Legal drinking age

Many nations have a legal drinking age, or the minimum age one must be to drink alcohol. In most countries this is 16 or 18; in Canada it is 18 in Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba, and 19 elsewhere, while in the United States it is 21. Some countries distinguish between drinks with fairly low alcohol-content (such as beer and wine) and stronger spirit-based drinks. Many countries have banned alcohol advertising aimed at the youth market.

The high U.S. minimum drinking age is based on minimizing car accidents. The drinking age is actually not a federal law; every state has a limit of 21. The federal government simply withholds some highway transportation funding to states that don't have a limit of 21. The U.S. population have for decades been heavy users of personal automobiles for transportation, and hence it has a higher fatality rate for drivers —taking around 43,000 lives a year. According to proponents such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the relatively high US drinking age lowers the risk of accidents and alcohol addiction in younger people. Some studies appear to support this claim, though others have implied that accidents and the learning curve for handling alcohol are simply moved to the 21+ demographic (perhaps not even saving any lives). Some people argue that if one is old enough to vote and be drafted, one is old enough to drink, and that being introduced to alcohol at a younger age in a family environment means people are more likely to learn responsible drinking habits. Many also consider it unreasonable for college students to not experiment with alcohol until they are 21, as long as it is done safely.

Laws surrounding alcohol vary, but generally, minors are not allowed inside of drinking establishments and are not allowed to purchase alcohol. However, contrary to popular belief, few states specifically prohibit minors' consumption of alcohol in private settings. In the United Kingdom, children may enter pubs in the company of an adult until 9 PM and 14-year-olds may enter pubs unaccompanied if they order a meal. Some jurisdictions allow minors to drink in the privacy of their own home, with their parents' permission, and others do not.

Proof of age is usually required to enter bars and clubs, or to buy alcoholic beverages in shops. In the United States, this is usually done by showing a driver's license. In New Zealand, multiple forms of identification can be used, including 18 Plus Cards; in the UK, driver's licences, passports, or special "proof of age" cards must be used. In some countries, such as Japan, asking for ID is relatively rare: it is generally assumed that anyone who doesn't look underage, isn't.

Legal drinking age by country

A - D

Country	Legal drinking age	Legal purchasing age
Antigua	16
Argentina	18
Armenia	No minimum age
Australia	18, No minimum age to drink in private with parent/guardian, or in public bars with a meal	18
Austria1	16 (beer and wine), 18 (spirits)
Azerbaijan	No minimum age
Barbados	18
Belgium	16
Bermuda	18
Brazil	18
Bulgaria	No minimum drinking age	16
Canada	Alberta/ Manitoba/ Québec: 18 Other provinces: 19
China	No minimum drinking age
Denmark	No minimum drinking age	16 (in shops); 18 (in bars and restaurants)
Dominican Republic	18

1. Exception: Vorarlberg: 16 for spirits

E - H

Country	Legal drinking age	Legal purchasing age
Ecuador	18
Egypt	21
Estonia	18	18
Finland	None by law, 18 in practice1	18 (shops up to 22% ABV and all drinks in bars), 20 (over 22% ABV in shops)
France	16 in public, private drinking is overlooked	16 (beer and wine), 18 (spirits)
Georgia	No minimum age
Germany	16 (beer and wine), 18 (spirits)	16 (beer and wine), 18 (spirits)²
Greece	18
Hong Kong	18

1. Law mentions only minimum legal possession age, but it is often interpreted that holding a glass or bottle for a time it takes to drink its contents is possession. On some cities non-disturbing or private drinking is overlooked, others have so called "zero-tolerance".
2. Minors in possession of alcohol are not punished. However people who make alcohol available to minors are punished. Private drinking is overlooked.

I - N

Country	Legal drinking age	Legal purchasing age
Iceland	20
India	Varies from State to State. Karnataka has the lowest (18), while Delhi has the highest (25).
Israel	18
Italy	16
Jamaica	No minimum age
Japan	20
Korea	21
Latvia	No minimum drinking age	18
Lebanon	18
Lithuania	18
Malaysia	21
Mexico	18
Netherlands	16 (beer and wine), 18 (spirits)
New Zealand	No minimum drinking age	18
Nigeria	No minimum age
Norway	18 (beer and wine), 20 (spirits)

O - V

Country	Legal drinking age	Legal purchasing age
Pakistan	No minimum drinking age	16
Peru	18
Philippines	16
Poland	No minimum drinking age	18
Portugal	No minimum drinking age	16 (beer and wine), 18 (other drinks)1
Republic of Ireland	18
Russia	18
Slovenia	18
Slovakia	18
Singapore	18
South Africa	18
Spain	16
Sri Lanka	18
Sweden	18	18 (shops up to 3.5% ABV and all drinks in bars), 20 (over 3.5% ABV in shops)
Switzerland	No minimum drinking age	16 (beer and wine), 18 (spirits and spirit-based cocktails)
Taiwan	18
Turkey	18
Uganda	18
Ukraine	21
United Kingdom	5 in private, with adults 2 18 in public 16 if purchasing with a meal	18
United States	21	21
Vietnam	No minimum age

1. People suffering mental illness or notoriously drunk cannot purchase or obtain alcoholic beverages
2. Children under 5 can drink alcohol, but only from a note from the person's GP
3. 16 for beer, cider or wine with a meal in a restaurant

See also

• Legal issues of tobacco smoking
• Smoking ban

External links

• world drinking ages