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Legal drinking age

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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 as young as 5 (in the United Kingdom), 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 to everyone.

Africa and Middle East

Country / Region De jure Notes
Drinking age Purchase age
Algeria 18[1]
Botswana 16[1]
Cameroon 18[1] 21[1]
Egypt 18, 21[1][2]
Eritrea 16[1]
Ghana 18[3]
Kenya 18[1]
Libya illegal[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]

Americas

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Argentina 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]
Dominican Republic 18[1]
Ecuador 18[1]
Guatemala 18[1]
Honduras 18[9]
Mexico 18[1][10]
Nicaragua 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).[11]
Uruguay 18[1]
Venezuela 18[1]

Asia

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Armenia 21[citation needed]
Azerbaijan 18[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]
Indonesia 21
Iran illegal[16]
Israel 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]
Pakistan Illegal (21 for non-Muslims)[1]
Philippines[1][21] none 18
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) 19[1] Anyone who will be over 19 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]
Thailand 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]

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 16
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 can be obtained in the local town hall in order for the youth to verify their age in shops.[32] This card is rarely used though, since a passport or moped-licence can be used.[33]
Estonia 18
Finland none 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 youths between 14 and 16 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.
Ireland 18 in public, none in private[38] 18[38]
Italy 16 none South Tyrol prohibits both drinking and purchase for people under the age of 16 and to everybody in a state of inebriation[39]
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 16
Moldova No minimum age (beer),
18 (wine and spirits)
Montenegro none 18
Netherlands none 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 18
Portugal none 18
Romania none 18 Usually not asked for an ID.
Russia 18 18 Officially 18, although children as young as 10 usually have no problem purchasing alcohol.
Serbia none 18
Slovakia none 18
Slovenia none 18
Spain 14 16 Law rarely enforced to residents of Spain, mainly tourists.
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 for wine, beer and cider
16-18 (varies from canton to canton) for spirits & spirit-based beverages ie. alcopops
Turkey 18 (19 for non-Turkish residents)[1]
(allowed only in licensed premises) 		Alcohol beverages are banned in many cafes and restaurants across major towns and cities in Turkey, and "drinking zones" have been created in some suburbs. Offenders could face maximum fines of more than TRY9,000, and in some areas licenses are required. The 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.

Many of the laws brought about by AK party are not enforced. Most shop keepers in Turkey don't check ID or give a second thought before selling to under aged persons.

Ukraine 18[1]
United Kingdom

It is illegal for those aged 5-17 only to drink alcohol on licensed premises (e.g. a pub or restaurant); they may legally drink alcohol elsewhere above the age of 5,
16 (liqueur chocolates)

16 (Beer/Wine/Cider in Pub/Restaurant if served with a meal and an adult orders it),(Children over the age of 15 may drink alcohol in pub/restaurant gardens, as it counts as 'outside the premises')

Otherwise 18

The legal age to purchase alcohol is 18. People aged 16 and 17 may consume wine, beer or cider with a table meal, provided they are with an adult and an adult orders it. (England & Wales only[47], Scotland no adult required to be present[48][49]). The legal age for the purchase of liqueur chocolates is 16. 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).[50][51]

Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is illegal in Scotland and Wales.[52][53]

Oceania

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
American Samoa (U.S.) 18
Australia 18 Liquor laws vary by state. It is illegal to buy, drink or possess alcohol if under 18 on licensed premises, but states allow drinking or possessing alcohol on private premises for people under the age of 18 (under the supervision of at least one adult). In New South Wales there is no law against minors possessing or drinking alcohol on private premises, but there are laws against supplying or selling alcohol to a minor, as well as against minors "carrying away" alcohol from a licensed club.[54][55]Minors may be on licensed premises accompanied by a parent or guardian (but not purchase alcohol) and parents can not provide alcohol with a meal on licensed premises. In [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria, if a minor is caught with alcohol it will be confiscated and guardians notified of the offense, and a fine may occur. It is also illegal to provide minors with alcohol, and one can be fined by it if caught in the act. It is illegal to buy alcohol if already drunk and to supply alcohol to such a person.[56]

