Legal drinking age

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The legal drinking age is a limit assigned by governments to restrict the access of children and youth to alcoholic beverages. In most countries the legal age to purchase alcohol is 18, but there are considerable exceptions. Laws on consumption of alcoholic beverages vary even more widely. Finally, the degree to which these laws are enforced vary even within jurisdictions.

In some countries all alcoholic beverages are illegal.

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Contents

[edit] Africa

Country / Region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Algeria 18[1]
Botswana 18[1]
Cameroon 18[1] 21[1]
Egypt 18, 21[1][2] For purchases, legal age is 18 for beer, 21 for everything else.
Eritrea 18[1]
Ethiopia 18[1]
Ghana none[3]
Kenya 18[1]
Libya illegal[1]
Malawi 18[3]
Mauritius 18[1]
Morocco none[4] 16[4]
Namibia 18[1]
Niger 18[1]
Nigeria 18[1]
South Africa 18[5]
Sudan illegal[1]
Tunisia 18
Uganda 18[1]
Zambia 18[1]
Zimbabwe 18[1]

[edit] Americas

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Antigua 16
Argentina 18[5]
Bahamas 18
Barbados 18 Those aged 10–17 are allowed to consume alcohol provided they are with a parent.
Belize 18 However in some provinces of Belize the age could be lower[citation needed]
Bermuda 18
Bolivia 18[1]
Brazil 18
Canada 18[1] in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Underage drinking under adult supervision is permitted in Manitoba and Alberta.
19 [1] in British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut. (Legal drinking age legislation falls under provincial jurisdiction.) Underage drinking under adult supervision is permitted in licensed premises in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and at home in the provinces of Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, and Ontario [6] and Saskatchewan.[7]
Cayman Islands 18[8]
Chile 18[1]
Colombia 18[1]
Costa Rica 18[1]
Cuba none 16
Dominican Republic 18
Ecuador 18[1]
Guatemala 18[1] It is illegal to serve alcohol after 1 AM.
Haiti 16
Honduras none[3]
Jamaica 18, However often unenforced.
Mexico 18[1][9] Drinking in the streets or inside a vehicle is illegal.
Nicaragua 18[1]
Panama 18[1]
Paraguay 21, 18 21 in restaurants and bars and 18 to buy in supermarkets.
Peru 18[1]
Trinidad and Tobago 18[1]
United States
(50 States and D.C.)		 18 or 21 21 The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 states that revenue will be withheld from states that allow the purchase of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21. Some states do not allow those under the legal drinking age to be present in liquor stores or in bars (usually, the difference between a bar and a restaurant is whether food is being served). Contrary to popular belief, since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, few states specifically prohibit minors' and young adults' consumption of alcohol in private settings. As of January 1, 2007, 14 states and the District of Columbia ban underage consumption outright, 19 states do not specifically ban underage consumption, and an additional 27 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage consumption laws. [10]
Federal law explicitly provides for religious, medical, employment and private club possession exceptions; as of 2005, 31 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage possession laws. [11]
Underage purchase of alcohol, though illegal in all fifty states, is not a felony, but a misdemeanour. See Underage drinking in the United States. Additionally, exceptions exist on certain military installations, for instance Fort Bliss, Texas, where the Commanding General lowered the age to 18 to reduce the number of soldiers traveling out of the country to nearby Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, to drink. Congress is considering changing the law to 18.[citation needed]

Many Local county governments particularly in the southern states of the USA, ban the sale, and in some cases consumption, of alchohol for all ages. Exceptions for private clubs are made in many counties (Dry county). Also, the sale or alcohol is banned by tribal governments on some Indian (Native American) lands.
Puerto Rico (U.S.) 18 The legal BAC limit for intoxication while driving is 0.08.
US Virgin Islands (U.S.) 18
Uruguay 18[1]
Venezuela 18[1]

