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Legal drinking age

The legal drinking age is the minimum age at which a person can legally consume alcoholic beverages. The minimum age alcohol can be legally consumed can be different from the age when it can be purchased in some countries. These laws vary between countries and many laws have exemptions or special circumstances. Most laws apply only to drinking alcohol in public places with alcohol consumption in the home being mostly unregulated (an exception being the UK, which has a minimum legal age of five for supervised consumption in private places). Some countries also have different age limits for different types of alcohol drinks.[1]

Minimum legal age to purchase alcohol by country:
  Prohibited
  25 or older
  25 (supervised drinking/fermented alcoholic beverages from the age of 21)
  21
  21 (supervised drinking/fermented alcoholic beverages from the age of 18)
  20
  20 (supervised drinking/fermented alcoholic beverages from the age of 18)
  19
  18
  18 (supervised drinking/fermented alcoholic beverages from the age of 16)
  17
  16
  15 or younger
  No regulation/no age set

The majority of countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 18.[2] The most commonly known reason for the law behind the legal drinking age is the effect on the brain in adolescents. Since the brain is still maturing, alcohol can have a negative effect on the memory and long-term thinking. Alongside that, it can cause liver failure, and create a hormone imbalance in teens due to the constant changes and maturing of hormones during puberty.[3] Some countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 19 to prevent the flow of alcoholic beverages in high schools,[4] while others like the United States have a minimum legal purchasing age of 21 (18 in P.R. and USVI) in an effort to reduce the amount of drunk driving rates among teenagers and young adults.[5]

Africa edit

The most common minimum age to purchase alcohol in Africa is 18. However, Angola (except Luanda Province), Central African Republic, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali have no laws on the books restricting the sale of alcohol to minors. In Libya, Somalia and Sudan the sale, production and consumption of alcohol is completely prohibited.[improper synthesis?]

Country State/ region/ province De jure Notes
Drinking age Purchase age
  Algeria None[6] 18[7] Order No. 26-75 (1975), Article 14
  Angola None[8] There is no national legislation prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors.
Luanda Province 18[9] Legislation in Luanda Province: It is prohibited to sell alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18. It is also prohibited for minors to buy and consume alcohol.[9]
  Benin None 20 Republic of Benin Report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/BEN/2 (2005):
  • Article 8 of the decree of 10 June 1942 regulating the production, import, advertisement, sale, and consumption of alcohol beverages in French West Africa, prohibits the sale or free supply of alcohol beverages to minors under 20.
  • Article 13 stipulates fines ranging from CFAF 200,000 to CFAF 1 million for such offences, doubled in the case of repeat offences.
  • There are no official measures prohibiting children from consuming alcohol, tobacco or other substances harmful to their health.
  Botswana None[10] (prohibited for any person to supply)[8] 18[10] It is prohibited for any person with a liquor license to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years. Since the law only applies to licenses, it is not prohibited for minors to buy, consume, or possess alcohol beverages.[10] It is also prohibited for any person to expose or supply alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years.[8]
  Burundi None[11] 18 (unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian)[11] It is prohibited for any person with a liquor license to sell or supply alcohol beverages to unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 years.
  Cameroon 21
18 (if accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older)[12]
It is prohibited for any person with a liquor license to sell or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 years of age. The law permits adults from the ages 18 to 21 to consume, purchase and buy alcohol beverages if accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older. Anyone over the age of 21 years may buy or consume alcohol unaccompanied.
  Cape Verde None[13] 18[13] It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years.
  Central African Republic 15 (off-premises), or 21 (on-premises)[14] It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 15 years when sold or supplied off-premises (e.g., liquor stores, wine stores, and supermarkets). It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 21 years when sold or supplied on-premises (e.g., restaurants, bars, and cafes).[14]
  Chad None 18 Law 2017-01 Penal Code Chapter 6 Articles 376–378 establish penalties for licensees who permit entry to youth below age 16 unaccompanied by a supervising adult, sell or offer alcohol beverages to youth below age 18 unaccompanied by a supervising adult, or serve a person below age 18 to intoxication.
  Comoros 18[15] It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years.[15]
  Democratic Republic of the Congo 18
  Djibouti None
  Egypt 21 Law No. 371 of 1956 concerning public shops and the resolutions implementing it
  Equatorial Guinea 21[16]
  Eritrea None[17] 18[17] It is prohibited for any person to sell or serve alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years.
  Eswatini 18[8] Liquor Licenses Act (1964) Section 27
  Ethiopia 21[18] 21[19] It is prohibited for any person to sell, offer, serve or allow to serve alcohol beverages "in substantial quantities" to any infant or young person. The criminal code defines a young person as any person under the age of 18 years. But the Criminal Code Proclamation 414 (2004) states: "Whoever endangers the health of another, intentionally and unscrupulously, by administering or serving, or by causing or permitting to be administered or served, to minors (defined as anyone under the age of 18 years) (...) alcohol beverages or spirituous liquors of such kind or in such quantity as to make their injurious effect certain or probable, is punishable with simple imprisonment not exceeding one year, and fine."

The Revised Family Code Proclamation No. 213 (2000) Article 215 defines a minor as anyone who has not attained the full age of 18.

In 2019, the Ethiopian parliament passed a bill that bans a specific category of alcohol advertising in the media and also increases the age limit for purchasing alcohol from 18 to 21 years of age.

  Gabon None 18 Penal Code (1963), Article 209bis-1
  Gambia None[20][8] 16[20][8] Under the Liquor License Act (1957) it is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to "anyone under the apparent age of 16".

A "young person" is defined as anyone under the age of 17 by the Children and Young Persons Act, 1949 Section 2.

  Ghana None 18[21]
  Guinea-Bissau None[8]
  Kenya None[22] 18[22] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years.
  Lesotho 18[23] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply any alcohol beverage to a minor under the age of 18 years. It is also prohibited for minors to consume, buy or attempt to buy alcohol.
  Liberia None 18 It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years; "this section shall not apply to a parent or guardian who serves an alcoholic beverage to his child or ward" Penal Law of 1976 Sec 16.
  Libya Prohibited for all ages[24] Previously Article 498 of the Libyan Penal Code prohibited the sale of alcohol beverages to juveniles under the age of 16 years.[8]
  Malawi None 18[25] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years.
  Mauritania Prohibited for all ages[26]
  Mauritius None 18[27] It is prohibited to sell, serve, or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years.
  Morocco None Restricted to non-Muslims
16 for non-Muslims
Prohibited for Muslims
Legislative Decision No. 3.177.66 of 1967 Art 28–29
  Mozambique 18[28] Decree 54/2013 Regulations on the Control of the Production, Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages (2013), Article 5 (Prohibitions)
  Namibia None 18[29] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years.
  Niger 18 Penal Code Article 302
  Nigeria None (at national level)[8] None (all other states)
18 in Abuja
Prohibited in Borno
For Abuja: Municipal Area Council Bye-Law 2001 Sec 15
  Republic of the Congo None 18[30]
  Rwanda 18 Organic Law implementing the Penal Code N°01/2012/OL Articles 217 and 219
  Senegal None 18[31]
  Seychelles None 18 Chapter 113 Licenses Act (2010)
  • Subsidiary Legislation: Licenses (Manufacturing) Regulation (1987), Article 8(5)(page 20):
    • In the case of manufacturing and processing of liquor, tobacco and tobacco products, the license holder shall (i) not deliver or sell liquor to, or allow any consumption of liquor by, any person under the age of 18 years or deliver or sell tobacco or tobacco products or allow it to be used on the premises by such a person;
  • Subsidiary Legislation: Licenses (Liquor and Outdoor Entertainment) Regulations (1998), Article 14 (page 28):
    • (1) The holder of a license, his servant or agent shall not (a) employ or allow a person under the age of 18 years, ... (b) sell or deliver liquor, cigarettes or tobacco products to, or allow liquor to be consumed or cigarettes or any tobacco products to be used by any person under the age of 18 years on the premises; ... (i) admit any person under the age of 18 years to a premises licensed as a public bar, toddy bar or at the premises licensed to manufacture and sell baka or lapire;...
  Somalia Prohibited for all ages[32]
  South Africa None 18 The parent, adult guardian of a minor or a person responsible for administering a religious sacrament, may on occasion supply to that minor a moderate quantity of liquor to be consumed by the minor in the presence and under the supervision of that parent, guardian or other person.[33]
  South Sudan 18[8]
  Sudan Restricted to non-Muslims
Muslims: Prohibited for all ages
Non-Muslims: Unknown[34]
Penal Code 1991, Art 78–79
  Tanzania None 18[35]
  Togo None[8] 20[36]
18 (beer, wine and cider)
Ordinance No. 34 of 1967 Code of alcohol beverage outlets and anti-alcoholism measures Art 29
  Tunisia None 18 Law 2004-75 Article 4 prohibits entry to night clubs to those under 18 with an exception for accompanied persons between 16 and 18 in certain venues, sale of alcohol beverages to whom is prohibited.
  Uganda None[37] 18
16 (wine, beer, porter, cider, perry or native liquor with meal)[37]
It is prohibited for any licensee to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. The law provides an exception for anyone who is 16 or 17 years of age, and consumes a fermented alcohol drink with a meal, in a part of a licensed premises that serves meals and is not a bar.
  Western Sahara None[8]
  Zambia 18[38]
16 (traditional beer)[39]
It is prohibited for any person with a liquor license, to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 years of age. Before the Liquor Licensing Act was enacted in 2011, the minimum age to sell, serve and supply alcohol beverages was 14 years.[40]
  Zimbabwe None[41] 18 (except with parent or guardian consent) Liquor Act Article 116 Prohibited conduct by persons in general (1) No person shall— ... (l) being a person to whom in terms of this Act the sale of liquor is prohibited, purchase or attempt to purchase liquor in contravention of such provision; .... (o) sell, lend, give, supply or deliver, or offer so to do, any liquor to any person under the age of eighteen years except with the consent of the parent or guardian of that person.

Children's Act Section 78 – It is prohibited for any person to sell, lend, give, supply, deliver or offer alcohol beverages to any child under the age of 16 years, except upon production of a written order signed by the parent or guardian of the child known to such person. The police has the duty to seize any alcohol beverage in the possession of a child under the age of 16 years without a written consent of the parents or legal guardian.[41]

Americas edit

In Central America, the Caribbean, and South America the legal drinking age and legal purchase age varies from 0 to 20 years (see table below). In South America in particular, the legal purchase age is 18 years, with two exceptions:

  • In Paraguay, the legal drinking age and purchase age is 20 years.
  • In Guyana, minors aged 16 or 17 may consume a glass of beer or wine in a restaurant provided they buy a meal.

In North America the legal drinking age and legal purchase age varies from 18 to 21 years:

  • In Mexico, the drinking age is 18 in all states.
  • In the United States, the minimum legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages is 21 years of age; the two exceptions are Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands where the age is 18. The legal drinking age varies by state, and many states have no age requirements for supervised drinking with one's parents or legal guardians.
  • In Canada, most provinces have a minimum age of 19 years to buy or consume alcohol, while in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, the minimum age is 18 years.

In the late 20th century, much of North America changed its minimum legal drinking ages (MLDAs) as follows:

In the 1970s, provincial and state policy makers in Canada and the United States moved to lower MLDAs (which were set at 21 years in most provinces/territories and states) to coincide with the jurisdictional age of majority — typically 18 years of age.... As a result, MLDAs were reduced in all Canadian provinces [and] in more than half of US states. In Canada, however, two provinces, Ontario [in 1979] and Saskatchewan [in 1976], quickly raised their subsequent MLDAs from 18 to 19 years in response to a few studies demonstrating an association between the lowered drinking age and increases in alcohol-related harms to youth and young adults, including increases in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and alcohol intoxication among high school students. Following MLDA reductions in the US, research in several states provided persuasive evidence of sharp increases in rates of fatal and nonfatal MVAs appearing immediately after the implementation of lower drinking ages. These scientific findings galvanized public pressure on lawmakers to raise MLDAs and, in response, the federal government introduced the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which imposed a reduction of highway funds for states if they did not increase their MLDA to 21 years. All states complied and implemented an MLDA of 21 years by 1988.[42]

Country State/ region/ province De jure Notes
Drinking age Purchase age
  Anguilla None[43] 18[43] It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol drinks to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violating the regulation is punished with a $9,600 fine.
  Antigua and Barbuda None 16[44] The sale and distribution of alcohol to a person under 16 years of age, and purchase by persons under 16 years of age, for consumption in licensed premises are prohibited.
  Argentina None 18[45] Drinking age is rarely enforced. ID is almost never requested.
  Bahamas 18[46] It is prohibited for any adult to sell, serve or supply any alcohol beverage to a child (defined as anyone under the age of 18 years). The law provides an exception to treat an illness in urgent cases or upon order by a medical doctor.
  Barbados None 18[47] It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to anyone under the age of 18 years. Previously 16, the President of the Barbados Road Safety Association pushed to raise the drinking age to 18 years because the law was often violated.[48][49]
  Belize 18[50] Drinking age is rarely enforced. ID is almost never requested.
  Bermuda 18[51] It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to a child under the age of 18 years.
  Bolivia None 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years.

