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Continent | Country | Drinking age | Purchase age and additional notes |
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Continent | Country | Drinking age | Purchase age and additional notes |
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Asia | Afghanistan | Illegal | |
Europe | Albania | 18 | |
Africa | Algeria | None | |
Americas | Argentina | 18 | |
Europe | Austria | 16 | |
Asia | Bhutan | 18 | |
Asia | Cambodia | None | |
Africa | Central African Republic | None | |
Africa | Comoros | None | |
Africa | Egypt | 21 | |
Africa | Equatorial Guinea | None | |
Africa | Gabon | None | |
Africa | Ghana | 18 | |
Africa | Guinea-Bissau | None | |
Americas | Honduras | 18 | |
Europe | Hungary | 18 | |
Asia | Indonesia | 21 | |
Asia | Iraq | 18 | |
Asia | Japan | 20 | |
Asia | Jordan | 18 | |
Asia | Kazakhstan | 21 | |
Europe | Kosovo | None | |
Asia | Kuwait | Illegal | |
Asia | Kyrgyzstan | 18 | |
Asia | Macau | None | |
Asia | Mongolia | 18 | |
Europe | Montenegro | 18 | |
Africa | Morocco | None | |
Africa | Mozambique | 18 | |
Africa | Niger | 18 | |
Africa | Nigeria | 18 | |
Asia | North Korea | 18 | |
Asia | Philippines | 18 | |
Americas | Puerto Rico | 18 | |
Africa | Rwanda | 18 | |
Africa | Senegal | 18 | |
Africa | Seychelles | 18 | |
Europe | Slovakia | 18 | |
Africa | Somalia | Illegal | |
Africa | South Sudan | 18 | |
Asia | Sri Lanka | 21 | |
Africa | Sudan | Illegal | |
Africa | Swaziland | 18 | |
Asia | Syria | 18 | |
Asia | Tajikistan | 18 | |
Africa | Togo | None | |
Africa | Tunisia | None | |
Europe | Turkey | 18 | |
Asia | Turkmenistan | 18 | |
Europe | Ukraine | 18 | |
Americas | United States Virgin Islands | 18 | |
Asia | Vietnam | 18 | |
Africa | Western Sahara | None | |
Asia | Palestinian Authority | 16 | Legal in most cities. |
Europe | Serbia | None | The purchase age is 16. |
Americas | Dominican Republic | None | The purchase age is 18. |
Asia | Myanmar | None | The purchase age is 18. |
Americas | Panama | None | The purchase age is 18. |
Americas | Peru | None | The purchase age is 18. |
Europe | Portugal | None | The purchase age is 18. |
Africa | Republic of the Congo | None | The purchase age is 18. |
Africa | Tanzania | None | The purchase age is 18. |
Asia | Uzbekistan | None | The purchase age is 20. |
Asia | China | 18 | Introduced in January 2006. |
Asia | Malaysia | 21 | Increased from 18 to 21 in December 2017. |
Europe | Malta | 17 | Must provide identification upon request. |
Asia | Yemen | Illegal | Exception is in Aden Region where it's legal for 21 and up. |
Americas | Belize | 18 | Drinking age is rarely enforced. IDs are almost never requested. |
Americas | British Virgin Islands | 16 | It is illegal to sell or to supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 16. |
Africa | Angola | None | There is no national legislation prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors. |
Asia | Oman | 21 | Residents need personal liquor licenses to consume alcohol in their private residences. |
Americas | Bermuda | 18 | It is illegal to sell or serve any alcoholic beverage to a child under the age of 18 years. |
Asia | Pakistan | Illegal | Non-Muslim citizens may possess alcohol to be used in accordance with religious ceremonies. |
Europe | Azerbaijan | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to a minor under 18 years of age. |
Asia | South Korea | None | The purchase age is 19; The age limit for alcohol is after January 1 of the year one's age turns to 19. |
Americas | Antigua and Barbuda | None | The purchase age is 16; The sale and distribution of alcohol to a person under 16 years of age is illegal. |
Asia | Bangladesh | Illegal | Alcohol is illegal for Muslims. Alcohol will be sold to foreigners in certain locations, albeit clandestinely. |
Asia | Maldives | Illegal | Sale of alcohol is limited to tourist resorts age 18 and over. It is illegal to sell alcohol to local Maldivians. |
Europe | Switzerland | None | The purchase age is 16 (fermented alcoholic drinks with less than 15% ABV and natural wines with less than 18% ABV.) |
Africa | Kenya | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. |
Africa | Liberia | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. |
Africa | Malawi | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. |
Africa | Mauritius | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. |
Africa | Namibia | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. |
Europe | Georgia | None | The purchase age is 18; By Georgian law, the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years is prohibited. |
Europe | Spain | 18 | Asturias was the last autonomous community in Spain where the drinking age was increased to 18 (previously 16) on 1 May 2015. |
Europe | Iceland | None | The purchase age is 20; Possession or consumption of alcohol by minors is not an offence, but supplying them with alcohol is. |
Africa | Eritrea | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal for any person to sell or serve alcoholic beverages to minors under the age of 18 years. |
Africa | Cape Verde | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal for any person to sell or supply alcoholic beverages to minors under the age of 18 years. |
Asia | Iran | Illegal | There is a ban on alcohol, but religious minorities may purchase small amounts from shops owned by the same religious minority. |
Europe | Northern Ireland | 18 | Legislation in Northern Ireland: It is illegal to sell, serve, offer or consume alcoholic beverages in public under the age of 18. |
