of 18.
  23. ^ Clause 1 of Section 1 of Article 26 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law (zh:兒童及少年福利法) of the Republic of China, effective since 2003-05-28 in Taiwan Area
  24. ^ Section 2 of Article 26 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law of the Republic of China
  25. ^ Section 1 of Article 55 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law of the Republic of China
  26. ^ Section 3 of Article 26 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law of the Republic of China
  27. ^ Section 2 of Article 55 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law of the Republic of China
  28. ^ "International Drinking Guidelines". International Center for Alcohol Policies. http://www.icap.org/PolicyIssues/DrinkingGuidelines/GuidelinesTable/tabid/204/Default.aspx. Retrieved on 2009-02-17. 
  29. ^ information based on the respective state Youth Protection Laws, available at [2], as of December 11, 2007
  30. ^ "International Center for Alcohol Policies: Age Laws Table". Icap.org. http://www.icap.org/PolicyIssues/YoungPeoplesDrinking/AgeLawsTable/tabid/219/Default.aspx. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  31. ^ "Alcohol culture in Denmark". Alcoholcultureindenmark.webbyen.dk. http://alcoholcultureindenmark.webbyen.dk/. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  32. ^ "Lov om forbud mod salg af tobak og alkohol til personer under 16 år" (in dk). https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=9878. 
  33. ^ Få unge har købt legitimationskort, Danmarks Radio, 01. jul. 2006
  34. ^ Code of public health: L3342-1 « [In all places providing beverages either for immediate consumption or not] and all public places, it is prohibited to sell or offer alcoholic drinks to minors younger than 16, either for immediate consumption or for carrying away. ». L3342-2 further restricts sales for immediate consumptions of certain categories of alcoholic drinks to adults over 18; these categories include mostly all alcohols stronger than cider, beer or wine, as defined in L3321-1. L3342-3 prohibits receiving minors younger than 16 in premises selling alcohol unless they are with a parent, tutor, or other guardian over 18, except that minors at least 13 year old can be received in places selling only nonalcoholic or nearly nonalcoholic drinks (< 1.2°).
  35. ^ L3353-3 punishes sales of alcoholic drinks to minors under 16 by a fine, and also possibly imprisonment for repeat offenders.
  36. ^ a b German law for the protection of minors [3]
  37. ^ Practical Information School for Renewable Engergy Science, Iceland
  38. ^ a b ]
  39. ^ "Autonomous Province of Bozen/Bolzano-South Tyrol - Press release of the Department for Health (in Italian)". Provinz.bz.it. http://www.provinz.bz.it/sozialwesen/news/news_i.asp?art=194930&HLM=1. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  40. ^ "Jugendgesetz vom 19. Dezember 1979". Gesetze.li. http://www.gesetze.li/get_pdf.jsp?PDF=.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  41. ^ "Proposition to Odelstinget rejecting the idea of holding minors criminally responsible for the purchase or consumption of alcohol". Regjeringen.no. http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/aid/dok/regpubl/otprp/19961997/Otprp-nr-7-1996-97-/16/3.html?id=299088. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  42. ^ "Systembolaget - Rules on selling". Systembolaget.se. http://www.systembolaget.se/Applikationer/Knappar/InEnglish/Rules+on+selling.htm. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  43. ^ Turkey: Alcohol ban in government cafes and restaurants Friday, November 25 2005 @ 09:38 AM Central Standard Time. TURKS.us
  44. ^ Secular Turkey is angered by spectre of alcohol-free zones By Elizabeth Davies. Thursday, 15 December 2005. The Independent
  45. ^ Turkey's Islamist-rooted AKP to propose new bans on alcohol Hurriyet News
  46. ^ New alcohol law prompts fears for Turkish bar trade Robert Tait in Istanbul. The Guardian, Friday 16 May 2008
  47. ^ "Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (c.12) - Statute Law Database". Statutelaw.gov.uk. http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&title=children+young+persons&Year=1933&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=1109288&ActiveTextDocId=1109297&filesize=1694. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  48. ^ "Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 (c.37), section 16 - Statute Law Database". Statutelaw.gov.uk. http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&Year=1937&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=1111220&ActiveTextDocId=1111230&filesize=1737. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  49. ^ Consumption of alcohol by children, Section 150, Licensing Act 2003
  50. ^ "Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, section 68". Statutelaw.gov.uk. http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&title=licensing&Year=1976&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=1478300&ActiveTextDocId=1478375&filesize=4011. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  51. ^ "Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 105". Statutelaw.gov.uk. http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&title=licensing&Year=2005&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=1939670&ActiveTextDocId=1939812&filesize=3052. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  52. ^ publisher= Department of Culture Media and SportChapter12 Sale and Supply of Alcohol to Children }}
  53. ^ "Alcohol: under aged drinking - law". InfoScotland.com. http://www.infoscotland.com/alcohol/displaypage.jsp;jsessionid=B0A9FD30EB7E73F6C35147B443BBEE80?p_applic=CCC&pContentID=70&p_service=Content.show&. 
  54. ^ "State lowers legal drink age - Fiji Times Online". Fijitimes.com. 2009-05-20. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=121699. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
  55. ^ Strong vote against bill to raise drinking age, NZ Herald, November 8, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  56. ^ MPs back off from drinking age hike, NZ Herald, November 4, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
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