Law 259 Against the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages (2012) Article 20

  Brazil None[52] 18[52] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply any alcohol beverage to a person under 18 years of age. The presidential law enacted on 17 March 2015 made any violation of the law a criminal offence. Any adult person selling, serving, giving or supplying alcohol beverages to a minor is punished with imprisonment of 2 to 4 years, a fine of R$3.000 to R$10.000 and a ban to operate any business selling or serving alcohol.
  British Virgin Islands 16[50] It is prohibited to sell or to supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 16.
  Canada   Alberta
  Manitoba
  Quebec
18[53][54][55] In Alberta no person may give or sell or permit any person to give or sell liquor to a minor in licensed premises.[53] In Manitoba a person must not give, sell or otherwise supply liquor to a minor. The law provides exceptions for a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or other health care professional for medical purposes; for sacramental purposes and by the parent, guardian, spouse or common-law partner, if it is given or supplied in a residence.[54] In Quebec the law prohibits the sale of alcohol beverages to a minor under the age of 18 years.[55]
  Ontario
  Saskatchewan
  British Columbia
  Newfoundland and Labrador
  Nova Scotia
  New Brunswick
  Prince Edward Island
  Northwest Territories
  Yukon
  Nunavut
19 Ontario's Liquor Licence Act permits the supply and consumption of liquor to those under the age of 19. However, supplying a person under the age of 19 is restricted to the person's parent or legal guardian, and may only occur in a residence or in a private place of the parent or legal guardian. A person under the age of 19 who was supplied liquor in this manner is permitted to consume the liquor only in the place it was supplied.[56]
  Cayman Islands 18[57] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is also prohibited for any minor to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol beverages. Violation of the law is punished with a fine of five thousand dollars, and the court may, if the offence was committed by the licensee, order that the licensee shall forfeit his licence and that no licence may be issued to that person for a period not exceeding ten years from the date of his conviction.
  Chile 18[1] The minimum age is 18 to enter an enclosure that sells alcohol beverages. Selling alcohol to a minor may incur a fine. One must provide identification upon request. Residents of Chile over the age of 18 must carry their Chilean identification card issued by the Civil Registry and Identification Service at all times.[58]
  Colombia None 18[59] The law prohibits the sale of alcohol to a minor (anyone under the age of 18 years). It is not prohibited for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol.[59]
  Costa Rica None 18[60] The law prohibits the sale of alcohol to a minor (anyone under the age of 18 years). Selling alcohol to a minor will be punished with a fine equivalent to ten basic salaries. Whoever permits minors to maintain in any establishment which main purpose is to sell alcohol beverages, will be sanctioned with a fine equivalent to five salaries. It is not prohibited for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol.[60]
  Cuba None 16[61] The penal code prohibits any adult to induce any young person under the age of 16 years, to habitually consume alcohol beverages. However this means that de facto anyone selling, serving or supplying alcohol should check if the buyer has attained the age of 16 years. In most cases this law is not strictly enforced.[61][62]
  Dominica None 16 Laws of Dominica Liquor Licences Act Chapter 70:03, Part IV, Sec 15(f)
  Dominican Republic None 18[63]
  Ecuador None 18[64] It is prohibited to sell alcohol beverages to a minor under the age of 18 years of age. The law obligates establishments to place a visible notice at the point of sale and to check identification to enforce the law. However it is not prohibited for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol.[64]
  El Salvador None 18[65] It is strictly prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to a minor under the age of 18 years. Violation of the law is punished with 25,000.00 and if convicted once more the license will be suspended for a period of six months. It is legal for minors to buy, attempt to buy and consume alcohol.[65]
  Falkland Islands 18[66] It is prohibited for any adult to sell, give or provide alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years in any public place or licensed premises. Parents may permit their children to consume alcohol on private premises. Minors consuming alcohol in public are committing a criminal offence. The law provides exceptions for the consumption of alcohol by minors for prescription of or at the direction of a government medical officer or in the course of the administration of Holy Communion according to the rites of any Christian denomination.[66]
  Grenada None 16
None (off-premise)
Chapter 174 Liquor Dealers' Licenses Act (1988), accessible through the Laws of Grenada Portal
  Guatemala None 18[67] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply any alcohol drink to a minor under 18 years of age on any establishment or in the street.
  Guyana None 18
16 (on-premise for wine or malt liquor with a meal)[68]
It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to a person under 18 years of age. The law provides an exception for minors aged 16 and 17, if they consume a glass of beer, wine or cider with a meal in a restaurant. Otherwise attempting to buy alcohol or buying alcohol as a minor is an offence.[68]
  Haiti None None (at national level) In the capital Port-au-Prince, it is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to minors under 18 years old from 17 May 2017. Vendors are required to check identification.[69] The Senate voted on a proposed Law on the protection of minors from alcohol beverages, to establish a legal purchase age of 18 and related implementation measures, in December 2012. The law has not yet been approved and enacted.

Law prohibiting minors entry to entertainment venues Article 1 prohibits those under the age of 16 from entering cinemas and theaters (except during children's programming), clubs, cafes, or venues licensed to sell alcohol beverages.

  Honduras None 18 Law for Police Enforcement and Social Coexistence Decree 226 (2001) Article 68 bans the sale of alcohol to minors; The definition of punishable gang activity for minors aged 12–18 includes drinking alcohol beverages in public places (Art 90–91).

Code of Children and Adolescents Decree 73 (1996)

  Jamaica None 18[70] It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to a child (which is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years).[70]
  Mexico 18[1] All Mexican states prohibit the sale of alcohol to any person under 18 years old. Identification is required for age verification. Some states may allow minors to consume alcoholic beverages with parental consent.[71]
  Nicaragua None 18[72]
  Panama None 18[73]
  Paraguay None 20[74]
  Peru None 18[75]
  Saint Kitts and Nevis None 18 Liquor Licences Act Sec 32(f)
  Saint Lucia None 16 Chapter 13.17 Liquor Licence Act Art 37
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines None 16[76] Chapter 342 Liquor License Act (1990), Sections 27 and 28
  Trinidad and Tobago None 18[77] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to child under the age of 18 years. It is also prohibited for an adult to send a child to buy alcohol on behalf. It is not prohibited for children to buy or consume alcohol.[77]
  Turks and Caicos Islands None 18[78] It is prohibited to serve or sell liquor to a young person under the age of eighteen years. Minors under the age of sixteen years may not present in a licensed premises mainly serving and selling alcohol beverages.[78]
  United States (50 states) Varies by state[1] 21[1] The National Minimum Drinking Age Act requires all states and territories to have a minimum purchasing age of 21 or lose ten percent of their federal highway funding. The act does not apply to the age of alcohol consumption (i.e., states may allow alcohol consumption by those under 21 years of age without penalty). Exceptions to the drinking age is governed by state law.

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 that food is served only in the latter). Contrary to popular belief, only a few states prohibit minors and young adults from consuming alcohol in private settings.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism maintains a database that details state-level regulations on consumption and sale age limits.[79]

  Puerto Rico 18 Law 118 Penalties for Provision of Alcoholic Beverages to Minors under 18 years of age (1984)
  United States Virgin Islands 18[80]
  Uruguay None 18[81] Only selling alcohol to minors under the age of 18 is prohibited, consumption and purchase by minors is not prohibited.
  Venezuela None 18[82]

Asia edit

Country De jure Notes
Drinking age Purchase age
  Afghanistan Prohibited for all ages[83]
  Bahrain 21[84]
  Bangladesh 21[1] 21 (for non-Muslims and foreigners)
(Muslims require medical prescription for purchasing)
[85]
In 2021, reforms were introduced to alcohol regulations, for the first time a minimum age was defined, 21 years was chosen. Muslims can consume alcohol if they obtain a medical prescription.[86]
  Bhutan None 18[87]
  Brunei Prohibited (for Muslims and public consumption)
17 (for non-Muslims' private residence consumption)[1]
Prohibited for all ages[1] Non-Muslims over 17 years of age are allowed to import alcohol not to exceed maximum total volume 2 litres of liquor and 12 cans of beer at 330 mL for personal use, once in 48 hours. This alcohol must be "stored and consumed at the place of residence of the importer" and is "not to be given, transferred or sold to another person.".[1]
  Cambodia None The Health Ministry drafted a law to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol in June 2015, with emphasis on establishing a minimum legal purchase age of 21 and preventing underage drinking.

The draft law has not yet been enacted.[88]

  China None 18[1] Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors (2006 Revision) [Revised in 2012][89]

Ministry of Commerce Decree No. 25 (2006)

  Hong Kong None 18[90] IDs are rarely checked in bars and clubs, but are checked when purchasing alcohol at shops. Private drinking is also not regulated.[91]
  India 18–25 (varies by jurisdiction)[1]
21 is the legal drinking age in the majority of the states of India[92]
18 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Puducherry, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.[93]

21 in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.[94]

25 in Maharashtra,[95] Meghalaya and Punjab.[96]

Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Manipur, and Nagaland.[97]

  Indonesia 21[98]
Prohibited in Banda Aceh and Papua
Prohibited in Banda Aceh and Papua; 21 elsewhere for both on- and off-premise sale. According to Minister of Trade Regulation No. 20 Year 2014,[99] Qanun Laws of Aceh No. 6 Year 2014,[100] and Regional Regulation of Papua Province No.15 Year 2013.[101]
  Iran Prohibited for all ages[1] There is a ban on alcohol, but religious minorities may purchase small amounts from shops owned by the same religious minority.[102]
  Iraq 18[103] There was a proposal of banning alcohol in 2016, but was instead taxed by 200%[104]
  Israel No limit in private places,

18 in public spaces[105]

18[1] Israel law prohibits selling or serving alcohol to minors. Minors are prohibited to drink alcohol in public places and the police may confiscate alcohol drinks from them.
  Japan 20[106]
  Jordan 18 Instructions issued by the Ministry of Interior Concerning Liquor Store Permits (2010), Article 6
  Kazakhstan None 21 Law 235 of 2014 Code of Administrative Offences Section 200
  Kuwait Prohibited for all ages[1] Law No. 46 (1964)
  Kyrgyzstan None 18[1] Law No.269 Government Regulation of the Production and Sale of Alcohol (2009), Article 13.2
  Lebanon None 18[1] Penal Code (1943), Articles 625–626 (promulgated by Legislative Decree No. 340 (2011)

According to a global school health study, 40% of minors over 13 drink alcohol and up to 25% buy it from stores.[107]

  Macau None[1]
  Malaysia None Restricted to non-Muslims
Prohibited for Muslims
21 for non-Muslims[1]
Food Act 1983 Food Regulations (1985) Regulation 361 (2014) and Food (Amendment) Regulations 2016

Increased from 18 to 21 in December 2017, effective 16 October 2018. There will be an 18-month grace period for sellers to comply. After the grace period, anyone caught selling to persons under 21 can be fined up to RM10,000 and jailed up to 2 years.[108]

Malaysian identity cards will display the word "ISLAM" if the holder is Muslim (and otherwise blank if the holder is non-Muslim) on the bottom right corner, which allows enforcement of the religion-based sales restriction.

  Maldives Restricted to tourists
Prohibited for citizens
18 for tourists[1]
Sale of alcohol is limited to tourist resorts. It is prohibited to sell alcohol to local Maldivians[109]
  Mongolia 21 / 18 with parent consent[110] 21[110] Those under 21 are prohibited from drinking alcohol; parents and guardians are prohibited from supplying alcohol to those under 18.
  Myanmar None 18 Child Law (1993) Art 65

Excise Act (1958) Art 40(7)

    Nepal None 18[111] A policy has reportedly been adopted that would make the legal purchase age 21. However, there are exceptions to underage consumption for purposes of religious ceremonies.[112]
  North Korea Prohibited For Foreigners
  Oman 21[1] Residents need personal liquor licenses to consume alcohol in their private residences.[113]
  Pakistan Prohibited (for Muslims)
21 (for non-Muslims)[114]
Prohibited for Muslims. Purchase age for Non-Muslims is 21.
  Palestine 16[114] Legal in most cities.[114]
  Philippines None 18 Minors (defined as under 18 years old) are prohibited to purchase alcohol and adults are prohibited to purchase or provide alcohol to minors. Minors are not prohibited to consume alcohol. Act Regulating the Access of Minors to Alcohol Section 4
  Qatar Prohibited (for Muslims)
21 (for non-Muslims)[114]
21 Muslims are allowed to purchase alcohol but not consume it.[114] Only residents with a liquor license from the Qatar Distribution Company (owned by Qatar Airways) are allowed to purchase alcohol outside of hotels and restaurants and must make a minimum of QAR 4000 per month.[115]
  Saudi Arabia Prohibited for all ages[1] Drinking or possessing alcohol is prohibited in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Persons who drink or possess alcohol are subject to arrest and trial. Punishments range from heavy fines, lengthy prison terms and whippings.[116]
  Singapore None[117]
18 (at licensed premises)
18[117] It is prohibited to sell alcohol to those under 18. Anyone caught selling, furnishing or acquiring alcohol in any licensed premise to persons below 18 can be fined up to $10,000.

It is also prohibited for minors to purchase, or attempt to purchase alcohol from any licensed premises, in which the minors can also be fined up to $10,000. However, the authorities rarely enforced this on minors.

It is technically legal for minors to possess and consume alcohol at home and in public (not in any licensed premises) as there is no law prohibiting it. It is also technically legal for someone to purchase alcohol and pass it to minors outside the store or licensed premise.[117]

  South Korea None 19[118] The age limit for alcohol is 19 calculated by the year of birth. This means that an 18-year-old will be legally allowed to purchase and consume alcohol if he or she will be turning 19 that year. For example, two persons born on 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2002 will both turn 19 years of age at the same time on 1 January 2021 and hence, both of them will be considered to be of legal age to purchase and consume alcohol on and after that date, despite the latter being only 18 years and 1 day old based on western age.

The method of calculating the legal age for alcohol slightly differs from Korean age reckoning in which another one year will be added to the person's age, whereas this method only doesn't take into account the month and day of birth but only the year instead.[118]

On June 28, 2023, the law that requires measuring age in the western way came into force. However, the previous system to determine the age to drink alcohol will be maintained.[119]

  Sri Lanka None 21[120]
  Syria 18[114]
  Taiwan 18 18[121] Parents, guardians, and others taking care of people under 18 shall not supply alcohol to them or risk administrative fines of 10000 to 50000 new Taiwan dollars (Art 55).

No person shall supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 (Art 91).

  Tajikistan None / 20 18[1] Sale to minors under 18 years old is prohibited by Article 12 of Law No. 451 on State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Ethyl Alcohol and Alcohol Products.[114]

Parents are required to forbid their children who have not reached age 20 to consume alcohol beverages.[122]

  Thailand None 20[123] The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008 increased the drinking age in Thailand from 18 to 20, private drinking is not regulated in private locations.[123][124]
  Turkey 18 18[125]
  Turkmenistan None 21[126]
Prohibited In Airports And Stores
Law on Prevention of the Harmful Impact of Alcohol 2018 Art 22-2

Law no Trade Art 33 Code of Administrative Offences Art 315, 356

  United Arab Emirates 18 in Abu Dhabi
21 in most Northern Emirates and Dubai
Prohibited in Sharjah[127]
21
Completely prohibited in Sharjah
In November 2020, Drinking became legal in UAE without requiring a license and regardless of the religion.[128]

Previously, expatriate non-Muslim residents had to request a liquor permit to purchase alcohol beverages, but it was prohibited for such holders to provide drinks to others.[129]

The legal age for drinking alcohol is 18 in Abu Dhabi (although a Ministry of Tourism by-law allows hotels to serve alcohol only to those over 21), and 21 in Dubai and the Northern Emirates (except Sharjah, where drinking alcohol is prohibited).[127]

It is a punishable offence to drink, or to be under the influence of alcohol, in public.[127]

  Uzbekistan None 21[130] In 2023, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law prohibiting the sale of alcohol and nicotine products to those under 21 years of age, reducing it from 20 years.
  Vietnam 18 18[1] Decree 94/2012/ND-CP on Liquor Production and Trading (2012), Article 19.7
  Yemen Prohibited for all ages[131] Exception is in Aden Region where it's legal for 21 and up[132]

Europe edit

 
Sweden is meant to be green
Laws banning minors from consuming alcohol in public/private:
  Minimum age to consume alcohol in public and private
  Minimum age to consume alcohol in public
  No minimum age to consume alcohol in public or private

Most countries in Europe have set 18 as the minimum age to purchase alcohol. Although Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal and Switzerland (except Ticino) maintain a minimum purchase age below 18 years, minors are permitted either full or limited access to alcohol. In 2005,[133] 2007[134] and 2015[135] harmonization at the European Union level toward a minimum purchase age of 18 was discussed, but not agreed.

