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, up to no laws about consumption at all. Most laws apply only to drinking alcohol in public places with alcohol consumption in the home being mostly unregulated (one of the exceptions being England and Wales, which have 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. 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. Some countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 19 to prevent the flow of alcoholic beverages in high schools, while others like the United States have a minimum legal purchasing age of 21 (except in P.R. and USVI, where the drinking age is 18) in an effort to reduce the amount of drunk driving rates among teenagers and young adults.
There are underage clubs, where people below the legal drinking age are catered for and are served non-alcoholic beverages.
Africa
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.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2 style="width:12%;"| Country
! rowspan=2 style="width:12%;"| State/ region/ province
! colspan=2 style="width:20%;"| De jure
! rowspan=2 style="width:56%;"| Notes
|-
! style="width:10%;"| Drinking age
! style="width:10%;"| Purchase age
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| style="text-align:center;" | 18
|Order No. 26-75 (1975), Article 14
|-
| rowspan="2"|
|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" colspan="2" |None
| There is no national legislation prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors.
|-
|Luanda Province
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | 18
| 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. <small>(prohibited for any person to supply)</small>
| align="center" |18 <small>(unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian)</small>
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|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).
|It is prohibited for any person to sell or supply alcohol beverages to minors under the age of 18 years.
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|Penal Code (1963), Article 209bis-1
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" | 18
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" | 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 align="center" | Prohibited for all ages
| Previously Article 498 of the Libyan Penal Code prohibited the sale of alcohol beverages to juveniles under the age of 16 years.
| It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" align="center" | Prohibited for all ages
|
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" | 18
| It is prohibited to sell, serve, or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" | Restricted to 16 for non-Muslims,<br />Prohibited for Muslims
|Legislative Decision No. 3.177.66 of 1967 Art 28–29
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 align="center" | 18
|Decree 54/2013 Regulations on the Control of the Production, Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages (2013), Article 5 (Prohibitions)
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" | 18
| It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years.
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 align="center" | 18
|Penal Code Article 302
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None (at national level)
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 align="center" |18
|Organic Law implementing the Penal Code N°01/2012/OL Articles 217 and 219
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 align="center" |18
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |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;...
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"| Prohibited for all ages
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
|Penal Code 1991, Art 78–79
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" | 18
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18<br />16 <sup>(wine, beer, porter, cider, perry or native liquor with meal)</sup><br />16 <sup>(traditional beer)</sup>
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18 <small>(except with parent or guardian consent)</small>
| 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. For further information see .
In the late 20th century, much of North America changed its minimum legal drinking ages (MLDAs) as follows:
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|-
! rowspan=2 style="width:12%;"| Country
! rowspan=2 style="width:12%;"| State/ region/ province
! colspan=2 style="width:20%;"| De jure
! rowspan=2 style="width:56%;"| Notes
|-
! style="width:10%;"| Drinking age
! style="width:10%;"| Purchase age
|-
| colspan=2|'
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18</small>
| 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. ID is rarely requested.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|Drinking age is rarely enforced. ID is almost never requested.
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
|Drinking age is rarely enforced. ID is almost never requested.
|-
| colspan=2| '
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
| It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to a child under the age of 18 years.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |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
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |18
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2| '
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|16 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. In Quebec the law prohibits the sale of alcohol beverages to a minor under the age of 18 years.
|-
| <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
| style="text-align:center;" |19
| align=center|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.
|-
| colspan=2| '
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |16
|Laws of Dominica Liquor Licences Act Chapter 70:03, Part IV, Sec 15(f)
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18<br />16 <small>(on-premise for wine or malt liquor with a meal)</small>
|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. 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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |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)
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align=center|18
| It is prohibited to sell or serve any alcohol beverage to a child (which is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years).
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |20
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|Liquor Licences Act Sec 32(f)
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |16
|Chapter 13.17 Liquor Licence Act Art 37
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |16
|Chapter 342 Liquor License Act (1990), Sections 27 and 28
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
| 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.
| 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.
|-
|'
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
|Law 118 Penalties for Provision of Alcoholic Beverages to Minors under 18 years of age (1984)
|-
|'
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
| Selling alcohol to minors under the age of 18 is prohibited, with fines between 50 and 200 Unidades Reajustables (UY$ 89,000-355,000 or US$ 2,000-8,000 as of January 2025). Consumption and purchase by minors is not prohibited.
|-
| colspan=2|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|
|}
United States
thumb|center|upright=2.0|Exceptions to the minimum age of 21 for drinking alcohol in the United States, as of 1 January 2007
In the United States, the minimum legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages has mainly been 21 years of age since shortly after the passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984. 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.