In all States, it is illegal to drink in a vehicle and drivers cannot operate a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration level higher than 0.05 when on their open license. Provisional and learner drivers must not drive with any detectable blood-alcohol present. Commercial drivers have a limit of 0.02 whilst working. (New South Wales)

Fiji 21
Guam (U.S.) 18
New Zealand None 18 Alcohol can be sold only by licensed premises, but there is no obligation to serve any person. It is illegal to purchase alcohol if one is already drunk. Drinking on public transport is prohibited unless the vehicle (e.g. ship, train) holds a liquor license. Minors can drink alcohol in a public place if they are accompanied and it is provided by their parent or guardian; this includes licensed premises, such as restaurants, and at private social gatherings, but excludes designated restricted areas in pubs and bars, where persons under the age of 18 are not permitted. ** Minors (under 18) can be fined if they drink alcohol in public places, without a parent or guardian present. While there are extensive 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[57] after significant lobbying by the Keepit18 group[58] and others.
Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.) 21
Palau 21
Papua New Guinea 37
Samoa 16
Solomon Islands none
Tonga 18
Tokelau 18
Vanuatu 18

See also

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 "Minimum Drinking and Purchasing Age Laws". 2007 publisher=International Center for Alcohol Policies. Retrieved 2007-09-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Missing pipe in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: year (link) Cite error: The named reference "icap" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Egypt
  3. ^ a b "Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy - Country Profiles". World Health Organization.
  4. ^ a b "Minimum Legal Ages for Alcohol Purchase or Consumption Around the World". World Health Organization.
  5. ^ Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act section 87.3
  6. ^ Liquor Licence Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.19
  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, the legal drinking age is 18.
  9. ^ http://www.grsproadsafety.org/themes/default/pdfs/Drinking%20Age%20Limits.pdf.
  10. ^ "Mexico". U.S. Department of State. 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  11. ^ Exceptions to Minimum Age of 21 for Possession of Alcohol as of January 1, 2007, Alcohol Policy Information System
  12. ^ "Bangladesh" (PDF). Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004. World Health Organization. 2004. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  13. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Cambodia
  14. ^ China bans under-age drinking, China Daily, 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  15. ^ "Alcohol Prohibition and Addictive Consumption in India" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  16. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Islamic Republic of Iran
  17. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Jordan
  18. ^ Who Are The Abstainers? (PDF), International Center for Alcohol Policies, June 2000
  19. ^ Food and Drink
  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. Retrieved 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
  31. ^ Alcohol culture in Denmark
  32. ^ "Lov om forbud mod salg af tobak og alkohol til personer under 16 år" (in dk).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  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)
  40. ^ Jugendgesetz vom 19. Dezember 1979
  41. ^ Proposition to Odelstinget rejecting the idea of holding minors criminally responsible for the purchase or consumption of alcohol
  42. ^ Systembolaget - Rules on selling
  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. ^ Consumption of alcohol by children, Section 150, Licensing Act 2003
  48. ^ Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, section 68.
  49. ^ Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 105.
  50. ^ Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (c.12) - Statute Law Database
  51. ^ Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 (c.37), section 16 - Statute Law Database
  52. ^ Department of Culture Media and SportChapter12 Sale and Supply of Alcohol to Children }}
  53. ^ "Alcohol: under aged drinking - law". InfoScotland.com.
  54. ^ "LIQUOR ACT 1982 - SECT 115 Consumption etc of liquor by minor". State of New South Wales. 1982. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  55. ^ NSW Department of Gaming and Racing (2008-02-08). "Underage drinking offences". Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  56. ^ Alcohol and young people - New South Wales police
  57. ^ Strong vote against bill to raise drinking age, NZ Herald, November 8, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  58. ^ MPs back off from drinking age hike, NZ Herald, November 4, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2008.

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