[edit] Asia

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Armenia none[1]
Azerbaijan 18[1]
Bahrain 18[citation needed]
Bangladesh illegal Alcoholic beverages are allowed for foreigners only and also served in hotels and restaurants but otherwise for Muslims, it's illegal.
Bali none 15
Brunei illegal Muslims are not allowed to drink or possess alcohol, non-Muslim residents and visitors may import small amounts of alcohol for personal consumption. Most restaurants will allow non-Muslim customers to drink their own brought in wine on premises with no corking fee. Public sale of alcohol is illegal.
Cambodia none[12]
People's Republic of China 18[1] 18[1] Introduced in January, 2006.[13].
Georgia none[1] 16[1]
Hong Kong 18[1]
India 18-25 (varies between states)[1]. Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Gujarat, Manipur and Mizoram[14].
Indonesia (excluding Bali) 21[1]
Iraq 18 18 years old or above is required to purchase alcohol
Iran illegal[15] Only alcohol used for Jewish or Christian religious ceremonies is allowed.
Israel none 18
Jordan 18[16]
Japan 20[1] Regulated by underage drinking prohibition law (ja:未成年者飲酒禁止法 miseinensha inshu kinshi hou). (Alcohol vending machines widely available.)
Kuwait illegal Selling alcohol is illegal.
Lebanon 18
Malaysia none[1] 18[1] The sale of alcohol to Muslims is illegal, as is consumption of alcohol by Muslims in public. However, non-Muslims who are 18 years old or over are allowed to buy and drink alcohol.[citation needed]
Mongolia 18[17]
Nepal 18
Oman 21 Very few (if any) establishments will serve alcohol during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
North Korea (DPRK) 17 Alcohol may legally be consumed or purchased only on Saturdays.[citation needed]
Pakistan 21 Illegal for Muslims. Forbidden by Sharia (Islamic Law, with qur'anic and other traditional legal inspirations) but can be purchased in some areas of Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad.
Philippines[1][18] 18 (16)
Qatar 18
Russia 18[1]
Saudi Arabia illegal Forbidden by Sharia (Islamic Law, with qur'anic and other traditional legal inspirations). Offenders are typically punished with lashes.
Singapore 18[1]
South Korea 19[1] Legal ages are reckoned "from birth", rather than East Asian age reckoning. South Koreans are 20 or 21 in their own reckoning when they reach legal drinking age.
Sri Lanka 18[1]
Republic of China (Taiwan) 18[19]
  • It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to consume alcohol.[20]
  • Parents, guardians, and others taking care of people under 18 shall prohibit underage drinking,[21] or risk administrative fines of 10000 to 50000 new Taiwan dollars when the situations are serious.[22]
  • One shall not supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 18.[23] A violator shall be administratively fined 3000 to 15000 new Taiwan dollars.[24]

Although there are drinking laws, they are barely enforced at all, where store clerks hardly check for identification and the police barely checks at all.
Thailand none[1] 20[1]
United Arab Emirates 21 Dubai laws state that no person under the age of 16 may be in a place serving alcohol after 18:00. Alcohol is served only in restaurants and bars attached to hotels. Alcohol is prohibited in Sharjah.
Vietnam 15 18 People under 18 can buy alcohol but in order to purchase alcohol that has more than 4.5 alcohol concentration, you have to be more than 25 years old.