Africa | Libya | Illegal | Previously Article 498 of the Libyan Penal Code prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages to juveniles under the age of 16 years. |
Asia | Lebanon | 18 | Often unenforced and according to a global school health study, 40% of minors over 13 drink alcohol and up to 25% buy it from stores. |
Europe | Romania | None | The purchase age is 18; According to law 61/1991 updated in 2008, paragraphs 21-25, it is illegal to serve or sell alcohol to minors. |
Europe | Belarus | None | The purchase age is 18; The law prohibits the sale of alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years. However, the law is rarely enforced. |
Americas | Haiti | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to minors from May 17 2017. Vendors are required to check identification. |
Americas | Uruguay | None | The purchase age is 18; Only selling alcohol to minors under the age of 18 is prohibited, consumption and purchase by minors is not illegal. |
Americas | Venezuela | None | The purchase age is 18; Only selling alcohol to minors under the age of 18 is prohibited, consumption and purchase by minors is not illegal. |
Asia | Hong Kong | 18 | The regulation is only applicable to restaurants, bars and clubs, where a liquor license is required. Private drinking is also not regulated. |
Americas | Jamaica | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell or serve any alcoholic beverage to a child (which is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years). |
Asia | India | 18 | The drinking age in India is 18–25, but it varies by jurisdiction. Consumption of alcohol is illegal in the states of Bihar, Gujarat and Nagaland. |
Asia | Nepal | 18 | The legal age for consumption of alcohol in Nepal is 18. However, there are exceptions to underage consumption for purposes of religious ceremonies. |
Europe | Slovenia | None | The purchase age is 18; There is no law regulating the possession and consumption, but it is illegal to sell or offer alcohol of any kind to minors. |
Europe | Armenia | None | The purchase age is 18; There are no laws mandating alcohol vendors to ID potential underage drinkers. ID checks are very rarely, if ever, carried out. |
Asia | Thailand | 20 | 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. |
Europe | Croatia | None | The purchase age is 18; 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. |
Europe | Bulgaria | None | The purchase age is 18; By law, it is illegal to serve or sell alcohol to any child under the age of 18. There is no restrictions for minors consuming alcohol. |
Europe | Luxembourg | None | The purchase age is 16; It is illegal to sell or serve alcoholic beverages >1.2% ABV to any person under the age of 16 years. Violation is fined €251 to €1.000. |
Europe | Carinthia | 16 | The drinking age is 16 for beer, wine and cider or 18 for distilled beverages; Carinthia also requires adolescents to maintain a blood alcohol level below 0.05%. |
Africa | Luanda Province | 18 | Legislation in Luanda Province: It is illegal to sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18. It is also illegal for minors to buy and consume alcohol. |
Europe | Czech Republic | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to provide alcohol to minors (punishable by fine or up to 1 year(s) imprisonment). Consumption itself is not prohibited by law. |
Americas | Anguilla | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell or serve alcoholic drinks to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violating the regulation is punished with a $9.600 fine. |
Europe | Latvia | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell or serve alcoholic beverages to any minor under the age of 18 years. There is no minimum age to consume or possess alcohol. |
Europe | Estonia | 18 | It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. Alcohol found in possession of any child can be confiscated by the police. |
Africa | Lesotho | 18 | It is illegal to sell, serve or supply any alcoholic beverage to a minor under the age of 18 years. It is also illegal for minors to consume, buy or attempt to buy alcohol. |
Europe | Cyprus | None | The purchase age is 17; It is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 17 years. There is no minimum age to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol in public. |
Europe | Bosnia and Herzegovina | None | The purchase age is 18; 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. |
Americas | Grenada | 18 | It is illegal to sell, serve or supply any alcoholic drink to a minor under 18 years of age. Minors under 18 years are prohibited by law, to consume alcoholic beverages in public. |
Americas | Guatemala | 18 | It is illegal to sell, serve or supply any alcoholic drink to a minor under 18 years of age. Minors under 18 years are prohibited by law, to consume alcoholic beverages in public. |
Europe | Greece | None | The purchase age is 18; In 2008, the consumption of alcoholic beverages was prohibited for minors in public. However, the law does not apply to private events or private premises. |
Americas | Colombia | None | The purchase age is 18; The law prohibits the sale of alcohol to a minor (anyone under the age of 18 years). It is not illegal for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol. |
Europe | Ticino | 18 | The canton Ticino prohibits selling and consumption of any type of alcohol by minors under the age of 18. Some shops and supermarkets may not sell alcohol to minors under the age of 18. |