Timeline of changes to drinking/purchase age or laws restricting the access to alcohol for minors:

  • In 2002 the Spanish autonomous communities Madrid,[136] Valencia[137] and Catalonia[138] raised their minimum purchase age to 18 years. Previously, Valencia and Madrid had a minimum purchase age of 16 years, and in Catalonia minors aged 16 or 17 could purchase alcohol up to 23% ABV on- and off-premise.
  • In 2004 Denmark[139] raised its off-premise purchase age from 15 to 16 years.
  • In November 2005 Switzerland passed its Food and Commodities Regulation[140] (German: Lebensmittel- und Gebrauchsgegenständeverordnung), introducing a ban on alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 16. The Alcohol Law[141] (German: Alkoholgesetz) passed in 1980 requires a minimum age of 18 years for the retail sale of distilled spirits. Therefore, it is prohibited to sell fermented alcohol (e.g. beer, wine, sparkling wine or cider) to anyone under the age of 16, and any distilled alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. The canton of Ticino has a cantonal law since 1989 that makes the purchase age limit for all alcohol beverages 18 years.[142]
  • In 2006 the Spanish autonomous community Castile and León[143] raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years.
  • In late 2006, Gibraltar[144] lawmakers passed the Children and Young Persons (Alcohol, Tobacco and Gaming) Act 2006, which raised the minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years. But the new law made an exception: minors aged 16 or 17 can purchase and consume beer, wine or cider under 15% ABV on-premise, and pre-packed containers of an alcohol strength not exceeding 5.5% ABV (e.g. alcopops).
  • In 2009 France[145] raised its minimum purchase age to 18 years,[146][147] and fines were increased for selling or serving alcohol to a minor (up to €7,500). Previously, the minimum age was 16 years for off-premise and on-premise purchases of low-alcohol beverages (up to 3% ABV) such as wine, beer, cider, perry, mead, crème de cassis and juices from fermented fruits or vegetables that contain 1.2 to 3° alcohol, natural sweet wines from controlled cultivation and 18 for higher-ABV beverges.
  • In October 2009, the government of Malta[148] passed a new law raising its drinking and purchase age from 16 to 17 years.
  • In 2010 the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years.[149]
  • In 2011 Denmark[150] passed a law raising the minimum age for off-premise sale of alcohol beverages of >16.5% ABV to 18 years of age. The minimum age to purchase alcohol beverages of <16.5% ABV remains 16.
  • In March 2012 Moldova raised the minimum purchase age to 18, from 16 previously.[151][152]
  • Italy raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 in 2012. Previously Italy did not have a purchase age for off-premise sales, and the minimum age of 16 years for on-premise sales was not well enforced.[153]
  • In 2013 the government of Portugal restricted alcohol sales to young people: distilled spirits cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18, and other alcohol beverages (e.g. beer, wine, or cider) cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16. Previously the minimum age for all alcohol beverages was 16 years.[154]
  • As of 1 January 2014, the minimum legal purchase and consumption age was raised from 16 to 18 in the Netherlands. Previously young people over the age of 16 could purchase and consume alcohol beverages of <15% ABV, and those aged 18 and over could purchase all alcohol beverages.[155]
  • As of March 2015, the Spanish autonomous community of Asturias raised its drinking age from 16 to 18 years. Asturias was Spain's last community with a drinking age of 16 years. The new law brings the drinking age into line with the rest of Spain, with the exception of Balearic Islands where no purchase age limit is set.[156]
  • As of December 2015, Portugal harmonized its minimum drinking age to 18 years across all beverage types. Previously the purchase age was 16 years for low-alcohol beverages such as beer, wine or cider.[157]
  • As of 1 January 2018, Lithuania raised its minimum drinking age from 18 to 20 years.[158]
  • From January 2019 the federal states of Austria decided to align their drinking and purchase ages. The states Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vienna therefore raised their age limits for alcohol beverages containing spirits to 18. Prior to 2019 these states had a general drinking and purchase age of 16 years. The sale and consumption of beer, wine and other fermented alcohol beverages is now prohibited to children and young people under the age of 16 years, and the sale and consumption of spirits to minors under the age of 18 years is prohibited throughout Austria.[159]
Country Administrative division De jure Notes
Drinking age[160] Purchase age
Private Public On-premise Off-premise
  Albania None 18[161] 18[161] The sale of alcohol beverage in bars, restaurants or other licensed premises, as well as other points of sale, is prohibited to minors under the age of 18 years. Vendors and operators of licensed premises are required to post a clearly legible notice in A4 format stating "Ndalohet shitja e alkoolit personave nën 18 vjeç" (It is prohibited to sell alcohol beverages to people under 18 years). Consumption by those under age 18 in public places is prohibited.[161]
  Andorra None[162] 18[162] 18[162] Selling, serving or supplying alcohol beverages is prohibited as well as public consumption of alcohol beverage by minors under the age of 18 years.[162]
  Armenia None[163] 18[163] There are no laws mandating alcohol vendors to ID potential underage drinkers. ID checks are very rarely, if ever, carried out[163] Criminal Code the Republic of Armenia (2003), Article 166: "Involvement, by a person who reached 18 years, of a child into regular use of alcohol drinks... is punished with correctional labor for up to 1 year, or with arrest for the term of 1–2 months, or with imprisonment for the term of 5 years"
  Austria Differing between federal states, none or the same as in public[159] 16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (distilled beverages)[159]
16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (distilled beverages)[159]
The age limits are set out by the legislation of each federal state but were harmonized in January 2019.[159] Carinthia also requires 16-18-year-olds to maintain a blood alcohol level below 0.05%.[164]
  Azerbaijan None[165] 18[165] Law No. 499-IG on Children's Rights (1998)
  Belarus None[166] 18[166]
  Belgium None[167] 18 for distilled beverages of higher than 1.2%ABV and fermented beverages of higher than 22%ABV

16 for other alcohol beverages[167]

Since 10 January 2010, it is prohibited to "sell, serve, or offer" any distilled alcohol beverages to those under the age of 18 or any alcohol beverage to those under 16.[167] Previously, it was prohibited to sell alcohol drinks to under-16s, but accompanying adults could buy drinks for them.
  Bosnia and Herzegovina None[168] 18[168] Selling alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years is an offence. The law does not prohibit minors from buying, attempting to buy or consuming alcohol.[168]
  • Law on Public Peace and Order (2015) Article 25 prohibits providing alcohol beverages to minors.
  • Law on Internal Trade (2010), Article 10 prohibits the sale in the retail trade of alcohol beverages to persons under 18 years of age.
  Bulgaria None[169] 18[169][170] It is prohibited to sell or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18.[169]
  Croatia None[171] 18[171] It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under 18 years of age. There is no minimum age to buy or consume alcohol by law.[171]
  Cyprus 17[172] 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years, and for those under 17 years old to consume alcohol beverages.[172]
  Czech Republic None 18[173] It is prohibited to provide alcohol to minors but consumption itself is not prohibited by law.[173]
  Denmark None[174] 18[174] 16 (beverages of <16.5% ABV)
18 (beverages of ≥16.5% ABV)[174]
While there is no age requirement for drinking alcohol beverages in Denmark, there are laws that prohibit minors from buying alcohol from on-premise and off-premise outlets.

If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID card and is identified having sold alcohol to an underage, it is subject to fine. A national ID card, obtained in the local town hall, can serve as age verification.[175] This card is rarely used though since a passport or driver's license is more commonly used.[176]

Both the legal drinking and purchasing age in the Faroe Islands is 18.[177]

  Estonia 18[178] 18[178] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. Alcohol found in possession of any child can be confiscated by the police.
  Finland 18 (1.2–22% ABV)
20 (>22% ABV)[179]
18[179] 18 (1.2–22% ABV)
20 (>22% ABV)[179]
All major grocery chains have implemented a policy to ask for ID if the customer looks under 30.[180] Stores may refuse to sell alcohol if the customer is accompanied by a minor, or if proxy purchasing is suspected. Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is a criminal offence.[179]

Police may search minors in public places and confiscate or destroy any alcohol beverages in their possession. Incidents are reported to the legal guardian and child protective services, who may intervene with child welfare procedures. In addition, those aged 15 or above are subject to a fine.[181]

In private, offering alcohol to a minor is considered a criminal offence if it results in drunkenness and the act can be deemed reprehensible as a whole, considering the minor's age, degree of maturity and other circumstances.[179]

  France None 18[182] France has no explicitly stated consumption age, but selling alcohol beverages to a minor (under 18) is prohibited and can be fined 7500 euros.[182]
  Georgia None[183] 18[183] Under the Law on Protecting Minors from Harmful Influences 2001 the sale of alcohol beverages to minors is prohibited.[183] Juvenile Justice Code (2015) Article 3 defines minors as those under 18.
  Germany None 14 (beer, wine and cider if accompanied)
16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts)[184]
14 (beer, wine and cider if accompanied)
16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts)[184]
It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply fermented alcohol beverages (beer, wine, cider and sparkling wine) to anyone under 16 years of age. However this age limit drops down to 14 if a minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. It is generally prohibited to serve, sell or supply any beverage containing spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts, to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violation of the "Protection of Young Persons Act" can be fined up to €50,000.
  Gibraltar None[185] 16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits)[185]
18[185] It is prohibited to sell alcohol drinks to anyone under the age of 18, other than the following two exceptions. The minimum age to be served in licensed premises is 16 if:[185]
  • The alcohol beverage is beer, wine or cider below 15% ABV, or
  • The alcohol beverage is served in a bottle, or a pre-packaged container below 5.5% ABV.
  Greece None[186] 18[186] 18[186] In 2008, the consumption of alcohol beverages was prohibited for minors in public. However, the law does not apply to private events or private premises.[186] However, the law is rarely enforced with authorities reporting high numbers of teen alcohol consumption yearly.[187]
  Hungary None 18[1] 18[1]
  Iceland None 20[188] Possession or consumption of alcohol by people under the age of 20 is not an offence, but police will contact parents of those under 18 and send a report to the child protection agency, supplying them with alcohol is an offence. Drinking in public is prohibited, though this is rarely enforced in public places.
  Ireland None[189] 18[189] 18[189] It is prohibited for minors to buy alcohol or for a third party to attempt to buy it for minors. Minors are prohibited to drink in private residences unless it is with their parent or guardian's permission.[190]
  Italy None[191] 18[192][191] In 2012 the then Health Minister Renato Balduzzi proposed to raise the age to 18.[191] Selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 in shops carries a fine between €250 and €1000. Serving alcohol beverages to those under the age of 16 is a criminal offense and is punished with prison up to one year, if the individual is 16 or 17 it will be treated as an offense that is fined between €250 and €1000 (Legge n. 189/2013).
  Kosovo None 18[193]
  Latvia None[194] 18[194] It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to any minor under the age of 18 years. Persons between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to present an identity document to the retailer when purchasing alcohoc beverages, regardless of whether the retailer has requested it. There is no minimum age to consume or possess alcohol.[194]
  Liechtenstein 18 (spirits and spirit-based beverages)

16 (other alcohol beverages)[195]

Spirits and alcopops may be sold only to people at least 18, and other alcohol beverages to people at least 16. Consumption and possession is prohibited at the same ages.
  Lithuania 20[158] It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 20 years. People under the age of 20 are prohibited from consuming alcohol beverages or from possessing them. The minimum age was raised from 18 to 20 in 2018.[158]
  Luxembourg None[196] 16[196] It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages of >1.2% ABV to any person under the age of 16 years. Violation is fined €251 to €1,000.[196]
  Malta None[197] 17[197] 17[197] Must provide identification upon request.
  Moldova None[152] 18[152] It is prohibited to sell, or serve alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not prohibited for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol.[152]
  Montenegro None 18[1]
  Netherlands None 18[198] 18[198] The legal age for purchase and consumption of alcohol beverages was raised from 16 to 18 in 2014. Selling alcoholic beverages to people under 18 is prohibited, while buying alcoholic beverages for someone else under the age of 18 is also prohibited.[198]
  North Macedonia None[199] 18[199]
  Norway None[200] 18 (<22% ABV)
20 (≥22% ABV)[201]
Alcohol possessed by minors may be confiscated as evidence. Drinking in public is prohibited, though this is rarely enforced in recreational areas.[202]
  Poland None[203] None (within designated drinking zones)
Prohibited (elsewhere)
18[203] Article 15 of The Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism[204] prohibits sale or serving of alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 and that if doubt exists as to age, sellers/servers should require ID as proof of age.

Drinking in public places, with the exception of designated drinking zones, is prohibited regardless of age.

  Portugal None[205] 18[205] 18[205]
  Romania None[206] 18[206] 18[206]
  Russia None 16[207] 18[208] Penalties apply to parents of those under 16 years of age who consume alcohol beverages in public places.[207]

The legal purchase age limits are 18.