[edit] Europe

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Albania none
Austria 16, 18 for distilled beverages in some states Upper Austria, Salzburg and Tirol prohibit the consumption of distilled beverages below the age of 18, while Carinthia and Styria prohibit drinks containing more than 12% or 14% of alcohol respectively in this age bracket. Carinthia additionally requires adolescents to maintain a blood alcohol level below 0.05%, while Upper Austria prohibits "excessive consumption", and Salzburg prohibits consumption that would result in a state of intoxication. Prohibitions in Vienna, Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg apply only to alcohol consumption in public. Vienna additionally prohibits the consumption of alcohol in schools under the age of 18. [25]
Belarus 18
Belgium 16; 18 for strong spirits(20%+) No minimum age to drink in private.
Bosnia and Herzegovina No minimum age inside or outside bars. Around 5% of 13 year olds drink alcohol more than once a week,[26] less than half average rate across the European Union.[27]
Bulgaria 18
Croatia 18
Cyprus 15
Czech Republic 18
Denmark None 16 in shops, 18 if served To buy alcohol in bars you need to be 18, however there is no drinking age, and an adult can buy alcohol for you. By tradition youths are privately allowed to drink alcohol after their confirmation[28]. If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID-card and they are identified having sold alcohol to an underage, they are fined. A national ID-card can be obtained in the local town hall in order for the youth to verify their age in shops.[29] This card is rarely used though, since a passport or moped-licence can be used. [30]
Estonia 18
Finland No legal drinking age 18 (up to 22% ABV in stores and all alcohol in bars), 20 (all alcohol); alcohol may not be sold to intoxicated customers. Beer, cider and alcopops containing up to 4.7% alcohol can be bought in any store, whilst any beverages exceeding that limit must be purchased at Alko. Although consumption by minors is not prohibited, it is strictly limited to certain rare situations because of various statutes regarding possession and offering. Because of this, legal drinking age is often perceived to be 18 by the general public. Purchase age also applies to possession.
France 16; for drinking strong liquor on premises: 18[31] It is not customary to request identification, unless the person is manifestly of inappropriate age. It is, however, a crime to sell alcohol to a minor under 16.[32] It is illegal for someone under the age of 16 to be at a bar without an adult, even if drinking a non-alcoholic drink.
Germany 16, 18 for distilled beverages[33] Possession or consumption of alcohol by minors is not outlawed, but it is illegal to sell them alcohol or let them drink in public. "Normal" alcoholic beverages (not distilled beverages) may be consumed in public when in presence of a legal guardian; drinking in private is not controlled. The restrictions on distilled beverages apply also to mixed drinks containing them.[33]
Gibraltar none 16 No legal consumption age but it is illegal to supply alcohol to under 16s, including in private homes.
Greece none 17
Hungary none 18 Raised to 18 from previous 14 in 2002. However many store owners believe that the minimum age is 14. A study concluded that 54 percent of establishments sell alcohol to minors. [34]
Iceland 18 20[35] Possession or consumption of alcohol by minors is not an offence but supplying them with alcohol is. However, law allows alcohol possessed by a minor to be confiscated.
Ireland 18 in public, none in private[36] 18[36] By law, only a passport, driving licence or a Garda age card is accepted as proof of age (although not always asked for in practice). ID is required to enter clubs or bars after 21:00. Purchasing alcohol for a minor is illegal. It is illegal to sell alcohol to someone who is drunk.
Isle of Man 5 18 (16) As the United Kingdom[37]
Italy none 16 There's no law stating a limit of age for drinking any kind of alcoholic drink, art 689 Codice Penale forbid serving alcoholic drinks to minor of 16 in public places like restaurants, pubs, etc. A proposal to increase purchasing age to 18 has been rejected by parliament in 2007
Liechtenstein 16 for wine, beer and cider
18 for spirits & spirit-based beverages. eg. alcopops		 Wine, beer and ciders as well as some other party drinks which may not contain spirits can be purchased by the age of 16. Spirits as well as alcopops can be sold only to people above the age of 18.[38]
Luxembourg 16
Latvia 18 18
Lithuania 18
Macedonia 18
Malta none 16
Moldova No minimum age (beer),
18 (wine and spirits)
Montenegro none 18
Netherlands none 16 (under 20% ABV),
18 (20% ABV and over)		 If a shop fails to ask for an ID-card and they are identified having sold alcohol to an underage, they are fined. No minimum age to drink in private with a parent/guardian.
Norway none[39] 18 (under 22% ABV),
20 (over 22% ABV)[40]		 Beer, cider and alcopops containing up to 4.7% alcohol can be bought in any store, whilst any beverages exceeding that limit must be purchased at Vinmonopolet. A minor buying or attempting to buy alcohol is never held criminally responsible.[citation needed] An adult caught buying alcohol to a minor risks fine or prison at worst.
Poland 18 18 Selling alcohol to people already drunk is illegal.
Portugal none 16
Romania none 18 Sale of all distilled spirits is illegal for those under 18. Advertising distilled alcohol is forbidden during the day (between 5:00 and 22:00). All restrictions apply on sale and distribution to underage persons, not consumption.
Russia 18 Although there is an age limit, it's quite easy for underaged people to buy alcohol. Alcohol is sold to most anyone, as is traditional in West Asian and Eastern European countries.[citation needed]
Serbia 18
Slovakia none 16 Only the seller can be punished.
Slovenia none 18
Spain 18 18 Regional drinking age in the Autonomous Community of Castile and León, 14.
Sweden 16 (bars and restaurants) 16 (Systembolaget [41] stores)

16 (beer with 2.25% - 3.5% ABV in normal shops)

