Kara Sears
Alcohol laws vary across the world, with differences in the minimum age to purchase and consume alcohol across different countries and even within states. The most common drinking law globally is a minimum legal drinking age of 18, although there are exceptions. For example, the majority of US states have a minimum drinking age of 21, while Puerto Rico, a US territory, has maintained a drinking age of 18. In Canada, the provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan have a minimum drinking age of 19. In Europe, most countries have a minimum purchase age of 18, although there are exceptions, such as Denmark, which raised its off-premise purchase age to 16 in 2004. In Africa, the most common minimum age to purchase alcohol is 18, but several countries have no laws restricting the sale of alcohol to minors. The legal drinking age can also vary within a country, depending on the type of alcohol and the location of consumption, such as in private residences or public places.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most common minimum age to purchase alcohol | 18 |
| Countries with no laws restricting the sale of alcohol to minors | Angola (except Luanda Province), Central African Republic, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali |
| Countries where the sale, production and consumption of alcohol is prohibited | Libya, Somalia, and Sudan |
| Countries with the lowest legal drinking age | Central America, the Caribbean, and South America (varies from 0 to 20 years) |
| Countries with the highest legal drinking age | The United States, Canada (Ontario and Saskatchewan provinces) |
| Countries where drinking alcohol is illegal | Yemen, Parts of Iraq ruled by the Islamic State, Iran |
| Countries where public drinking is illegal | Egypt, Indonesia (Aceh), Jordan, Morocco |
| Countries with separate sections in supermarkets for alcohol | Morocco |
| Countries with health warning messages on alcohol packaging | The United States, Denmark |
| Countries with excise taxes on homebrewers | The United States, Denmark |
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What You'll Learn
Drinking laws vary by country
Drinking laws vary significantly across the world. The legal drinking age is the minimum age at which a person can legally consume alcoholic beverages. The minimum age at which alcohol can be legally consumed can be different from the age at which it can be purchased in some countries. Many laws have exemptions or special circumstances, and most apply only to drinking alcohol in public places, with alcohol consumption in the home being mostly unregulated.
In the United States, the minimum legal drinking age is 21, with some exceptions. For example, in some states, those under 21 can drink for religious purposes, and in others, they can drink on non-alcohol-selling private premises. Puerto Rico, a US territory, has a drinking age of 18. In Canada, the legal drinking age is 18 or 19 depending on the province. In Europe, most countries have a minimum purchase age of 18, although some countries maintain a minimum purchase age below 18. In the UK, England and Wales have a minimum legal age of five for supervised consumption in private places. In Africa, the typical legal drinking age is 18, but some countries have no laws restricting the sale of alcohol to minors, and others ban alcohol completely. In the Middle East, the drinking age tends to be higher, for example, it is 21 in Bahrain and Egypt.
In addition to drinking age laws, countries have other regulations surrounding alcohol. For example, in the US, alcoholic drinks are only available from licensed shops, and in some countries, strong alcoholic drinks are sold only by a government-operated alcohol monopoly. Some countries have packaging and advertising warning messages about the health effects of alcohol. Alcohol is illegal in some countries, such as Yemen, and in others, it is illegal to drink in public, such as in Indonesia (except Aceh), Jordan, and Morocco.
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Drinking laws vary by state
Drinking laws vary significantly across the world, with differences in the legal drinking age, the types of alcohol that are permitted, and the locations in which alcohol can be consumed.
In the United States, the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution grants each state and territory the power to regulate intoxicating liquors within their jurisdiction. As a result, the laws pertaining to the production, sale, distribution, and consumption of alcohol vary across the country. While the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 established 21 as the minimum age to purchase and possess alcohol in public, individual states may allow those under 21 to drink in certain circumstances, such as for religious or health reasons or with parental consent. Additionally, military bases and federal properties are exempt from state alcohol laws, with their own regulations.
In Canada, the provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan have raised their minimum drinking age from 18 to 19 in response to concerns about alcohol-related harms among youth. In South America, the majority of countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 18, with the exception of Paraguay, which has a minimum age of 20, and Guyana, where minors aged 16 or 17 may consume a glass of beer or wine with a meal.
In the Middle East, the legality of alcohol varies significantly by country. In Egypt, drinking alcohol is illegal in public, and sales are banned for Muslims during Ramadan. In Iraq, alcohol is banned in regions ruled by the Islamic State, with a death penalty for consumption. In Jordan, alcohol is legal but public drinking is prohibited, while in Malaysia, alcohol is mostly legal except for Muslims in certain states. In Yemen, alcohol is completely illegal.
In Europe, most countries have set the minimum drinking age to 18, although there are variations in the minimum purchase age for different types of alcoholic beverages. For example, Denmark allows the sale of fermented alcohol to those under 18 but prohibits the sale of distilled spirits to anyone under 21.
These examples demonstrate the diverse and complex nature of drinking laws, which are shaped by cultural, religious, and health considerations, among other factors.
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Drinking age limits
United States
In the United States, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 requires all states to set the minimum age to purchase and publicly possess alcoholic beverages at 21 years. States that fail to comply risk losing a portion of their federal highway funding. As of 1988, all 50 states and the District of Columbia had a minimum purchase age of 21, except for Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Some states allow exceptions for religious or health reasons, and the consumption of alcohol by minors in private settings may not be prohibited.