  San Marino None 16[1] Criminal Code Article 165
  Serbia None 18[209]
  Slovakia 18[210] 18[210]
  Slovenia None[211] 18[211]
  Spain None 18[212] Autonomous region Balearic Islands does not have legislation on legal purchase age limits.
  Sweden None 18[213][214] None Under 2.25% ABV

20[213] 18 (beer, above 2.25% ABV and below or equal to 3.5% ABV)

It is legal for anyone at any age to drink,[215] but off-premise sale or supply to anyone under the age of 20 is prohibited and on-premise establishments are prohibited from serving alcohol beverages to anyone under 18. It is legal to serve an underage person alcohol in a private place, provided it's a limited amount and done in moderation.[213] The reason for the lower limit in bars than in Systembolaget shops is that bartenders have a legal responsibility for how drunk a guest gets.[214] Class II beer (up to 3.5% ABV), called folköl ("people's beer"), is sold in regular stores, but with the minimum purchase age of 18.[216] Class I beer (2.25% ABV and under) has no age restriction.
   Switzerland    Switzerland (federal law) None 16 (fermented beverages with up to 15% ABV and natural wines with up to 18% ABV)[217]
18 (spirits)[218]
Whoever offers or supplies alcohol beverages to a child under the age of 16 years in an amount which is harmful to one's health is punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine.[219] Whoever sells or supplies spirits to a person under the age of 18 years is punished with a fine up to 10,000 CHF.[220]
  Ticino 18 Canton Ticino prohibits the selling of any type of alcohol beverage to minors under the age of 18.[221]
  Ukraine None 18[1] Law No. 1824-VI on state regulation of production and turnover of ethyl, cognac and fruit, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products Article 15-3
  United Kingdom   England
  Wales
None / 5[222] 18[222]
16 (beer, wine or cider with meal and if accompanied by adult)[223]
18[222]
  • It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcohol beverages in licensed premises to anyone under the age of 18,[222] but those aged 16–17 may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal and they are accompanied by an adult. Minors are prohibited to consume alcohol beverages in public.
  • Import: People over 17 are entitled to a duty-free allowance for alcohol beverages.
  Scotland None 18[223]
16 (beer, wine or cider with a meal if accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older)[223]
18[223]
  • It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18, except for those aged 16–17, who may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal and they are accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older. Minors are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages in public.[224]
  • Import: People over 17 are entitled to a duty-free allowance for alcoholic beverages.[225]
  Northern Ireland 14 18 18 It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18. Minors are prohibited to consume alcohol beverages in public. It is illegal for persons under 14 to drink alcohol in private, unless it is for medical purposes. [226]
  United Kingdom Under the BBPA's Challenge 21 and Challenge 25 schemes, customers attempting to buy alcohol beverages are asked to prove their age if in the retailer's opinion they look under 21[227] (or optionally 25) even though the law states they must be a minimum of 18. Many supermarket and off-licence chains display Challenge 21 (or Challenge 25) notices stating that they will not serve people who look under 21 (or 25) without ID.

Oceania edit

Country State/ region/ province De jure Notes
Drinking age Purchase age
  Australia 18[1] All states restrict purchasing to over 18, but exceptions may apply if accompanied by a parent or guardian. The government-supported Youth Law Australia portal offers details on consumption and supply age limits by state.[228]
  Fiji 18[229] The drinking age was previously 21 but was lowered to 18 in 2009.[229]
  Kiribati 21[230] Liquor Ordinance 1973 Art 11

Liquor (Amendment) Act 12-2005 Art 27

  Marshall Islands 21[231] Alcoholic Beverage Control Act 1971 Art 111(i)

Alcohol Restriction Act of 1994 Art 202(1)

  Micronesia, Federated States of   Chuuk
  Kosrae
18[232][233]
  Pohnpei
  Yap
21[234][235]
  Nauru 21[236] Liquor Ordinance 1967 Art 33
  New Zealand None 18[237] Minimum age applies for beverages with 1.15% ABV or over; no restrictions on beverages less than 1.15% ABV.[238]
Persons under 18 may drink outside private residences or private functions if accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Alcohol may be supplied to minors only by, or with express consent from, their parent or legal guardian.[239]
  Palau 21[240] It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to a person under 21 years of age. Minors may access a bar or licensed premises only if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Minors buying, consuming or attempting to buy alcohol are committing an offence. The law provides an exception for the consumption of alcohol by minors as part of a religiously recognized ceremony.[240]
  Papua New Guinea 18[241] It is prohibited for a minor to purchase, consume or attempt to purchase alcohol beverages. Any licence holder has to ensure that the customer who he sells or serves alcohol to, is at least 18 years of age. Violation of this law is punishable by a fine.[241] Liquor Licensing Act (1963) Art 102–103
  Samoa 21[242] Selling or serving alcohol to a person under the age of 21 years is punishable with a three hundred dollar fine, imprisonment for nine months, or both.[243] "does not apply to a licensee of a food and beverage license provided that the person under the age of 21 years is under the supervision of an attending parent."
  Solomon Islands None[243] 21[243] Selling or serving alcohol to a person under the age of 21 years is punishable with a three hundred dollar fine, imprisonment for nine months, or both.[243]
  Tokelau 18[244]
  Tonga 18[245] Selling, serving or supplying alcohol to anyone under 18 years is prohibited. It is also prohibited for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol in any public place and any violation of this law is punishable by a $1,000 fine.[245]
  United States   American Samoa 21[246]
  Guam 21[247] As of July 2010, the drinking age in the territory of Guam has been raised to 21.
  Northern Mariana Islands 21[248]
  Vanuatu 18[249] It is unlawful to sell, serve or supply alcohol to any person under the age of 18 years. Violation of the law is fined up to VT 25,000 or by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months, or by both, fine and imprisonment. Any minor under the age of 18 years, being found in possession or consumption of alcohol is fined up to VT 10,000.[249]