Europe | Liechtenstein | 16 | Wine, beer and ciders as well as some other party drinks sometimes without spirits may be purchased by the age of 16. Spirits as well as alcopops may be sold only to people at least 18. |
Europe | Russia | None | The purchase age is 18; There is no law or regulation in Russia that prohibits minors from consuming alcohol, but selling alcohol to minors is prohibited by federal and additional regional laws. |
Europe | France | None | The purchase age is 18; France has no explicitly stated consumption age, but selling alcohol to a minor (under 18) is illegal and can be fined 7500 euros This age was raised from 16 to 18 in 2009. |
Asia | Israel | None | The purchase age is 18; Israel law prohibits selling or serving alcohol to minors, but it does not prohibit minors to drink, although the police may confiscate alcoholic drinks consumed by minors in public. |
Americas | Mexico | 18 | The minimum age to buy and consume alcoholic beverages is regulated by each state of Mexico. But all states have set a minimum age of 18 years, and in no state it is illegal for minors to buy and consume alcohol. |
Africa | Burundi | None | The purchase age is 18 (none if accompanied by parent or legal guardian); It is illegal for any person with a liquor license to sell or supply alcoholic beverages to unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 years. |
Asia | Saudi Arabia | Illegal | Drinking or possessing alcohol is illegal 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. |
Africa | Gambia | None | The purchase age is 17; It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to child or young person. A "young person" is defined as anyone under the age of 17 by the Children and Young Persons Act, 1949 Section 2. |
Americas | Bahamas | 18 | It is illegal for any adult to sell, serve or supply any alcoholic 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. |
Americas | Turks and Caicos Islands | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal 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 alcoholic beverages. |
Asia | Qatar | 19 | Muslims are allowed to purchase alcohol, but generally not allowed to consume. Non Muslims are allowed to purchase, and consume alcohol. The only legal distributor of alcohol in the country is the Qatar Distribution Company located in Doha. |
Europe | Moldova | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell, or serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not illegal for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol. The minimum purchase age was raised from 16 to 18 in 2012. |
Americas | Trinidad and Tobago | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to child under the age of 18 years. It is also illegal for an adult to send a child to buy alcohol on behalf. It is not illegal for children to buy or consume alcohol. |
Europe | Lithuania | 20 | It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 20 years. Minors under the age of 20 are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages or from possessing them. The minimum age was raised from 18 to 20 since 2018. |
Africa | Zambia | 18 | It is illegal for any person with a liquor license, to sell, serve or supply alcoholic 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 alcoholic beverages was 14 years. |
Europe | Netherlands | 18 | The legal age for purchasing and consumption of alcoholic beverages was raised from 16 to 18 since 2014. Alcohol is commonly available upon parental permission. Selling alcoholic beverages to people under 18 is illegal, although giving it away in private is not. |
Americas | Barbados | None | The purchase age is 16; It is illegal to sell or serve any alcoholic beverage to anyone under the age of 16 years. The President of the Barbados Road Safety Association is trying to raise the drinking age to 18 years due to the fact that the law is often violated. |
Africa | Botswana | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal for any person with a liquor license to sell or supply alcoholic beverages to minors under the age of 18 years. Because the law only applies to licensees it is not illegal for minors to buy, consume or possess alcoholic beverages. |
Africa | South Africa | 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. |
Americas | Guyana | 18 | It is illegal 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 order cider with a meal in a restaurant. Otherwise attempting to buy alcohol or buying alcohol as a minor is a offence. |
Europe | Macedonia | 18 | Must show an ID card upon request. In certain smaller places, such as family-owned convenience stores and street kiosks, there is little to no enforcement on how old or young somebody purchases alcohol. There is little to no enforcement for drinking privately, but drinking in bars may require an ID. |
Americas | Ecuador | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal 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 illegal for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol. |
Americas | Chile | 18 | The minimum age is 18 to enter an enclosure that sells alcoholic 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. |
Europe | Ireland | None | Ireland has no drinking age if the drinking occurs in a private residence with permission from parents or guardians; 18; It is illegal for minors to buy alcohol or for a third party to attempt to buy it for minors. It is illegal to purchase alcohol for anybody under the age of consent without permission from their guardians. |