 See also alcohol in Sweden. Bars/clubs often voluntarily choose to have higher age limits than 16, commonly 18 or 20.
Switzerland 16 for wine, beer and cider
16-18 (varies from canton to canton) for spirits & spirit-based beverages ie. alcopops		 Switzerland prohibits minors to buy alcohol, but there is no age restriction for the consumption of alcohol. Wine, beer and ciders as well as some other party drinks can be purchased by the age of 16. Spirits as well as alcopops can be sold only to people above the age of 16. If a shop fails to request an ID from the customers, it can be fined.
Turkey 11[1] 18[1] People under 11 years old are allowed to drink non-distilled beverages while being accompanied by parents.
Ukraine 18[1] 18[1]
United Kingdom 5 (Children and Young Persons Act 1933),

16 (Beer/Wine/Cider in Pub/Restaurant if served with a meal and an adult orders it), Otherwise 18

 18

16 (Liqueur chocolates)

 The legal age to purchase alcohol is 18. People aged 16 and 17, may consume wine, beer or cider with a table meal, provided they are with an adult and an adult orders it. (England & Wales only[42], Scotland no adult required to be present[43]). The legal age for the purchase of liqueur chocolates is 16. Children under 5 must not be given alcohol unless under medical supervision in an emergency (Children and Young Persons Act 1933).[44] You may not buy alcohol for a drunk person on licensed premises. All off-sales are advised to ask for photographic ID if the person looks under 21.

Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is illegal in England and Wales.[45] In Scotland, from 2009 purchasing alcohol for any minor will be made illegal. [46]

[edit] Oceania

Country / region De jure Notes
Drinking Age Purchase Age
Australia 18 Liquor laws vary by state. It is illegal to buy, drink or possess alcohol if under 18 on licensed premises, but states allow drinking or possessing alcohol on private premises for people under the age of 18 (under the supervision of an adult[s]). In New South Wales there is no law against minors possessing or drinking alcohol on private premises, but there are laws against supplying or selling alcohol to a minor, as well as against minors "carrying away" alcohol from a licensed club.[47][48]Minors may be on licensed premises accompanied by a parent or guardian (but not purchase alcohol) and parents can not provide alcohol with a meal on licensed premises. In Victoria, if a minor is caught with alcohol it will be confiscated and guardians notified of the offense, and a fine may occur. It is also illegal to provide minors with alcohol, and one can be fined by it if caught in the act. It is illegal to buy alcohol if already drunk, and to supply alcohol to such a person.[49]