See also edit

References edit

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legal, drinking, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Legal drinking age news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The legal drinking age is the minimum age at which a person can legally consume alcoholic beverages The minimum age alcohol can be legally consumed can be different from the age when it can be purchased in some countries These laws vary between countries and many laws have exemptions or special circumstances Most laws apply only to drinking alcohol in public places with alcohol consumption in the home being mostly unregulated an exception being the UK which has a minimum legal age of five for supervised consumption in private places Some countries also have different age limits for different types of alcohol drinks 1 Minimum legal age to purchase alcohol by country Prohibited 25 or older 25 supervised drinking fermented alcoholic beverages from the age of 21 21 21 supervised drinking fermented alcoholic beverages from the age of 18 20 20 supervised drinking fermented alcoholic beverages from the age of 18 19 18 18 supervised drinking fermented alcoholic beverages from the age of 16 17 16 15 or younger No regulation no age set The majority of countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 18 2 The most commonly known reason for the law behind the legal drinking age is the effect on the brain in adolescents Since the brain is still maturing alcohol can have a negative effect on the memory and long term thinking Alongside that it can cause liver failure and create a hormone imbalance in teens due to the constant changes and maturing of hormones during puberty 3 Some countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 19 to prevent the flow of alcoholic beverages in high schools 4 while others like the United States have a minimum legal purchasing age of 21 18 in P R and USVI in an effort to reduce the amount of drunk driving rates among teenagers and young adults 5 Contents 1 Africa 2 Americas 3 Asia 4 Europe 5 Oceania 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksAfrica editThe most common minimum age to purchase alcohol in Africa is 18 However Angola except Luanda Province Central African Republic Comoros Equatorial Guinea Guinea Bissau and Mali have no laws on the books restricting the sale of alcohol to minors In Libya Somalia and Sudan the sale production and consumption of alcohol is completely prohibited improper synthesis Country State region province De jure NotesDrinking age Purchase age nbsp Algeria None 6 18 7 Order No 26 75 1975 Article 14 nbsp Angola None 8 There is no national legislation prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors Luanda Province 18 9 Legislation in Luanda Province It is prohibited to sell alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 It is also prohibited for minors to buy and consume alcohol 9 nbsp Benin None 20 Republic of Benin Report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC C BEN 2 2005 Article 8 of the decree of 10 June 1942 regulating the production import advertisement sale and consumption of alcohol beverages in French West Africa prohibits the sale or free supply of alcohol beverages to minors under 20 Article 13 stipulates fines ranging from CFAF 200 000 to CFAF 1 million for such offences doubled in the case of repeat offences There are no official measures prohibiting children from consuming alcohol tobacco or other substances harmful to their health nbsp Botswana None 10 prohibited for any person to supply 8 18 10 It is prohibited for any person with a liquor license to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years Since the law only applies to licenses it is not prohibited for minors to buy consume or possess alcohol beverages 10 It is also prohibited for any person to expose or supply alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years 8 nbsp Burundi None 11 18 unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian 11 It is prohibited for any person with a liquor license to sell or supply alcohol beverages to unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 years nbsp Cameroon 2118 if accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older 12 It is prohibited for any person with a liquor license to sell or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 years of age The law permits adults from the ages 18 to 21 to consume purchase and buy alcohol beverages if accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older Anyone over the age of 21 years may buy or consume alcohol unaccompanied nbsp Cape Verde None 13 18 13 It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years nbsp Central African Republic 15 off premises or 21 on premises 14 It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 15 years when sold or supplied off premises e g liquor stores wine stores and supermarkets It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 21 years when sold or supplied on premises e g restaurants bars and cafes 14 nbsp Chad None 18 Law 2017 01 Penal Code Chapter 6 Articles 376 378 establish penalties for licensees who permit entry to youth below age 16 unaccompanied by a supervising adult sell or offer alcohol beverages to youth below age 18 unaccompanied by a supervising adult or serve a person below age 18 to intoxication nbsp Comoros 18 15 It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years 15 nbsp Democratic Republic of the Congo 18 nbsp Djibouti None nbsp Egypt 21 Law No 371 of 1956 concerning public shops and the resolutions implementing it nbsp Equatorial Guinea 21 16 nbsp Eritrea None 17 18 17 It is prohibited for any person to sell or serve alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years nbsp Eswatini 18 8 Liquor Licenses Act 1964 Section 27 nbsp Ethiopia 21 18 21 19 It is prohibited for any person to sell offer serve or allow to serve alcohol beverages in substantial quantities to any infant or young person The criminal code defines a young person as any person under the age of 18 years But the Criminal Code Proclamation 414 2004 states Whoever endangers the health of another intentionally and unscrupulously by administering or serving or by causing or permitting to be administered or served to minors defined as anyone under the age of 18 years alcohol beverages or spirituous liquors of such kind or in such quantity as to make their injurious effect certain or probable is punishable with simple imprisonment not exceeding one year and fine The Revised Family Code Proclamation No 213 2000 Article 215 defines a minor as anyone who has not attained the full age of 18 In 2019 the Ethiopian parliament passed a bill that bans a specific category of alcohol advertising in the media and also increases the age limit for purchasing alcohol from 18 to 21 years of age nbsp Gabon None 18 Penal Code 1963 Article 209bis 1 nbsp Gambia None 20 8 16 20 8 Under the Liquor License Act 1957 it is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the apparent age of 16 A young person is defined as anyone under the age of 17 by the Children and Young Persons Act 1949 Section 2 nbsp Ghana None 18 21 nbsp Guinea Bissau None 8 nbsp Kenya None 22 18 22 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years nbsp Lesotho 18 23 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply any alcohol beverage to a minor under the age of 18 years It is also prohibited for minors to consume buy or attempt to buy alcohol nbsp Liberia None 18 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years this section shall not apply to a parent or guardian who serves an alcoholic beverage to his child or ward Penal Law of 1976 Sec 16 nbsp Libya Prohibited for all ages 24 Previously Article 498 of the Libyan Penal Code prohibited the sale of alcohol beverages to juveniles under the age of 16 years 8 nbsp Malawi None 18 25 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years nbsp Mauritania Prohibited for all ages 26 nbsp Mauritius None 18 27 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years nbsp Morocco None Restricted to non Muslims16 for non MuslimsProhibited for Muslims Legislative Decision No 3 177 66 of 1967 Art 28 29 nbsp Mozambique 18 28 Decree 54 2013 Regulations on the Control of the Production Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages 2013 Article 5 Prohibitions nbsp Namibia None 18 29 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years nbsp Niger 18 Penal Code Article 302 nbsp Nigeria None at national level 8 None all other states 18 in AbujaProhibited in Borno For Abuja Municipal Area Council Bye Law 2001 Sec 15 nbsp Republic of the Congo None 18 30 nbsp Rwanda 18 Organic Law implementing the Penal Code N 01 2012 OL Articles 217 and 219 nbsp Senegal None 18 31 nbsp Seychelles None 18 Chapter 113 Licenses Act 2010 Subsidiary Legislation Licenses Manufacturing Regulation 1987 Article 8 5 page 20 In the case of manufacturing and processing of liquor tobacco and tobacco products the license holder shall i not deliver or sell liquor to or allow any consumption of liquor by any person under the age of 18 years or deliver or sell tobacco or tobacco products or allow it to be used on the premises by such a person Subsidiary Legislation Licenses Liquor and Outdoor Entertainment Regulations 1998 Article 14 page 28 1 The holder of a license his servant or agent shall not a employ or allow a person under the age of 18 years b sell or deliver liquor cigarettes or tobacco products to or allow liquor to be consumed or cigarettes or any tobacco products to be used by any person under the age of 18 years on the premises i admit any person under the age of 18 years to a premises licensed as a public bar toddy bar or at the premises licensed to manufacture and sell baka or lapire nbsp Somalia Prohibited for all ages 32 nbsp South Africa None 18 The parent adult guardian of a minor or a person responsible for administering a religious sacrament may on occasion supply to that minor a moderate quantity of liquor to be consumed by the minor in the presence and under the supervision of that parent guardian or other person 33 nbsp South Sudan 18 8 nbsp Sudan Restricted to non MuslimsMuslims Prohibited for all agesNon Muslims Unknown 34 Penal Code 1991 Art 78 79 nbsp Tanzania None 18 35 nbsp Togo None 8 20 36 18 beer wine and cider Ordinance No 34 of 1967 Code of alcohol beverage outlets and anti alcoholism measures Art 29 nbsp Tunisia None 18 Law 2004 75 Article 4 prohibits entry to night clubs to those under 18 with an exception for accompanied persons between 16 and 18 in certain venues sale of alcohol beverages to whom is prohibited nbsp Uganda None 37 1816 wine beer porter cider perry or native liquor with meal 37 It is prohibited for any licensee to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years The law provides an exception for anyone who is 16 or 17 years of age and consumes a fermented alcohol drink with a meal in a part of a licensed premises that serves meals and is not a bar nbsp Western Sahara None 8 nbsp Zambia 18 38 16 traditional beer 39 It is prohibited for any person with a liquor license to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 years of age Before the Liquor Licensing Act was enacted in 2011 the minimum age to sell serve and supply alcohol beverages was 14 years 40 nbsp Zimbabwe None 41 18 except with parent or guardian consent Liquor Act Article 116 Prohibited conduct by persons in general 1 No person shall l being a person to whom in terms of this Act the sale of liquor is prohibited purchase or attempt to purchase liquor in contravention of such provision o sell lend give supply or deliver or offer so to do any liquor to any person under the age of eighteen years except with the consent of the parent or guardian of that person Children s Act Section 78 It is prohibited for any person to sell lend give supply deliver or offer alcohol beverages to any child under the age of 16 years except upon production of a written order signed by the parent or guardian of the child known to such person The police has the duty to seize any alcohol beverage in the possession of a child under the age of 16 years without a written consent of the parents or legal guardian 41 Americas editIn Central America the Caribbean and South America the legal drinking age and legal purchase age varies from 0 to 20 years see table below In South America in particular the legal purchase age is 18 years with two exceptions In Paraguay the legal drinking age and purchase age is 20 years In Guyana minors aged 16 or 17 may consume a glass of beer or wine in a restaurant provided they buy a meal In North America the legal drinking age and legal purchase age varies from 18 to 21 years In Mexico the drinking age is 18 in all states In the United States the minimum legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages is 21 years of age the two exceptions are Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands where the age is 18 The legal drinking age varies by state and many states have no age requirements for supervised drinking with one s parents or legal guardians In Canada most provinces have a minimum age of 19 years to buy or consume alcohol while in Alberta Manitoba and Quebec the minimum age is 18 years In the late 20th century much of North America changed its minimum legal drinking ages MLDAs as follows In the 1970s provincial and state policy makers in Canada and the United States moved to lower MLDAs which were set at 21 years in most provinces territories and states to coincide with the jurisdictional age of majority typically 18 years of age As a result MLDAs were reduced in all Canadian provinces and in more than half of US states In Canada however two provinces Ontario in 1979 and Saskatchewan in 1976 quickly raised their subsequent MLDAs from 18 to 19 years in response to a few studies demonstrating an association between the lowered drinking age and increases in alcohol related harms to youth and young adults including increases in motor vehicle accidents MVAs and alcohol intoxication among high school students Following MLDA reductions in the US research in several states provided persuasive evidence of sharp increases in rates of fatal and nonfatal MVAs appearing immediately after the implementation of lower drinking ages These scientific findings galvanized public pressure on lawmakers to raise MLDAs and in response the federal government introduced the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 which imposed a reduction of highway funds for states if they did not increase their MLDA to 21 years All states complied and implemented an MLDA of 21 years by 1988 42 Country State region province De jure NotesDrinking age Purchase age nbsp Anguilla None 43 18 43 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol drinks to anyone under the age of 18 years Violating the regulation is punished with a 9 600 fine nbsp Antigua and Barbuda None 16 44 The sale and distribution of alcohol to a person under 16 years of age and purchase by persons under 16 years of age for consumption in licensed premises are prohibited nbsp Argentina None 18 45 Drinking age is rarely enforced ID is almost never requested nbsp Bahamas 18 46 It is prohibited for any adult to sell serve or supply any alcohol beverage to a child defined as anyone under the age of 18 years The law provides an exception to treat an illness in urgent cases or upon order by a medical doctor nbsp Barbados None 18 47 It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to anyone under the age of 18 years Previously 16 the President of the Barbados Road Safety Association pushed to raise the drinking age to 18 years because the law was often violated 48 49 nbsp Belize 18 50 Drinking age is rarely enforced ID is almost never requested nbsp Bermuda 18 51 It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to a child under the age of 18 years nbsp Bolivia None 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years Law 259 Against the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages 2012 Article 20 nbsp Brazil None 52 18 52 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply any alcohol beverage to a person under 18 years of age The presidential law enacted on 17 March 2015 made any violation of the law a criminal offence Any adult person selling serving giving or supplying alcohol beverages to a minor is punished with imprisonment of 2 to 4 years a fine of R 3 000 to R 10 000 and a ban to operate any business selling or serving alcohol nbsp British Virgin Islands 16 50 It is prohibited to sell or to supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 16 nbsp Canada nbsp Alberta nbsp Manitoba nbsp Quebec 18 53 54 55 In Alberta no person may give or sell or permit any person to give or sell liquor to a minor in licensed premises 53 In Manitoba a person must not give sell or otherwise supply liquor to a minor The law provides exceptions for a doctor dentist pharmacist or other health care professional for medical purposes for sacramental purposes and by the parent guardian spouse or common law partner if it is given or supplied in a residence 54 In Quebec the law prohibits the sale of alcohol beverages to a minor under the age of 18 years 55 nbsp Ontario nbsp Saskatchewan nbsp British Columbia nbsp Newfoundland and Labrador nbsp Nova Scotia nbsp New Brunswick nbsp Prince Edward Island nbsp Northwest Territories nbsp Yukon nbsp Nunavut 19 Ontario s Liquor Licence Act permits the supply and consumption of liquor to those under the age of 19 However supplying a person under the age of 19 is restricted to the person s parent or legal guardian and may only occur in a residence or in a private place of the parent or legal guardian A person under the age of 19 who was supplied liquor in this manner is permitted to consume the liquor only in the place it was supplied 56 nbsp Cayman Islands 18 57 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years It is also prohibited for any minor to buy attempt to buy or consume alcohol beverages Violation of the law is punished with a fine of five thousand dollars and the court may if the offence was committed by the licensee order that the licensee shall forfeit his licence and that no licence may be issued to that person for a period not exceeding ten years from the date of his conviction nbsp Chile 18 1 The minimum age is 18 to enter an enclosure that sells alcohol beverages Selling alcohol to a minor may incur a fine One must provide identification upon request Residents of Chile over the age of 18 must carry their Chilean identification card issued by the Civil Registry and Identification Service at all times 58 nbsp Colombia None 18 59 The law prohibits the sale of alcohol to a minor anyone under the age of 18 years It is not prohibited for minors to buy attempt to buy or consume alcohol 59 nbsp Costa Rica None 18 60 The law prohibits the sale of alcohol to a minor anyone under the age of 18 years Selling alcohol to a minor will be punished with a fine equivalent to ten basic salaries Whoever permits minors to maintain in any establishment which main purpose is to sell