Americas | El Salvador | None | The purchase age is 18; It is strictly prohibited to sell or serve alcoholic 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. |
Asia | Brunei | 17 | Non-Muslims over 17 years of age are allowed to import alcohol not to exceed maximum total volume 2 liters 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.” |
Americas | Cuba | None | The purchase age is 16; The penal code prohibits any adult to induce any young person under the age of 16 years, to habitually consume alcoholic beverages. However this means that defacto 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. |
Africa | Cameroon | 18 | It is illegal for any person with a liquor license, to sell or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under 18 years of age. The law permits adults from the ages 18 to 21 to consume, purchase and buy alcoholic 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. |
Asia | Singapore | None | There is no drinking age in Singapore in private places, sometimes with permission from parents/guardian or 18 in public places; the purchase age is 18; It is illegal to purchase alcohol in Singapore or consume in a nightclub/allow entry to the nightclub under 18. Home and private drinking of alcohol is allowed, although the safest age could be 6. |
Europe | Gibraltar | None | The purchase age is 18, 16 (beer, wine and cider); It is illegal to sell alcoholic 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: The alcoholic beverage is beer, wine or cider below 15% ABV, or The alcoholic beverage is served in a bottle, or a pre-packaged container below 5.5% ABV. |
Africa | Uganda | None | The purchase age is 18, 16 (wine, beer, porter, cider, perry or native liquor with meal); It is illegal for any licensee to sell, serve or supply alcoholic 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 alcoholic drink with a meal, in a part of a licensed premises that serves meals and is not a bar. |
Asia | Taiwan | 18 | It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to consume alcohol. Parents, guardians, and others taking care of people under 18 shall prohibit underage drinking, or risk administrative fines of 10000 to 50000 new Taiwan dollars when the situations are serious. One shall not supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 18. A violator shall be administratively fined 3000 to 15000 New Taiwan Dollars. |
Europe | Poland | None | The purchase age is 18; Article 15 of The Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism clearly states that buyers or persons being served must be at least 18 and prove it with ID if they look like they may not be at least that age. There is no mention of consumption age in this or any other act in Poland. Drinking on streets, town squares, and in parks is illegal regardless of age. |
Europe | Belgium | None | The purchase age is 16 (beer, wine and cider) 18 (spirits); Since 10 January 2010, it is illegal to "sell, serve, or offer" any form of distilled alcohol to those under the age of 18 or any alcoholic drink to those under 16. So fermented drinks like beer or wine are permitted above 16. Previously, it was illegal to sell alcoholic drinks to under-16s, but accompanying adults could buy drinks for them. |
Americas | Bolivia | None | It is illegal to sell or serve alcoholic beverages to minors under the age of 18 years. Every sold alcoholic beverage has to have a warning message on the bottle or container reading: “VENTA PROHIBIDA A MENORES DE 18 AÑOS DE EDAD” (Sale prohibited to (anyone) under 18 years of age) and “EL CONSUMO EXCESIVO DE ALCOHOL ES DAÑINO PARA LA SALUD” (Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to (ones) health). |
Europe | Scotland | 16 | Legislation in Scotland: It is illegal to sell, serve, offer or consume alcoholic beverages in public under the age of 18, other than the following two exceptions: Minors aged 16 or 17 may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal. It is legal to sell liqueur confectionery to someone of any age. Persons over 17 are entitled to their own duty free allowance, which includes alcohol. |
Europe | Italy | None | The purchase age is 18; In 2012 the then Health Minister Renato Balduzzi proposed to raise the age to 18. Selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 in shops carries a fine between €250 and €1000. Serving alcoholic 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. |
Americas | Costa Rica | None | The purchase age is 18; 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 alcoholic beverages, will be sanctioned with a fine equivalent to five salaries. It is not illegal for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol. |
Africa | Zimbabwe | None | The purchase age is 16; It is illegal for any person to sell, lend, give, supply, deliver or offer alcoholic 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 alcoholic beverage in the possession of a child under the age of 16 years without a written consent of the parents or legal guardian. |
Americas | Brazil | None | The purchase age is 18; It is illegal to sell, serve or supply any alcoholic beverage to a person under 18 years of age. The presidential law enacted on March 17 2015 made any violation of the law a criminal offence. Any adult person selling, serving, giving or supplying alcoholic 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. |