Despite a rekindled national debate in 2008 on the established drinking age (initiated by several university presidents), a Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll found in September 2008 that 76% of New Jerseyans supported leaving the legal drinking age at 21 years. No significant differences emerged when considering gender, political affiliation, or region. However, parents of younger children were more likely to support keeping the age at 21 (83%) than parents of college-age students (67%).
United States customs laws stipulate that no person under the age of 21 may bring any type or quantity of alcohol into the country.
Asia
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan=2 width=100| Country
! colspan=2| De jure
! rowspan=2 class=unsortable| Notes
|-
! width=150| Drinking age
! width=150| Purchase age
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|Prohibited for all ages
|
|-
|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| There are no laws mandating alcohol vendors to ID potential underage drinkers. ID checks are very rarely, if ever, carried out
| align="center" |18
|
|-
|
| style="text-align:center;" |21
|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.
|
|-
|
| style="text-align:center;" |Prohibited <small>(for Muslims and public consumption)</small><br />17 <small>(for non-Muslims' private residence consumption)</small>
|-
|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center"| 18
Ministry of Commerce Decree No. 25 (2006)
|-
|
| align="center" |17
| align="center" |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.
| Under the Law on Protecting Minors from Harmful Influences 2001 the sale of alcohol beverages to minors is prohibited.
| Private drinking is also not regulated.
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18–25 (varies by jurisdiction)
|18 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Puducherry, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.
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.
25 in Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Punjab.
Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Manipur, and Nagaland.
|-
|
| colspan="2" align="center" |21<br />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, Qanun Laws of Aceh No. 6 Year 2014, and Regional Regulation of Papua Province No.15 Year 2013.
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|Prohibited for all ages
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
|There was a proposal of banning alcohol in 2016 which came into force by 2023, but was instead taxed by 200%
|-
|
| align="center"| No limit in private places,
18 in public spaces
| align="center"| 18
|
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
|Instructions issued by the Ministry of Interior Concerning Liquor Store Permits (2010), Article 6
|-
|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |21
|Law 235 of 2014 Code of Administrative Offences Section 200
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|Prohibited for all ages
|-
| '
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
Malaysian identity cards 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.
|-
|
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Restricted to tourists<br />Prohibited for citizens<br />18 for tourists
|-
|
| style="text-align:center;" |21 / 18 with parent consent
| align="center" |21
|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.
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
|
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|21
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|Prohibited <small>(for Muslims)</small><br />21 <small>(for non-Muslims)</small>
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|Prohibited for all ages
|-
|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None<br />18 <small>(at licensed premises)</small>
| align="center"|18
|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 they will be turning 19 that year. For example, two persons born on 1 January and 31 December both turned 19 years of age at the same time on 1 January and hence, both of them are 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.
|-
|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |21 <small>(for men)</small><br />prohibited <small>(for women)</small>
| Sri Lanka is the only country which has banned the purchase of alcohol based on gender.
|-
|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|18
|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).
|-
|
| style="text-align:center;" |None / 20
| align="center" |18
|-
|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |20
|-
|
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
|
|-
|
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |21; 21 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and all Northern Emirates except in Sharjah where alcohol consumption is banned
| align="center" |21<br />Completely prohibited in Sharjah
| In November 2020, Drinking became legal in UAE without requiring a license and regardless of the religion.
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.
The legal age for drinking alcohol is 18 in Ras Al Khaimah; 21 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain. Alcohol consumption is prohibited in Sharjah.
|In 2023, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law prohibiting the sale of alcohol and nicotine products to those under 21 years of age, increasing it from 20 years.
|-
|
| colspan="2" align="center" | 18
|Exception is in Aden Region where it's legal for 21 and up
|}
Europe
thumb|500px|Laws banning minors from consuming alcohol in public/private:<br />
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, 2007 and 2015 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 of Madrid, Valencia and Catalonia 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 raised its off-premise purchase age from 15 to 16 years.
- In November 2005 Switzerland passed its Food and Commodities Regulation (German: Lebensmittel- und Gebrauchsgegenständeverordnung), introducing a ban on alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 16. The Alcohol Law (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.
- In 2006 the Spanish autonomous community Castile and León raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years.
- In late 2006, Gibraltar 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 raised its minimum purchase age to 18 years, 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 beverages.
- In October 2009, the government of Malta 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.
- In 2011 Denmark 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.
- , 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.
- , 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.
- 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. , 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.