In Queensland, it is illegal to drink in a vehicle and drivers cannot operate a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level higher than 0.05 when on their open license. P and Learner drivers cannot drink at all.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 21
Fiji 21 Legal Drinking Age was increased from 18 to 21 in 2006 via the LIQUOR ACT 2006
Guam 18
Palau 18
Solomon Islands 18
Vanuatu 18
Tonga 18
Tokelau 18
New Zealand none 18 Alcohol can be sold only by licensed premises, but there is no obligation to serve any person. It is illegal to purchase alcohol if one is already drunk. Drinking on public transport is prohibited unless the vehicle (e.g. ship, train) holds a liquor license. ** Minors (under 18s) can be fined if they drink alcohol in public places, without a parent or guardian present. Minors can drink alcohol in a public place if they are accompanied and it is provided by their parent or guardian; this includes licensed premises, such as restaurants, and at private social gatherings, but excludes designated restricted areas in pubs and bars, where persons under the age of 18 are not permitted. While there are extensive laws prohibiting alcohol purchase by any person under 18 years of age, to actually drink alcohol (without the element of purchasing) is NOT currently an offence. Usually any person under 18 who is found consuming alcohol in a public place without a guardian will be required to tip it out and if drunk will be returned to their home. Drinking alcohol on private property by people under the age of 18 is not restricted by law. On 8 November 2006 the New Zealand Parliament rejected a bill to return the legal age to 20[50] after significant lobbying by the Keepit18 group[51] and others.
Samoa 18
Papua New Guinea none
Kiribati 21 Liquor Ordinance (Cap.50)
American Samoa 18
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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc Minimum Drinking and Purchasing Age Laws. International Center for Alcohol Policies (February 2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  2. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Egypt
  3. ^ a b c Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy - Country Profiles. World Health Organization.
  4. ^ a b Minimum Legal Ages for Alcohol Purchase or Consumption Around the World. World Health Organization.
  5. ^ a b Minimum Drinking and Purchasing Age Laws. The Deuce Media Ltd. (2002). Retrieved on 2007-11-03.
  6. ^ Liquor Licence Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.19
  7. ^ Drinking Age Limits - International Center for Alcohol Policies
  8. ^ Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (2008-03-05). Cayman Islands - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, Travel and Tourism Site. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
  9. ^ Mexico. U.S. Department of State (2008-01-22). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  10. ^ Exceptions to Minimum Age of 21 for Consumption of Alcohol as of January 1, 2007 , Alcohol Policy Information System
  11. ^ Exceptions to Minimum Age of 21 for Possession of Alcohol as of January 1, 2007, Alcohol Policy Information System
  12. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Cambodia
  13. ^ China bans under-age drinking, China Daily, 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  14. ^ Alcohol Prohibition and Addictive Consumption in India. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
  15. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Islamic Republic of Iran
  16. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Jordan
  17. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Mongolia
  18. ^ Global Status Report: Alcohol Policy, Philippines
  19. ^ Article 2 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law (zh:兒童及少年福利法) of the Republic of China, effective since 2003-05-28 in Taiwan Area, defines children and youth as people under the age of 18.
  20. ^ Clause 1 of Section 1 of Article 26 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law (zh:兒童及少年福利法) of the Republic of China, effective since 2003-05-28 in Taiwan Area
  21. ^ Section 2 of Article 26 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law of the Republic of China
  22. ^ Section 1 of Article 55 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law of the Republic of China
  23. ^ Section 3 of Article 26 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law of the Republic of China
  24. ^ Section 2 of Article 55 of the Children and Youth Welfare Law of the Republic of China
  25. ^ information based on the respective state Youth Protection Laws, available at [1], as of December 11, 2007
  26. ^ Health behaviour in school-aged children survey- Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina year 2002. WHO (2002).
  27. ^ Report on alcohol in the WHO European Region (pdf).
  28. ^ Alcohol culture in Denmark
  29. ^ Lov om forbud mod salg af tobak og alkohol til personer under 16 år (dk).
  30. ^ Få unge har købt legitimationskort, Danmarks Radio, 01. jul. 2006
  31. ^ Code of public health: L3342-1 « [In all places providing beverages either for immediate consumption or not] and all public places, it is prohibited to sell or offer alcoholic drinks to minors younger than 16, either for immediate consumption or for carrying away. ». L3342-2 further restricts sales for immediate consumptions of certain categories of alcoholic drinks to adults over 18; these categories include mostly all alcohols stronger than cider, beer or wine, as defined in L3321-1. L3342-3 prohibits receiving minors younger than 16 in premises selling alcohol unless they are with a parent, tutor, or other guardian over 18, except that minors at least 13 year old can be received in places selling only nonalcoholic or nearly nonalcoholic drinks (< 1.2°).
  32. ^ L3353-3 punishes sales of alcoholic drinks to minors under 16 by a fine, and also possibly imprisonment for repeat offenders.
  33. ^ a b German law for the protection of minors [2]
  34. ^ Sok boltban adnak el cigit a tizenéveseknek
  35. ^ Practical Information School for Renewable Engergy Science, Iceland
  36. ^ a b ]
  37. ^ Reiltys Ellan Vannin - Alcohol Strategy -
  38. ^ Jugendgesetz vom 19. Dezember 1979
  39. ^ Proposition to Odelstinget rejecting the idea of holding minors criminally responsible for the purchase or consumption of alcohol
  40. ^ Norwegian Alcohol Act
  41. ^ Systembolaget - Rules on selling
  42. ^ Consumption of alcohol by children, Section 150, Licensing Act 2003
  43. ^ Purchase of alcohol by or for a child or young person Section 105, Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
  44. ^ http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&title=children+young+persons&Year=1933&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=1109288&ActiveTextDocId=1109297&filesize=1694
  45. ^ Department of Culture Media and SportChapter12 Sale and Supply of Alcohol to Children }}
  46. ^ Alcohol: under aged drinking - law. InfoScotland.com.
  47. ^ LIQUOR ACT 1982 - SECT 115 Consumption etc of liquor by minor. State of New South Wales (1982). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  48. ^ NSW Department of Gaming and Racing (2008-02-08). Underage drinking offences. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  49. ^ Alcohol and young people - New South Wales police
  50. ^ Strong vote against bill to raise drinking age, NZ Herald, November 8, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  51. ^ MPs back off from drinking age hike, NZ Herald, November 4, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2008.