Europe
Most countries in Europe have set the minimum age to purchase alcohol at 18. However, there are variations within Europe. For example, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, and Switzerland have minimum purchase ages below 18, with varying levels of access for minors. In the United Kingdom, England and Wales have a minimum legal age of five for supervised consumption in private places.
Canada
Canada has a minimum drinking age of 18 in most provinces, but Ontario and Saskatchewan have raised their minimum drinking age to 19 due to concerns about alcohol-related harms among youth and young adults.
Other Regions
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Drinking in private vs. public
Drinking laws vary significantly worldwide, with differences in the legal drinking age, the types of alcohol that can be consumed, and the contexts in which alcohol can be consumed. In this regard, laws and social customs concerning drinking in private versus public spaces also vary across different countries and regions.
In many countries, drinking alcohol in public spaces is regulated by open-container laws, which restrict the existence of open alcoholic beverage containers in certain areas and the active consumption of alcohol in those areas. Public spaces typically refer to outdoor areas such as roads, walkways, parks, or vehicles, while bars, restaurants, and stadiums are generally not considered public spaces.
Some countries and regions have more restrictive laws and social customs regarding public drinking. For example, in Muslim-majority countries where alcohol is legal, public drinking is often condemned or outlawed. In countries like Finland, public drinking is prohibited in built-up areas, at border crossings, or on public transport. Similarly, in Latvia, drinking in public was banned until 2020, and some cities still classify it as an administrative offence. Mexico, Lithuania, and most Canadian provinces also have laws prohibiting public alcohol consumption.
On the other hand, some countries and regions are more permissive when it comes to drinking in public. For instance, Belgium generally allows drinking in public, although certain cities, like Antwerp and Brussels, have local ordinances prohibiting it in specific areas. Similarly, while most Canadian provinces restrict open containers in public, Quebec has more relaxed laws, especially in Montreal, where drinking in public parks is allowed as long as it is accompanied by food. In the United States, some states, such as Indiana, Michigan, and New Jersey, have passed laws allowing public drinking in certain areas, while other states, like California, have more restrictive laws that only apply to specific types of containers or public spaces.
Drinking in private residences is generally less regulated than drinking in public. Most countries do not have a minimum legal drinking age for consumption in private residences, although there may be laws restricting the purchase or possession of alcohol by minors. For example, in the United States, while the National Minimum Drinking Age Act sets the minimum age to purchase and possess alcohol in public at 21, most states allow those under 21 to drink in private residences, and some states permit minors to drink for religious or health reasons if authorised by their parents or guardians.
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Exemptions and special circumstances
While the majority of countries have a minimum drinking age of 18, drinking laws vary significantly across the world, with many laws having exemptions and special circumstances.
Religious and health reasons
In the United States, some states allow those under 21 to drink for religious purposes, and some states specifically permit minors to drink alcohol given to them by their parents or guardians. For example, in Tennessee and Washington, those under 21 are permitted to drink for religious reasons, while in Ohio, those under 21 can drink in private and public settings, including bars and restaurants, if they are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse over the age of 21. Similarly, in Guyana, minors aged 16 or 17 may consume a glass of beer or wine in a restaurant as long as they are having a meal.
Drinking in private
In some countries, drinking alcohol in the home is mostly unregulated. However, England and Wales have a minimum legal age of five for supervised consumption in private places. In the US, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 prohibits people under 21 from buying or possessing alcohol in public, but some states continue to allow those under 21 to drink in private settings. For example, Oregon and New York allow those under 21 to drink on private non-alcohol-selling premises.
Military reservations
United States military reservations are exempt from state, county, and local alcohol laws. Military bases are free to set their drinking age, and most stateside bases mirror the drinking age of the local community. Class Six stores, officers' or NCO clubs, and other military commissaries on military reservations may sell and serve alcoholic beverages during their prescribed hours of operation to authorized patrons.
Drinking and driving
The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 requires all states to impose a "zero-tolerance law," prohibiting drivers under 21 from operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.02% or higher. Similar laws exist in other countries to discourage drinking and driving, especially among youth.
Alcohol-free alternatives
Some countries and states have introduced the concept of "underage clubs," where individuals below the legal drinking age can socialize and be served non-alcoholic beverages.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common drinking law in the US is the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which sets the minimum legal drinking age to 21. All 50 states abide by this standard.
Most countries in Europe have set the minimum drinking age to 18.
In South America, the legal drinking age is 18, except in Guyana, where 16 and 17-year-olds may consume a glass of beer or wine in a restaurant if they buy a meal, and in Paraguay, where the legal drinking age is 20.
Alcohol laws in the Middle East vary. In Libya, Somalia, and Sudan, the sale, production, and consumption of alcohol are prohibited. In Egypt, drinking alcohol is illegal in public, and in shops, and sales are banned for Muslims during Ramadan. In Jordan, public drinking is illegal, but alcohol is served in restaurants, bars, and hotels. In Iraq, alcohol is banned, with a fine of 25,000,000 IQD, but it is still sold in Baghdad. In Iran, alcohol was accessible before the establishment of the Islamic republic. Alcohol is mostly legal in Malaysia, but Muslims cannot drink it in Kelantan and Terengganu. In Morocco, alcohol is legal, but public drinking is illegal.