Europe | United Kingdom | 18 | Under the BBPA (British Beer and Pub Association)'s Challenge 21 and Challenge 25 schemes, customers attempting to buy alcoholic beverages are asked to prove their age if in the retailer's opinion they look under 21 (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 persons who look under 21 (or 25) without ID. |
Americas | United States | 21 | The 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act withholds revenue from states that allow the purchase of alcohol by anyone under 21. Prior to the act, the drinking age varied from state to state. Contrary to popular belief, since the act went into law, only a few states prohibit minors from consuming alcohol privately. As of 2010, 15 states and D.C. ban underage consumption outright, 17 states don't ban underage consumption, and 18 states have family member/location exceptions. |
Asia | United Arab Emirates | 18 | Expatriate non- Muslim residents may request a liquor permit to purchase alcoholic beverages, but it is illegal for such holders to provide drinks to others. 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 illegal). It is a punishable offence to drink, or to be under the influence of alcohol, in public. |
Americas | Nicaragua | None | The purchase age is 14 (restaurant), 18 (bars, clubs, markets, supermarkets, sports and recreation centers); The law from 1980 prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors under the age of 18 years. Ever point of sale or establishment serving alcohol, is required to post a notice stating that the sale of alcohol to minors under 18 years of age is illegal. However the law permits children as young as 14 to purchase and consume alcohol in a restaurant without further restrictions. |
Americas | Cayman Islands | 18 | It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is also illegal for any minor to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcoholic 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. |
Europe | Germany | 14 | It is illegal to sell, serve or supply fermented alcoholic 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 his parent or legal guardian. It is generally illegal to serve, sell or supply any beverage containing spirits and aliments 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€. |
Americas | Paraguay | 20 | According to Art. 1° of the law to "ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors", it is illegal to serve or sell alcohol or to allow the consumption by minors under 20 years of age. Furthermore, under Art 2° all public establishments selling alcohol must display a clearly legible notice in the sales area with the following text: "ESTA PROHIBIDA LA VENTA DE BEBIDAS ALCOHÓLICAS A MENORES DE VEINTE AÑOS DE EDAD" (It is illegal (prohibited) to sell alcoholic beverages to minors under 20 years of age.) |
Europe | Norway | None | The purchase age is 18 ( |
Americas | Falkland Islands | 18 | It is illegal 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. |
Americas | Canada | 18 | In Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec the law prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor under the age of 18 years. 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. In Ontario, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, the drinking age is 19. |
Europe | Finland | 18 | The drinking age is 18 for possession and purchase of 1.2–22% ABV or 20 for possession and purchase of 23–80% ABV. It is also 18 for all bars, clubs and restaurants. All major grocery chains have implemented a policy to ask for ID if the customer looks under 30. Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is a criminal offence. 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. |
Europe | Denmark | None | The purchase age is 16 ( |
Africa | Ethiopia | None | It is illegal for any person to sell, offer, or serve alcoholic beverages "in substantial quantities" to any infant or young person. The criminal code defines a young person as any person under the age of 15. But the Criminal Code states: "Whoever endangers the health of another, intentionally and unscrupulously, by administering or serving. . . to minors. . . under the age of 18. . .alcoholic beverages or spirituous liquors. . . in such quantity as to make their injurious effect certain or probable, is punishable with simple imprisonment not exceeding one year, and fine." |
Europe | United Kingdom | 18 | In England and Wales, it is illegal to sell, serve, offer or consume alcoholic beverages on licensed premises under the age of 18, other than the following two exceptions: Minors aged 16 or 17 may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal, and accompanied by an adult. It is legal to sell liqueur confectionery to someone of any age. It is illegal to permit minors under the age of 5 to consume alcoholic beverages unless under medical supervision or in an emergency. Persons over 17 are entitled to their own duty free allowance, which includes alcohol. |
Europe | Sweden | None | None (less than 2.25% ABV 18 (bars and restaurants) 18 (2.25%–3.5% ABV in food shops) 20 (Systembolaget); Many clubs choose to have higher age limits than 18, commonly 20 or 23. It is legal to drink below 18, but it is illegal to sell, lend or give alcohol to someone under that age and the police can seize alcohol from them, apart from being served alcohol supervised in private "in moderation". It is legal to serve an underage person alcohol in a private place. The reason for lower limit in bars than in shops is that bartenders have a legal responsibility for how drunk a guest gets. |
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