alcohol beverages will be sanctioned with a fine equivalent to five salaries It is not prohibited for minors to buy attempt to buy or consume alcohol 60 nbsp Cuba None 16 61 The penal code prohibits any adult to induce any young person under the age of 16 years to habitually consume alcohol beverages However this means that de facto anyone selling serving or supplying alcohol should check if the buyer has attained the age of 16 years In most cases this law is not strictly enforced 61 62 nbsp Dominica None 16 Laws of Dominica Liquor Licences Act Chapter 70 03 Part IV Sec 15 f nbsp Dominican Republic None 18 63 nbsp Ecuador None 18 64 It is prohibited to sell alcohol beverages to a minor under the age of 18 years of age The law obligates establishments to place a visible notice at the point of sale and to check identification to enforce the law However it is not prohibited for minors to buy attempt to buy or consume alcohol 64 nbsp El Salvador None 18 65 It is strictly prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to a minor under the age of 18 years Violation of the law is punished with 25 000 00 and if convicted once more the license will be suspended for a period of six months It is legal for minors to buy attempt to buy and consume alcohol 65 nbsp Falkland Islands 18 66 It is prohibited for any adult to sell give or provide alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years in any public place or licensed premises Parents may permit their children to consume alcohol on private premises Minors consuming alcohol in public are committing a criminal offence The law provides exceptions for the consumption of alcohol by minors for prescription of or at the direction of a government medical officer or in the course of the administration of Holy Communion according to the rites of any Christian denomination 66 nbsp Grenada None 16None off premise Chapter 174 Liquor Dealers Licenses Act 1988 accessible through the Laws of Grenada Portal nbsp Guatemala None 18 67 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply any alcohol drink to a minor under 18 years of age on any establishment or in the street nbsp Guyana None 1816 on premise for wine or malt liquor with a meal 68 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to a person under 18 years of age The law provides an exception for minors aged 16 and 17 if they consume a glass of beer wine or cider with a meal in a restaurant Otherwise attempting to buy alcohol or buying alcohol as a minor is an offence 68 nbsp Haiti None None at national level In the capital Port au Prince it is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to minors under 18 years old from 17 May 2017 Vendors are required to check identification 69 The Senate voted on a proposed Law on the protection of minors from alcohol beverages to establish a legal purchase age of 18 and related implementation measures in December 2012 The law has not yet been approved and enacted Law prohibiting minors entry to entertainment venues Article 1 prohibits those under the age of 16 from entering cinemas and theaters except during children s programming clubs cafes or venues licensed to sell alcohol beverages nbsp Honduras None 18 Law for Police Enforcement and Social Coexistence Decree 226 2001 Article 68 bans the sale of alcohol to minors The definition of punishable gang activity for minors aged 12 18 includes drinking alcohol beverages in public places Art 90 91 Code of Children and Adolescents Decree 73 1996 nbsp Jamaica None 18 70 It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to a child which is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years 70 nbsp Mexico 18 1 All Mexican states prohibit the sale of alcohol to any person under 18 years old Identification is required for age verification Some states may allow minors to consume alcoholic beverages with parental consent 71 nbsp Nicaragua None 18 72 nbsp Panama None 18 73 nbsp Paraguay None 20 74 nbsp Peru None 18 75 nbsp Saint Kitts and Nevis None 18 Liquor Licences Act Sec 32 f nbsp Saint Lucia None 16 Chapter 13 17 Liquor Licence Act Art 37 nbsp Saint Vincent and the Grenadines None 16 76 Chapter 342 Liquor License Act 1990 Sections 27 and 28 nbsp Trinidad and Tobago None 18 77 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to child under the age of 18 years It is also prohibited for an adult to send a child to buy alcohol on behalf It is not prohibited for children to buy or consume alcohol 77 nbsp Turks and Caicos Islands None 18 78 It is prohibited to serve or sell liquor to a young person under the age of eighteen years Minors under the age of sixteen years may not present in a licensed premises mainly serving and selling alcohol beverages 78 nbsp United States 50 states Varies by state 1 21 1 The National Minimum Drinking Age Act requires all states and territories to have a minimum purchasing age of 21 or lose ten percent of their federal highway funding The act does not apply to the age of alcohol consumption i e states may allow alcohol consumption by those under 21 years of age without penalty Exceptions to the drinking age is governed by state law 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 that food is served only in the latter Contrary to popular belief only a few states prohibit minors and young adults from consuming alcohol in private settings The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism maintains a database that details state level regulations on consumption and sale age limits 79 See also Minor in Possession and List of alcohol laws of the United States nbsp Puerto Rico 18 Law 118 Penalties for Provision of Alcoholic Beverages to Minors under 18 years of age 1984 nbsp United States Virgin Islands 18 80 nbsp Uruguay None 18 81 Only selling alcohol to minors under the age of 18 is prohibited consumption and purchase by minors is not prohibited nbsp Venezuela None 18 82 Asia editCountry De jure NotesDrinking age Purchase age nbsp Afghanistan Prohibited for all ages 83 nbsp Bahrain 21 84 nbsp Bangladesh 21 1 21 for non Muslims and foreigners Muslims require medical prescription for purchasing 85 In 2021 reforms were introduced to alcohol regulations for the first time a minimum age was defined 21 years was chosen Muslims can consume alcohol if they obtain a medical prescription 86 nbsp Bhutan None 18 87 nbsp Brunei Prohibited for Muslims and public consumption 17 for non Muslims private residence consumption 1 Prohibited for all ages 1 Non Muslims over 17 years of age are allowed to import alcohol not to exceed maximum total volume 2 litres of liquor and 12 cans of beer at 330 mL for personal use once in 48 hours This alcohol must be stored and consumed at the place of residence of the importer and is not to be given transferred or sold to another person 1 nbsp Cambodia None The Health Ministry drafted a law to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol in June 2015 with emphasis on establishing a minimum legal purchase age of 21 and preventing underage drinking The draft law has not yet been enacted 88 nbsp China None 18 1 Law of the People s Republic of China on the Protection of Minors 2006 Revision Revised in 2012 89 Ministry of Commerce Decree No 25 2006 nbsp Hong Kong None 18 90 IDs are rarely checked in bars and clubs but are checked when purchasing alcohol at shops Private drinking is also not regulated 91 nbsp India 18 25 varies by jurisdiction 1 21 is the legal drinking age in the majority of the states of India 92 Main article Alcohol laws of India18 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Andhra Pradesh Goa Himachal Pradesh Karnataka Puducherry Rajasthan and Sikkim 93 21 in Arunachal Pradesh Assam Chandigarh Chhattisgarh Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Delhi Haryana Jammu and Kashmir Jharkhand Kerala Ladakh Madhya Pradesh Mizoram Odisha Tamil Nadu Telangana Tripura Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal 94 25 in Maharashtra 95 Meghalaya and Punjab 96 Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Bihar Gujarat Lakshadweep Manipur and Nagaland 97 nbsp Indonesia 21 98 Prohibited in Banda Aceh and Papua Prohibited in Banda Aceh and Papua 21 elsewhere for both on and off premise sale According to Minister of Trade Regulation No 20 Year 2014 99 Qanun Laws of Aceh No 6 Year 2014 100 and Regional Regulation of Papua Province No 15 Year 2013 101 nbsp Iran Prohibited for all ages 1 There is a ban on alcohol but religious minorities may purchase small amounts from shops owned by the same religious minority 102 nbsp Iraq 18 103 There was a proposal of banning alcohol in 2016 but was instead taxed by 200 104 nbsp Israel No limit in private places 18 in public spaces 105 18 1 Israel law prohibits selling or serving alcohol to minors Minors are prohibited to drink alcohol in public places and the police may confiscate alcohol drinks from them nbsp Japan 20 106 nbsp Jordan 18 Instructions issued by the Ministry of Interior Concerning Liquor Store Permits 2010 Article 6 nbsp Kazakhstan None 21 Law 235 of 2014 Code of Administrative Offences Section 200 nbsp Kuwait Prohibited for all ages 1 Law No 46 1964 nbsp Kyrgyzstan None 18 1 Law No 269 Government Regulation of the Production and Sale of Alcohol 2009 Article 13 2 nbsp Lebanon None 18 1 Penal Code 1943 Articles 625 626 promulgated by Legislative Decree No 340 2011 According to a global school health study 40 of minors over 13 drink alcohol and up to 25 buy it from stores 107 nbsp Macau None 1 nbsp Malaysia None Restricted to non MuslimsProhibited for Muslims21 for non Muslims 1 Food Act 1983 Food Regulations 1985 Regulation 361 2014 and Food Amendment Regulations 2016 Increased from 18 to 21 in December 2017 effective 16 October 2018 There will be an 18 month grace period for sellers to comply After the grace period anyone caught selling to persons under 21 can be fined up to RM10 000 and jailed up to 2 years 108 Malaysian identity cards will display the word ISLAM if the holder is Muslim and otherwise blank if the holder is non Muslim on the bottom right corner which allows enforcement of the religion based sales restriction nbsp Maldives Restricted to touristsProhibited for citizens18 for tourists 1 Sale of alcohol is limited to tourist resorts It is prohibited to sell alcohol to local Maldivians 109 nbsp Mongolia 21 18 with parent consent 110 21 110 Those under 21 are prohibited from drinking alcohol parents and guardians are prohibited from supplying alcohol to those under 18 nbsp Myanmar None 18 Child Law 1993 Art 65 Excise Act 1958 Art 40 7 nbsp Nepal None 18 111 A policy has reportedly been adopted that would make the legal purchase age 21 However there are exceptions to underage consumption for purposes of religious ceremonies 112 nbsp North Korea Prohibited For Foreigners nbsp Oman 21 1 Residents need personal liquor licenses to consume alcohol in their private residences 113 nbsp Pakistan Prohibited for Muslims 21 for non Muslims 114 Prohibited for Muslims Purchase age for Non Muslims is 21 nbsp Palestine 16 114 Legal in most cities 114 nbsp Philippines None 18 Minors defined as under 18 years old are prohibited to purchase alcohol and adults are prohibited to purchase or provide alcohol to minors Minors are not prohibited to consume alcohol Act Regulating the Access of Minors to Alcohol Section 4 nbsp Qatar Prohibited for Muslims 21 for non Muslims 114 21 Muslims are allowed to purchase alcohol but not consume it 114 Only residents with a liquor license from the Qatar Distribution Company owned by Qatar Airways are allowed to purchase alcohol outside of hotels and restaurants and must make a minimum of QAR 4000 per month 115 nbsp Saudi Arabia Prohibited for all ages 1 Drinking or possessing alcohol is prohibited in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Persons who drink or possess alcohol are subject to arrest and trial Punishments range from heavy fines lengthy prison terms and whippings 116 nbsp Singapore None 117 18 at licensed premises 18 117 It is prohibited to sell alcohol to those under 18 Anyone caught selling furnishing or acquiring alcohol in any licensed premise to persons below 18 can be fined up to 10 000 It is also prohibited for minors to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol from any licensed premises in which the minors can also be fined up to 10 000 However the authorities rarely enforced this on minors It is technically legal for minors to possess and consume alcohol at home and in public not in any licensed premises as there is no law prohibiting it It is also technically legal for someone to purchase alcohol and pass it to minors outside the store or licensed premise 117 nbsp South Korea None 19 118 The age limit for alcohol is 19 calculated by the year of birth This means that an 18 year old will be legally allowed to purchase and consume alcohol if he or she will be turning 19 that year For example two persons born on 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2002 will both turn 19 years of age at the same time on 1 January 2021 and hence both of them will be considered to be of legal age to purchase and consume alcohol on and after that date despite the latter being only 18 years and 1 day old based on western age The method of calculating the legal age for alcohol slightly differs from Korean age reckoning in which another one year will be added to the person s age whereas this method only doesn t take into account the month and day of birth but only the year instead 118 On June 28 2023 the law that requires measuring age in the western way came into force However the previous system to determine the age to drink alcohol will be maintained 119 nbsp Sri Lanka None 21 120 nbsp Syria 18 114 nbsp Taiwan 18 18 121 Parents guardians and others taking care of people under 18 shall not supply alcohol to them or risk administrative fines of 10000 to 50000 new Taiwan dollars Art 55 No person shall supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 Art 91 nbsp Tajikistan None 20 18 1 Sale to minors under 18 years old is prohibited by Article 12 of Law No 451 on State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Ethyl Alcohol and Alcohol Products 114 Parents are required to forbid their children who have not reached age 20 to consume alcohol beverages 122 nbsp Thailand None 20 123 The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008 increased the drinking age in Thailand from 18 to 20 private drinking is not regulated in private locations 123 124 nbsp Turkey 18 18 125 See also Alcohol laws of Turkey nbsp Turkmenistan None 21 126 Prohibited In Airports And Stores Law on Prevention of the Harmful Impact of Alcohol 2018 Art 22 2 Law no Trade Art 33 Code of Administrative Offences Art 315 356 nbsp United Arab Emirates 18 in Abu Dhabi21 in most Northern Emirates and DubaiProhibited in Sharjah 127 21Completely prohibited in Sharjah In November 2020 Drinking became legal in UAE without requiring a license and regardless of the religion 128 Previously expatriate non Muslim residents had to request a liquor permit to purchase alcohol beverages but it was prohibited for such holders to provide drinks to others 129 The legal age for drinking alcohol is 18 in Abu Dhabi although a Ministry of Tourism by law allows hotels to serve alcohol only to those over 21 and 21 in Dubai and the Northern Emirates except Sharjah where drinking alcohol is prohibited 127 It is a punishable offence to drink or to be under the influence of alcohol in public 127 nbsp Uzbekistan None 21 130 In 2023 President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law prohibiting the sale of alcohol and nicotine products to those under 21 years of age reducing it from 20 years nbsp Vietnam 18 18 1 Decree 94 2012 ND CP on Liquor Production and Trading 2012 Article 19 7 nbsp Yemen Prohibited for all ages 131 Exception is in Aden Region where it s legal for 21 and up 132 Europe edit nbsp Sweden is meant to be greenLaws banning minors from consuming alcohol in public private Minimum age to consume alcohol in public and private Minimum age to consume alcohol in public No minimum age to consume alcohol in public or privateMost countries in Europe have set 18 as the minimum age to purchase alcohol Although Austria Belgium Denmark Germany Gibraltar Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malta Portugal and Switzerland except Ticino maintain a minimum purchase age below 18 years minors are permitted either full or limited access to alcohol In 2005 133 2007 134 and 2015 135 harmonization at the European Union level toward a minimum purchase age of 18 was discussed but not agreed Timeline of changes to drinking purchase age or laws restricting the access to alcohol for minors In 2002 the Spanish autonomous communities Madrid 136 Valencia 137 and Catalonia 138 raised their minimum purchase age to 18 years Previously Valencia and Madrid had a minimum purchase age of 16 years and in Catalonia minors aged 16 or 17 could purchase alcohol up to 23 ABV on and off premise In 2004 Denmark 139 raised its off premise purchase age from 15 to 16 years In November 2005 Switzerland passed its Food and Commodities Regulation 140 German Lebensmittel und Gebrauchsgegenstandeverordnung introducing a ban on alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 16 The Alcohol Law 141 German Alkoholgesetz passed in 1980 requires a minimum age of 18 years for the retail sale of distilled spirits Therefore it is prohibited to sell fermented alcohol e g beer wine sparkling wine or cider to anyone under the age of 16 and any distilled alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years The canton of Ticino has a cantonal law since 1989 that makes the purchase age limit for all alcohol beverages 18 years 142 In 2006 the Spanish autonomous community Castile and Leon 143 raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years In late 2006 Gibraltar 144 lawmakers passed the Children and Young Persons Alcohol Tobacco and Gaming Act 2006 which raised the minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years But the new law made an exception minors aged 16 or 17 can purchase and consume beer wine or cider under 15 ABV on premise and pre packed containers of an alcohol strength not exceeding 5 5 ABV e g alcopops In 2009 France 145 raised its minimum purchase age to 18 years 146 147 and fines were increased for selling or serving alcohol to a minor up to 7 500 Previously the minimum age was 16 years for off premise and on premise purchases of low alcohol beverages up to 3 ABV such as wine beer cider perry mead creme de cassis and juices from fermented fruits or vegetables that contain 1 2 to 3 alcohol natural sweet wines from controlled cultivation and 18 for higher ABV beverges In October 2009 the government of Malta 148 passed a new law raising its drinking and purchase age from 16 to 17 years In 2010 the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years 149 In 2011 Denmark 150 passed a law raising the minimum age for off premise sale of alcohol beverages of gt 16 5 ABV to 18 years of age The minimum age to purchase alcohol beverages of lt 16 5 ABV remains 16 In March 2012 Moldova raised the minimum purchase age to 