- , Lithuania raised its minimum drinking age from 18 to 20 years.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan="3" style="width:12%;" | Country
! rowspan="3" style="width:12%;" | Administrative division
! colspan="4" style="width:20%;" |De jure
! rowspan="3" style="width:56%;" | Notes
|-
! colspan="2" style="width:10%;" | Drinking age
! colspan="2" style="width:10%;" | Purchase age
|-
! style="width:5%;" | Private
! style="width:5%;" | Public
! style="width:5%;" | On-premise
! style="width:5%;" | Off-premise
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
| colspan="2" align="center" |18
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" align="center" |18
| 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.
| 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.
|It is prohibited to sell or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 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.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID card and is identified as having sold alcohol to an underage person, it is subject to a fine. A national ID card, obtained in the local town hall, can serve as age verification. This card is rarely used though since a passport or driver's license is more commonly used.
Both the legal drinking and purchasing age in the Faroe Islands is 18.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
| style="text-align:center;" |18 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.
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.
| colspan="2" align="center" |18
|France has no explicitly stated consumption age, but selling alcohol beverages to a minor (under 18) is prohibited and can be fined 7500 euros.
|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 punished with imprisonment up to 10 years.<br />
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
- 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.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| 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. ID checks are rare.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
| 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.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |18
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None Selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 in shops carries a fine between €250 and €1000. Serving alcoholic beverages to those under 16 is a criminal offense and is punishable with prison up to one year. If the individual served is 16 or 17 it will be treated as an offense that is fined between €250 and €1000 (Legge n. 189/2013).
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
|
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| 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 alcoholic beverages, regardless of whether the retailer has requested it. There is no minimum age to consume or possess alcohol.
| 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.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |20
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |20
| 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.
| Must provide identification upon request.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" align="center" |18
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
|
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" align="center" |18 <sup>(<22% ABV)</sup> <br /> 20 <sup>(≥22% ABV)</sup>
| Alcohol possessed by minors may be confiscated as evidence. Drinking in public is prohibited, though this is rarely enforced in recreational areas.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| Article 15 of The Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism 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.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| align="center" |
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| Whoever offers or supplies alcohol beverages to a child under the age of 14 years in an amount which is resulting death to one is punished with imprisonment for 3 to 12 years.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" align="center" |18
| The legal purchase age limits are 18.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |16 However, the law is loosely enforced.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
|
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
|
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:Gainsboro" |None
| align="center" | 18
| align="center" |None under 2.25% ABV
20 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. 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. Class I beer (2.25% ABV and under) has no age restriction.
|-
| rowspan="2" |
| (federal law)
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" align="center" |16 <sup>(fermented beverages with up to 15% ABV and natural wines with up to 18% ABV)</sup><br /> 18 <sup>(spirits)</sup>
| 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. Whoever sells or supplies spirits to a person under the age of 18 years is punished with a fine up to 10,000 CHF.
|-
|
| colspan="2" align="center" |18
| Canton Ticino prohibits the selling of any type of alcohol beverage to minors under the age of 18.
|-
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" style="background:Gainsboro" align="center" |None
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |18<br>On licensed premises: 18<br />or 16 <sup>(for beer, wine or cider with a table meal and if accompanied by adult)</sup>
| colspan="2" align="center" | 18
|
- It is prohibited to give a child under the age of 5 alcohol, unless for medical reasons.
- Import: People over 17 are entitled to a duty-free allowance for alcohol beverages.
|-
|
| align="center" | None
| align="center" | 18<br />16 <sup>(beer, wine, cider or perry with a meal if purchased by an adult aged 18 or older)</sup>
16 <small>(liquor confectionery)
|
- It is prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages to persons under the age of 18,
- The police can confiscate alcohol from those below the drinking age in public. Those aged 16–17 may consume beer, wine, cider, or perry on licensed premises with a meal.
| align="center" | 18
| colspan="2" align="center" | 18 (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
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2 style="width:12%;"| Country
! rowspan=2 style="width:12%;"| State/ region/ province
! colspan=2 style="width:20%;"| De jure
! rowspan=2 style="width:56%;"| Notes
|-
! style="width:10%;"| Drinking age
! style="width:10%;"| Purchase age
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 align="center" |18
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"| 18
| The drinking age was previously 21 but was lowered to 18 in 2009.
|
|-
| <br />
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"| 21
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"| 21
| Minimum age applies for beverages with 1.15% ABV or over; no restrictions on beverages less than 1.15% ABV.<br />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.
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"| 21
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"| 18
| 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.
|
|-
|'
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 21
|As of July 2010, the drinking age in the territory of Guam has been raised to 21.
|-
|'
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|21
|
|-
| colspan=2|
| colspan=2 style="text-align:center;"| 18
| 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.
External links
- Minimum legal age limits online table updated on a rolling basis, International Alliance for Responsible Drinking