18 from 16 previously 151 152 Italy raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 in 2012 Previously Italy did not have a purchase age for off premise sales and the minimum age of 16 years for on premise sales was not well enforced 153 In 2013 the government of Portugal restricted alcohol sales to young people distilled spirits cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18 and other alcohol beverages e g beer wine or cider cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16 Previously the minimum age for all alcohol beverages was 16 years 154 As of 1 January 2014 update the minimum legal purchase and consumption age was raised from 16 to 18 in the Netherlands Previously young people over the age of 16 could purchase and consume alcohol beverages of lt 15 ABV and those aged 18 and over could purchase all alcohol beverages 155 As of March 2015 update the Spanish autonomous community of Asturias raised its drinking age from 16 to 18 years Asturias was Spain s last community with a drinking age of 16 years The new law brings the drinking age into line with the rest of Spain with the exception of Balearic Islands where no purchase age limit is set 156 As of December 2015 update Portugal harmonized its minimum drinking age to 18 years across all beverage types Previously the purchase age was 16 years for low alcohol beverages such as beer wine or cider 157 As of 1 January 2018 update Lithuania raised its minimum drinking age from 18 to 20 years 158 From January 2019 the federal states of Austria decided to align their drinking and purchase ages The states Burgenland Lower Austria and Vienna therefore raised their age limits for alcohol beverages containing spirits to 18 Prior to 2019 these states had a general drinking and purchase age of 16 years The sale and consumption of beer wine and other fermented alcohol beverages is now prohibited to children and young people under the age of 16 years and the sale and consumption of spirits to minors under the age of 18 years is prohibited throughout Austria 159 Country Administrative division De jure NotesDrinking age 160 Purchase agePrivate Public On premise Off premise nbsp Albania None 18 161 18 161 The sale of alcohol beverage in bars restaurants or other licensed premises as well as other points of sale is prohibited to minors under the age of 18 years Vendors and operators of licensed premises are required to post a clearly legible notice in A4 format stating Ndalohet shitja e alkoolit personave nen 18 vjec It is prohibited to sell alcohol beverages to people under 18 years Consumption by those under age 18 in public places is prohibited 161 nbsp Andorra None 162 18 162 18 162 Selling serving or supplying alcohol beverages is prohibited as well as public consumption of alcohol beverage by minors under the age of 18 years 162 nbsp Armenia None 163 18 163 There are no laws mandating alcohol vendors to ID potential underage drinkers ID checks are very rarely if ever carried out 163 Criminal Code the Republic of Armenia 2003 Article 166 Involvement by a person who reached 18 years of a child into regular use of alcohol drinks is punished with correctional labor for up to 1 year or with arrest for the term of 1 2 months or with imprisonment for the term of 5 years nbsp Austria Differing between federal states none or the same as in public 159 16 beer wine and cider 18 distilled beverages 159 16 beer wine and cider 18 distilled beverages 159 The age limits are set out by the legislation of each federal state but were harmonized in January 2019 159 Carinthia also requires 16 18 year olds to maintain a blood alcohol level below 0 05 164 nbsp Azerbaijan None 165 18 165 Law No 499 IG on Children s Rights 1998 nbsp Belarus None 166 18 166 nbsp Belgium None 167 18 for distilled beverages of higher than 1 2 ABV and fermented beverages of higher than 22 ABV 16 for other alcohol beverages 167 Since 10 January 2010 it is prohibited to sell serve or offer any distilled alcohol beverages to those under the age of 18 or any alcohol beverage to those under 16 167 Previously it was prohibited to sell alcohol drinks to under 16s but accompanying adults could buy drinks for them nbsp Bosnia and Herzegovina None 168 18 168 Selling alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years is an offence The law does not prohibit minors from buying attempting to buy or consuming alcohol 168 Law on Public Peace and Order 2015 Article 25 prohibits providing alcohol beverages to minors Law on Internal Trade 2010 Article 10 prohibits the sale in the retail trade of alcohol beverages to persons under 18 years of age nbsp Bulgaria None 169 18 169 170 It is prohibited to sell or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 169 nbsp Croatia None 171 18 171 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under 18 years of age There is no minimum age to buy or consume alcohol by law 171 nbsp Cyprus 17 172 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years and for those under 17 years old to consume alcohol beverages 172 nbsp Czech Republic None 18 173 It is prohibited to provide alcohol to minors but consumption itself is not prohibited by law 173 nbsp Denmark None 174 18 174 16 beverages of lt 16 5 ABV 18 beverages of 16 5 ABV 174 While there is no age requirement for drinking alcohol beverages in Denmark there are laws that prohibit minors from buying alcohol from on premise and off premise outlets If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID card and is identified having sold alcohol to an underage it is subject to fine A national ID card obtained in the local town hall can serve as age verification 175 This card is rarely used though since a passport or driver s license is more commonly used 176 Both the legal drinking and purchasing age in the Faroe Islands is 18 177 nbsp Estonia 18 178 18 178 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years Alcohol found in possession of any child can be confiscated by the police nbsp Finland 18 1 2 22 ABV 20 gt 22 ABV 179 18 179 18 1 2 22 ABV 20 gt 22 ABV 179 All major grocery chains have implemented a policy to ask for ID if the customer looks under 30 180 Stores may refuse to sell alcohol if the customer is accompanied by a minor or if proxy purchasing is suspected Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is a criminal offence 179 Police may search minors in public places and confiscate or destroy any alcohol beverages in their possession Incidents are reported to the legal guardian and child protective services who may intervene with child welfare procedures In addition those aged 15 or above are subject to a fine 181 In private offering alcohol to a minor is considered a criminal offence if it results in drunkenness and the act can be deemed reprehensible as a whole considering the minor s age degree of maturity and other circumstances 179 nbsp France None 18 182 France has no explicitly stated consumption age but selling alcohol beverages to a minor under 18 is prohibited and can be fined 7500 euros 182 nbsp Georgia None 183 18 183 Under the Law on Protecting Minors from Harmful Influences 2001 the sale of alcohol beverages to minors is prohibited 183 Juvenile Justice Code 2015 Article 3 defines minors as those under 18 nbsp Germany None 14 beer wine and cider if accompanied 16 beer wine and cider 18 spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts 184 14 beer wine and cider if accompanied 16 beer wine and cider 18 spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts 184 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply fermented alcohol beverages beer wine cider and sparkling wine to anyone under 16 years of age However this age limit drops down to 14 if a minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian It is generally prohibited to serve sell or supply any beverage containing spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts to anyone under the age of 18 years Violation of the Protection of Young Persons Act can be fined up to 50 000 See also Alcohol laws in GermanySee also Protection of Young Persons Act Germany nbsp Gibraltar None 185 16 beer wine and cider 18 spirits 185 18 185 It is prohibited to sell alcohol drinks to anyone under the age of 18 other than the following two exceptions The minimum age to be served in licensed premises is 16 if 185 The alcohol beverage is beer wine or cider below 15 ABV or The alcohol beverage is served in a bottle or a pre packaged container below 5 5 ABV nbsp Greece None 186 18 186 18 186 In 2008 the consumption of alcohol beverages was prohibited for minors in public However the law does not apply to private events or private premises 186 However the law is rarely enforced with authorities reporting high numbers of teen alcohol consumption yearly 187 nbsp Hungary None 18 1 18 1 nbsp Iceland None 20 188 Possession or consumption of alcohol by people under the age of 20 is not an offence but police will contact parents of those under 18 and send a report to the child protection agency supplying them with alcohol is an offence Drinking in public is prohibited though this is rarely enforced in public places nbsp Ireland None 189 18 189 18 189 It is prohibited for minors to buy alcohol or for a third party to attempt to buy it for minors Minors are prohibited to drink in private residences unless it is with their parent or guardian s permission 190 nbsp Italy None 191 18 192 191 In 2012 the then Health Minister Renato Balduzzi proposed to raise the age to 18 191 Selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 in shops carries a fine between 250 and 1000 Serving alcohol beverages to those under the age of 16 is a criminal offense and is punished with prison up to one year if the individual is 16 or 17 it will be treated as an offense that is fined between 250 and 1000 Legge n 189 2013 nbsp Kosovo None 18 193 nbsp Latvia None 194 18 194 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to any minor under the age of 18 years Persons between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to present an identity document to the retailer when purchasing alcohoc beverages regardless of whether the retailer has requested it There is no minimum age to consume or possess alcohol 194 nbsp Liechtenstein 18 spirits and spirit based beverages 16 other alcohol beverages 195 Spirits and alcopops may be sold only to people at least 18 and other alcohol beverages to people at least 16 Consumption and possession is prohibited at the same ages nbsp Lithuania 20 158 It is prohibited to sell serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 20 years People under the age of 20 are prohibited from consuming alcohol beverages or from possessing them The minimum age was raised from 18 to 20 in 2018 158 nbsp Luxembourg None 196 16 196 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages of gt 1 2 ABV to any person under the age of 16 years Violation is fined 251 to 1 000 196 nbsp Malta None 197 17 197 17 197 Must provide identification upon request nbsp Moldova None 152 18 152 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years It is not prohibited for minors to buy attempt to buy or consume alcohol 152 nbsp Montenegro None 18 1 nbsp Netherlands None 18 198 18 198 The legal age for purchase and consumption of alcohol beverages was raised from 16 to 18 in 2014 Selling alcoholic beverages to people under 18 is prohibited while buying alcoholic beverages for someone else under the age of 18 is also prohibited 198 nbsp North Macedonia None 199 18 199 nbsp Norway None 200 18 lt 22 ABV 20 22 ABV 201 Alcohol possessed by minors may be confiscated as evidence Drinking in public is prohibited though this is rarely enforced in recreational areas 202 nbsp Poland None 203 None within designated drinking zones Prohibited elsewhere 18 203 Article 15 of The Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism 204 prohibits sale or serving of alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 and that if doubt exists as to age sellers servers should require ID as proof of age Drinking in public places with the exception of designated drinking zones is prohibited regardless of age nbsp Portugal None 205 18 205 18 205 nbsp Romania None 206 18 206 18 206 nbsp Russia None 16 207 18 208 Penalties apply to parents of those under 16 years of age who consume alcohol beverages in public places 207 The legal purchase age limits are 18 nbsp San Marino None 16 1 Criminal Code Article 165 nbsp Serbia None 18 209 nbsp Slovakia 18 210 18 210 nbsp Slovenia None 211 18 211 nbsp Spain None 18 212 Autonomous region Balearic Islands does not have legislation on legal purchase age limits nbsp Sweden None 18 213 214 None Under 2 25 ABV 20 213 18 beer above 2 25 ABV and below or equal to 3 5 ABV See also Alcohol in Sweden It is legal for anyone at any age to drink 215 but off premise sale or supply to anyone under the age of 20 is prohibited and on premise establishments are prohibited from serving alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 It is legal to serve an underage person alcohol in a private place provided it s a limited amount and done in moderation 213 The reason for the lower limit in bars than in Systembolaget shops is that bartenders have a legal responsibility for how drunk a guest gets 214 Class II beer up to 3 5 ABV called folkol people s beer is sold in regular stores but with the minimum purchase age of 18 216 Class I beer 2 25 ABV and under has no age restriction nbsp Switzerland nbsp Switzerland federal law None 16 fermented beverages with up to 15 ABV and natural wines with up to 18 ABV 217 18 spirits 218 Whoever offers or supplies alcohol beverages to a child under the age of 16 years in an amount which is harmful to one s health is punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine 219 Whoever sells or supplies spirits to a person under the age of 18 years is punished with a fine up to 10 000 CHF 220 nbsp Ticino 18 Canton Ticino prohibits the selling of any type of alcohol beverage to minors under the age of 18 221 nbsp Ukraine None 18 1 Law No 1824 VI on state regulation of production and turnover of ethyl cognac and fruit alcoholic beverages and tobacco products Article 15 3 nbsp United Kingdom nbsp England nbsp Wales None 5 222 18 222 16 beer wine or cider with meal and if accompanied by adult 223 18 222 It is prohibited to sell serve or offer alcohol beverages in licensed premises to anyone under the age of 18 222 but those aged 16 17 may consume wine beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal and they are accompanied by an adult Minors are prohibited to consume alcohol beverages in public Import People over 17 are entitled to a duty free allowance for alcohol beverages nbsp Scotland None 18 223 16 beer wine or cider with a meal if accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older 223 18 223 It is prohibited to sell serve or offer alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 except for those aged 16 17 who may consume wine beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal and they are accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older Minors are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages in public 224 Import People over 17 are entitled to a duty free allowance for alcoholic beverages 225 nbsp Northern Ireland 14 18 18 It is prohibited to sell serve or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 Minors are prohibited to consume alcohol beverages in public It is illegal for persons under 14 to drink alcohol in private unless it is for medical purposes 226 nbsp United Kingdom Under the BBPA s Challenge 21 and Challenge 25 schemes customers attempting to buy alcohol beverages are asked to prove their age if in the retailer s opinion they look under 21 227 or optionally 25 even though the law states they must be a minimum of 18 Many supermarket and off licence chains display Challenge 21 or Challenge 25 notices stating that they will not serve people who look under 21 or 25 without ID Oceania editCountry State region province De jure NotesDrinking age Purchase age nbsp Australia 18 1 Main article Alcohol laws of AustraliaAll states restrict purchasing to over 18 but exceptions may apply if accompanied by a parent or guardian The government supported Youth Law Australia portal offers details on consumption and supply age limits by state 228 nbsp Fiji 18 229 The drinking age was previously 21 but was lowered to 18 in 2009 229 nbsp Kiribati 21 230 Liquor Ordinance 1973 Art 11 Liquor Amendment Act 12 2005 Art 27 nbsp Marshall Islands 21 231 Alcoholic Beverage Control Act 1971 Art 111 i Alcohol Restriction Act of 1994 Art 202 1 nbsp Micronesia Federated States of nbsp Chuuk nbsp Kosrae 18 232 233 nbsp Pohnpei nbsp Yap 21 234 235 nbsp Nauru 21 236 Liquor Ordinance 1967 Art 33 nbsp New Zealand None 18 237 Minimum age applies for beverages with 1 15 ABV or over no restrictions on beverages less than 1 15 ABV 238 Persons under 18 may drink outside private residences or private functions if accompanied by their parent or legal guardian Alcohol may be supplied to minors only by or with express consent from their parent or legal guardian 239 nbsp Palau 21 240 It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to a person under 21 years of age Minors may access a bar or licensed premises only if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian Minors buying consuming or attempting to buy alcohol are committing an offence The law provides an exception for the consumption of alcohol by minors as part of a religiously recognized ceremony 240 nbsp Papua New Guinea 18 241 It is prohibited for a minor to purchase consume or attempt to purchase alcohol beverages Any licence holder has to ensure that the customer who he sells or serves alcohol to is at least 18 years of age Violation of this law is punishable by a fine 241 Liquor Licensing Act 1963 Art 102 103 nbsp Samoa 21 242 Selling or serving alcohol to a person under the age of 21 years is punishable with a three hundred dollar fine imprisonment for nine months or both 243 does not apply to a licensee of a food and beverage license provided that the person under the age of 21 years is under the supervision of an attending parent nbsp Solomon Islands None 243 21 243 Selling or serving alcohol to a person under the age of 21 years is punishable with a three hundred dollar fine imprisonment for nine months or both 243 nbsp Tokelau 18 244 nbsp Tonga 18 245 Selling serving or supplying alcohol to anyone under 18 years is prohibited It is also prohibited for minors to buy attempt to buy or consume alcohol in any public place and any violation of this law is punishable by a 1 000 fine 245 nbsp United States nbsp American Samoa 21 246 nbsp Guam 21 247 As of July 2010 the drinking age in the territory of Guam has been raised to 21 nbsp Northern Mariana Islands 21 248 nbsp Vanuatu 18 249 It is unlawful to sell serve or supply alcohol to any person under the age of 18 years Violation of the law is fined up to VT 25 000 or by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or by both fine and imprisonment Any minor under the age of 18 years being found in possession or consumption of alcohol is fined up to VT 10 000 249 See also editAge of candidacy Alcohol consumption by youth in the United States Alcoholism Amethyst Initiative Choose Responsibility Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility Gambling age Legal drinking age controversy USA Mature minor doctrine National Minimum Drinking Age Act National Youth Rights Association Shoulder tap alcohol Smoking age Youth rights Youth suffrage YouthReferences edit 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 Minimum Legal Age Limits IARD January 2019 Retrieved 18 October 2019 Misachi John 21 December 2020 Drinking Ages Around The World Worldatlas com Retrieved 7 July 2021 Underage Drinking National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism January 2006 Retrieved 13 May 2018 https ccsa ca sites default files 2019 04 CCSA Impact Effectiveness MLDA Legislation 2017 en pdf bare URL PDF Minimum legal drinking age of 21 saves lives CDC 19 April 2022 Drinking age in Algeria Drinking Age in Countries Around the World 25 July 2020 Retrieved 29 October 2020 Minimum Legal Age Limits International Alliance for Responsible Drinking Retrieved 5 November 2023 a b c d e f g h i j k l PROTECTION FROM DRUG ABUSE MINIMUM AGE FOR SALE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL LAWS PDF The African Child Policy Forum Retrieved 12 March 2018 a b Sobre o acesso de menores a espectaculos nocturnos e o consumo e a comercializacao de bebidas alcoolicas por menores Governo Provincial de Luanda Archived from the original on 9 February 2018 Retrieved 12 March 2018 a b c Liquor Act 2008 Section 32 PDF Government of Botswana Archived from the original PDF on 13 March 2018 Retrieved 12 March 2018 a b Code Penal du Burundi Article 501 et 502 PDF MINISTRE DE LA JUSTICE ET GARDE Retrieved 12 March 2018 Law No 2016 007 of July 12 2016 relating to the Penal Code Section 348 Retrieved 12 March 2018 a b Lei n 27 V 97 Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde Retrieved 12 March 2018 a b WHO Global Alcohol Report Central African Republic PDF World Health Organization 2014 Retrieved 18 October 2018 a b WHO Global Alcohol Report Comoros PDF World Health Organization 2014 Retrieved 18 October 2018 WHO Global Alcohol Report Equatorial Guinea PDF World Health Organization 2014 Retrieved 18 October 2018 a b Penal Code of Eritrea Article 267 PDF United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes Archived from the original PDF on 13 March 2018 Retrieved 12 March 2018 Criminal Code 2004 Article 531 amp 818 PDF WIPO Retrieved 12 March 2018 Ethiopia Plans To Strengthen Alcohol Control Movendi International Retrieved 5 November 2023 a b Drug Control Decree and Decree No 80 of 1996 UN Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC Retrieved 12 March 2018 LIQUOR LICENSING ACT 1970 ACT 331 Section 15 Young Persons to be Excluded Ghana Legal Retrieved 12 March 2018 a b ALCOHOLIC DRINKS CONTROL ACT SECTION 28 PDF National Council for Law Reporting Retrieved 12 March 2018 LIQUOR LICENSING ACT 1998 Section 39 Ministry of Tourism Environment and Culture Retrieved 12 March 2018 Penal Code Article 21 of Law No 89 of 1974 prohibiting alcohol and establish the hudud punishment for drinking Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces Retrieved 12 March 2018 Liquor Act Section 74 PDF The African Child Information Hub Retrieved 12 March 2018 Minimum Legal Drinking Age in Other Countries Drinking Age ProCon org Drinking Age Retrieved 2 January 2021 Child Protection Act 1995 Section 16 PDF Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Retrieved 12 March 2018 Sancoes duras para infractores do novo regulamento Domingo Archived from the original on 13 March 2018 Retrieved 12 March 2018 Liquor Act 6 of 1998 PDF Legal Assistance Centre Archived from the original PDF on 13 March 2018 Retrieved 12 March 2018 LOI N 4 2010 DU 14 JUIN 2010 Article 123 PDF UNICEF Archived from the original PDF on 12 September 2015 Retrieved 12 March 2018 N 3097 MINT DAGAT DEL DB PDF REPUBLIQUE DU SENEGAL MINISTRE DE L INTERIEUR Archived from the original PDF on 18 February 2018 Retrieved 12 March 2018 WHO Global Alcohol Report Somalia PDF World Health Organization Retrieved 29 November 2014 Department of Trade amp Industry 26 April 2004 The National Liquor Act 59 of 2003 Government Gazette 446 26294 Archived from the original PDF on 6 January 2019 Retrieved 8 January 2013 Sudan Country Specific Information U S Department of State Archived from the original on 11 January 2014 Law of the Child Act 2009 Section 17 PDF Tanzania Ministry of Health Community Development Gender Elderly and Children Archived from the original PDF on 13 December 2016 Retrieved 12 March 2018 Minimum Legal Age Limits International Alliance for Responsible Drinking Retrieved 5 November 2023 a b Liquor Act 1960 Section 19 Uganda Legal Information Institute Archived from the original on 12 June 2018 Retrieved 12 March 2018 THE LIQUOR LICENSING ACT 2011 Section 36 PDF Government of Zambia Retrieved 12 March 2018 THE TRADITIONAL BEER ACT PDF pp 10 12 The Liquor Act 1959 Section 46 a b CHILDREN S ACT Section 78 PDF International Labour Organisation Retrieved 12 March 2018 Callaghan RC Sanches M Gatley JM Stockwell T 2014 Impacts of drinking age laws on mortality in Canada 1980 2009 Drug and Alcohol Dependence 138 137 145 doi 10 1016 j drugalcdep 2014 02 019 PMID 24631002 a b L075 00 Liquor Licences Act 27 Government of Anguilla Retrieved 18 March 2018 THE LICENSING INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT CHAPTER 249 PART V 24 PDF laws gov ag Archived from the original PDF on 3 January 2015 Retrieved 9 January 2015 Ley Nacional De Lucha Contra El Alcoholismo in Spanish 31 March 1997 Retrieved 7 October 2019 CHILD PROTECTION ACT PART VI CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN SUPERVISION ORDERS 62 4 PDF Government of the Bahamas Retrieved 18 March 2018 RAISE DRINKING AGE BARBADOS ADVOCATE Retrieved 18 March 2018 Henry Anesta Lawmakers Raise Drinking Age to 18 Barbados Today 12 May 2021 Link to article Barbados Happy Hours Frequently Asked Questions About Drinking in Barbados Link to article a b Liquor Licences Act Cap 106 PART IV 34 Sale of intoxicating liquor to children PDF ird gov vg Archived from the original PDF on 3 January 2015 Retrieved 9 January 2015 LIQUOR LICENCE ACT 1974 Procuring drink for drunken person or minor 42 PDF cada bm Retrieved 9 January 2015 a b LEI Nº 13 106 DE 17 DE MARCO DE 2015 Art 1o Art 2o Presidencia da Republica Casa Civil Retrieved 18 March 2018 a b GAMING AND LIQUOR ACT Supplying liquor to minor 75 PDF Alberta Queen s Printer Retrieved 18 March 2018 a b The Liquor and Gaming Control Act No providing liquor to minors 62 1 and 2 Manitoba Queen s Printer Retrieved 18 March 2018 a b ACT RESPECTING LIQUOR PERMITS Gouvernement du Quebec Retrieved 18 March 2018 Liquor Licence Act R S O 1990 c L 19 s 30 Rules persons under 19 Queen s Printer for Ontario 24 July 2014 Retrieved 16 October 2018 LIQUOR LICENSING LAW 21 22 PDF gov ky Archived from the original PDF on 12 September 2015 Retrieved 9 January 2015 LAW ON EXPENDITURE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES in Spanish Retrieved 7 September 2017 a b LEY 124 DE 1994 Articulo 1º Secretaria Juridica Distrital de la Alcaldia Mayor de Bogota D C Retrieved 18 March 2018 a b Ley n º 7633 REGULACIoN DE HORARIOS DE FUNCIONAMIENTO EN EXPENDIOS DE BEBIDAS ALCOHoLICAS ARTICULO 5 PDF Secretaria Juridica Distrital de la Alcaldia Mayor de Bogota D C Retrieved 18 March 2018 a b CODIGO PENAL ARTICULO 313 1 gacetaoficial gob cu Archived from the original on 19 October 2016 Retrieved 18 March 2018 Tragos amargos CUBAHORA 20 November 2013 Retrieved 18 March 2018 Alcohol y menores de edad cnd com do Archived from the original on 3 January 2015 Retrieved 9 January 2015 a b REGLAMENTO GENERAL A LA LEY ORGANICA DE DEFENSA DEL CONSUMIDOR PUBLICADA EN EL SUPLEMENTO DEL REGISTRO OFICIAL No 116 DEL 10 DE JULIO DEL 2000 Art 54 b PDF Secretario General de la Administracion Publica Retrieved 18 March 2018 a b LEY REGULADORA DE LA PRODUCCION Y COMERCIALIZACION DEL ALCOHOL Y DE LAS BEBIDAS ALCOHOLICAS Art 49 PDF Gobierno de San Salvador Retrieved 18 March 2018 a b Control of Drinking by Juveniles Ordinance 1993 Sections 3 4 and 5 Government of the Falkland Islands Retrieved 18 March 2018 Decreto 90 97 Articulo 50 PDF EL Congreso de la Republica de Guatemala Retrieved 7 August 2021 a b Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act Section 55 PDF EL CONGRESO DE LA REPUBLICA DE GUATEMALA Retrieved 9 January 2015 HAITI Interdiction de vendre de l alcool aux mineurs informe le chef du parquet Anmwe News 22 May 2015 Retrieved 17 October 2019 a b Child Care and Protection Act Section 40 PDF Government of Jamaica Retrieved 9 January 2015 Cual es la edad minima para consumir alcohol en Mexico CoDIGO DE LA NINEZ Y LA ADOLESCENCIA LEY No 287 PDF Asamblea Nacional de la Republica de Nicaragua 2014 Retrieved 17 October 2019 EL CONSEJO NACIONAL DE LEGISLACION DECRETA CAPITULO PRIMERO IMPUESTOS SOBRE EXPENDIO DE BEBIDAS ALCOHOLICAS PDF Consejo Nacional de Legislacion Retrieved 9 January 2015 Ley N 1 642 2000 QUE PROHIBE LA VENTA DEBEBIDAS ALCOHoLICAS A MENORES DE EDAD Y PROHIBE SU CONSUMO EN LA VIA PUBLICA Biblioteca y Archivo Central del Congreso Nacional 13 June 2016 Retrieved 17 October 2019 Ley No 28681 PDF docs peru justia com Retrieved 9 January 2015 WHO Global Alcohol Report Saint Vincent and the Grenadines PDF a b Liquor Licenses Act Section 60 PDF Retrieved 9 January 2015 a b Liquor Licenses Act Section 27 Retrieved 9 January 2015 APIS State Profiles of Underage Drinking Laws National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Retrieved 19 October 2019 Helpful Visitor Information for the Virgin Islands Vinow com Retrieved 11 August 2012 Legisladores quieren prohibir que menores de 18 consuman bebidas alcoholicas Retrieved 9 January 2015 Gaceta Oficial N 5 266 Extraordinario de fecha 2 de octubre de 1998 LEY ORGANICA PARA LA PROTECCIoN DEL NINO Y DEL ADOLESCENTE PDF Archived from the original PDF on 17 October 2019 Retrieved 17 October 2019 Penal Code 1976 Art 349 352 PDF Refworld Retrieved 7 October 2019 I was curious what your drinking age is as well tripadvisor com Retrieved 29 October 2020 Bangladesh Introduces New Alcohol Policy Measures Including Alcohol Age Limit and Health Warnings Movendi International Retrieved 5 November 2023 Bangladesh Introduces New Alcohol Policy Measures Including Alcohol Age Limit and Health Warnings Movendi International Retrieved 5 November 2023 Rules And Regulations For Establishment And Operation Of Industrial And Commercial Ventures In Bhutan 1995 PDF Retrieved 29 April 2015 Kimmarita Long Groups urge passing of alcohol law be sped up www phnompenhpost com Retrieved 18 March 2022 laws npc gov cn Retrieved 29 October 2020 Dutiable Commodities Liquor Regulations Cap 109B 37 with reference to Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance Cap 1 3 Regulation of underage drinking Legislative Council 24 April 2017 Gaur Shubhank 6 March 2017 Legal Drinking Age in India MrLiquor Retrieved 7 July 2021 Most states of India have a minimum drinking age of 21 Delhi lowers drinking age What s the age limit to consume alcohol in other states The Indian Express 23 March 2021 Retrieved 21 January 2022 Explained The minimum legal drinking age in some countries across the world The Indian Express Retrieved 4 August 2022 Bombay Prohibition Act 1949 PDF Minimum Legal Age Limits International Alliance for Responsible Drinking Retrieved 27 March 2023 States with total and phase wise prohibition of alcohol in India 6 April 2016 Retrieved 25 April 2016 Tak Boleh Minum Bir Sebelum Umur 21 Tahun CNN Indonesia Retrieved 5 September 2017 JDIHN Detail Dokumen jdihn go id Retrieved 22 May 2023 JDIHN Detail Dokumen jdihn go id Retrieved 22 May 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Distribution Control Act Nepal Law Commission Retrieved 19 October 2019 Nepal IOGT International Retrieved 17 October 2019 Oman Foreign and Commonwealth Office Retrieved 24 September 2016 a b c d e f g What s the Legal Drinking Age in Asia TripSavvy Archived from the original on 12 August 2020 Retrieved 2 January 2021 Alcohol and Liquor Licences in Qatar Qatar Angloinfo Retrieved 25 May 2022 Rules and laws on drugs and alcohol in Saudi Arabia Expatica Expat Guide to Saudi Arabia Expatica Retrieved 29 October 2020 a b c Liquor Control Supply and Consumption Act 2015 No 5 of 2015 a b 청소년보호법 Seo Jessie Yeung Yoonjung 28 June 2023 South Koreans become younger overnight after country scraps Korean age CNN Retrieved 28 June 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link NATIONAL AUTHORITY ON TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL ACT No 27 OF 2006 PDF Retrieved 21 October 2019 Protection of Children and Youth Welfare and Rights Act zh 兒童及少年福利法 of the Republic of China Article 2 of defines children and youth as people under the age of 18 Zakon Respubliki Tadzhikistan ob otvetstvennosti roditelej za obuchenie i vospitanie detej Retrieved 21 October 2019 a b Patin Jennifer Thailand Tourist Information A Guide to Laws in Thailand Thailand Law Forum Retrieved 8 January 2013 takwa 20 p imkhaysraih Thaihealth or th Retrieved 28 July 2015 ISPIRTO VE ISPIRTOLU ICKILER INHISARI KANUNU PDF Retrieved 22 October 2019 Minimum Legal Age Limits International Alliance for Responsible Drinking Retrieved 5 November 2023 a b c United Arab Emirates travel advice GOVUK gov uk Retrieved 26 May 2016 UAE announces relaxing of Islamic laws for personal freedoms AP NEWS 7 November 2020 Retrieved 8 November 2020 International Drinking Guidelines International Center for Alcohol Policies Retrieved 17 February 2009 UzDaily Uzbekistan bans sale of alcohol and tobacco to people under 21 UzDaily uz in Russian Retrieved 5 November 2023 14 Countries Where Drinking Alcohol Is Illegal WorldAtlas 25 April 2017 Drinking age in Yemen Drinking Age in Countries Around the World 25 July 2020 Retrieved 29 October 2020 AFP dpa 26 February 2005 EU will Alkoholkauf erst ab 18 erlauben rp online de in German Retrieved 23 March 2018 AFP dpa 13 March 2007 Die EU will Alkohol erst ab 18 Jahren freigeben abendblatt de in German Retrieved 23 March 2018 Christoph B Schiltz 27 April 2015 EU Parlament will Alkohol unter 18 verbieten welt de politik in German Retrieved 23 March 2018 Marlowe 7 March 2002 La ley seca aprobada en Madrid elinconformistadigital com in Spanish Archived from the original on 8 April 2015 Retrieved 7 April 2015 El Conseller Blasco propone aumentar la edad legal para el consumo de alcohol joves net in Spanish 2002 Archived from the original on 14 April 2015 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Cataluna eleva hasta los 18 anos la edad minima para poder comprar alcohol lasdrogas info in Spanish 28 February 2002 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Forbud mod salg af alkohol til personer under 16 ar virker det si folkesundhed dk in Danish Jorgensen MH Riegels M Hesse U amp Gronbaek M 2006 p Kobenhavn Statens Institut for Folkesundhed Retrieved 7 April 2015 Lebensmittel und Gebrauchsgegenstandeverordnung Art 11 admin ch in German The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation Retrieved 7 April 2015 Bundesgesetz uber die gebrannten Wasser Art 41 admin ch in German The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation Retrieved 7 April 2015 Legge sulla promozione della salute e il coordinamento sanitario Legge sanitaria Art 51 ti ch in Italian Retrieved 7 April 2015 La legislacion contra el botellon en manos de las comunidades autonomas ElConfidencial com in Spanish 2012 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Children and Young Persons Alcohol Tobacco and Gaming Act 2006 PDF gibraltarlaws gov gi Government of Gibraltar 2006 Archived from the original PDF on 21 July 2011 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Bastien Hugues 9 March 2009 La vente d alcool et de tabac interdite aux mineurs lefigaro fr in French Retrieved 7 April 2015 Law passed on 23 July 2009 French Public Health Code Art L3353 4 Mark 16 June 2014 Legal Drinking Age livinginmalta com Retrieved 7 April 2015 Santiago de Compostela 17 June 2010 Galicia elevara de 16 a 18 anos la edad para beber y multara la venta a menores elmundo es in Spanish Retrieved 7 April 2015 Lovgivning pa alkoholomradet sundhedsstyrelsen dk in Danish Sundhedsstyrelsen 22 January 2014 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Art 30 lit j in redacţia LP22 din 01 03 12 MO92 15 05 12 art 290 a b c d LEGE Nr 1100 din 30 06 2000 cu privire la fabricarea si circulaţia alcoolului etilic si a producţiei alcoolice Art 30 lex justice md 15 October 2010 Retrieved 22 March 2018 Divieto di vendita alcolici ai minori di anni 18 ufficiocommercio it in Italian Ufficio Commercio 14 November 2012 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho 27 March 2013 RESTRICOES A DISPONIBILIZACAO VENDA E CONSUMO DE BEBIDAS ALCOoLICAS N º02 2013 PDF ivv min agricultura pt in Portuguese Archived from the original PDF on 7 November 2013 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Alcohol in de wet rijksoverheid nl in Dutch 28 November 2012 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Las copas saldran caras a los menores lne es in Spanish 6 March 2015 Retrieved 7 April 2015 Decreto Lei n º 50 2013 Diario da Republica n º 74 2013 Serie I de 2013 04 16 Amendment by Decreto Lei n º 106 2015 Diario da Republica n º 115 2015 Serie I de 2015 06 16 em vigor a partir de 2015 07 01 dre pt in Portuguese Retrieved 24 July 2019 a b c Lietuvos Respublikos alkoholio kontroles įstatymas e tar lt Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b c d e Osterreichs digitales Amt Rauchen und Alkohol in German 4 January 2019 Retrieved 21 October 2019 drs J Mulder J de Greeff MSc EYES ON AGES A research on alcohol age limit policies in European Member States Legislation enforcement and research PDF Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy STAP European Commission Retrieved 28 July 2019 a b c LIGJ Nr 9518 date 18 4 2006 PER 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Prodaja alkoholnih pica osobama mlađim od 18 godina jeunesetalcool be Retrieved 9 January 2015 a b c ZAKON ZA ZAKRILA NA DETETO Lex bg Retrieved 21 October 2019 ZAKON ZA ZDRAVETO Lex bg Retrieved 21 October 2019 a b c Zakon o trgovini zakon hr Retrieved 24 October 2019 a b O peri Pwlhsews Oinopneymatodwn Potwn Nomos KEF 144 CyLaw Retrieved 24 October 2019 a b Zakon c 65 2017 Sb Zakon o ochrane zdravi pred skodlivymi ucinky navykovych latek Retrieved 24 October 2019 a b c Bekendtgorelse af lov om forbud mod salg af tobak og alkohol til personer under 18 ar www retsinformation dk in Danish Retrieved 24 October 2019 Lov om forbud mod salg af tobak og alkohol til personer under 16 ar in Danish Retrieved 8 January 2013 Fa unge har kobt legitimationskort Archived 27 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine Danmarks Radio 01 July 2006 Alcohol Visit Faroe Islands Retrieved 29 October 2020 span, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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