Minimum Age Limits Worldwide
ICAP has gathered information from over 100 countries around the world on the minimum ages to legally purchase and consume alcohol. The table below records the minimum legal purchase ages both on- and off-premise and by beverage type (beer, wine, and sprits).
The World Health Organization defines on- and off-premise as follows:
On-premise retail sale refers to the sale of beverage alcohol for consumption at the site of the sale, generally in pubs, bars, cafes, or restaurants.
Off-premise retail sale refers to the sale of beverage alcohol for consumption elsewhere (not on the site of sale). Off-premise sales take place, for example, in state monopoly stores, wine shops, supermarkets, and petrol stations or kiosks, depending on local regulations. (World Health Organization, 2004, Global Status Report on Alcohol Policy, p. 15)
This table is updated as international laws change (last updated: January 2010). The data have been confirmed by sources in each country. If you have information about a country not listed here or if you find any of the information outdated, please email us.
This table is also available in Russian.
| Country |
Drinking Age: On premise |
Purchasing Age: Off premise |
Notes |
| Albania |
None |
None |
|
| Algeria |
18 |
18 |
|
| Argentina |
18 |
18 |
|
| Australia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Austria |
16/18 (see notes) |
16/18 (see notes) |
For distilled spirits, the age limit is 16 in three Federal States and 18 in six Federal States (there are nine Federal States in Austria ). However, some Federal States differentiate by alcohol content, rather than by beverage type. Thus, drinks with an alcohol content of 12% ABV or more can only be consumed by individuals aged 18 and over, which therefore includes some wines and all mixtures containing spirits (e.g., alcopops, cocktails). |
| Azerbaijan |
18 |
18 |
|
| Bahamas |
18 |
18 |
|
| Belarus |
18 |
18 |
|
| Belgium |
16 beer and wine; 18 for spirits |
None for beer and wine;18 for spirits |
|
| Belize |
18 |
18 |
|
| Bolivia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Botswana |
18 |
18 |
|
| Brazil |
18 |
18 |
|
| Brunei |
Illegal |
Illegal |
|
| Bulgaria |
18 |
18 |
|
| Burundi |
18, unless accompanied by parents |
18, unless accompanied by parents |
|
| Cambodia |
None |
None |
|
| Cameroon |
18 |
21 |
|
| Canada |
18/19 (see notes) |
18/19 (see notes) |
18 in Manitoba , Alberta, and Quebec. 19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. |
| Cape Verde |
18 |
18 |
|
| Central African Republic |
18 |
18 |
|
| Chile |
18 |
18 |
|
| China, People’s Republic of |
18 |
18 |
|
| China , Republic of ( Taiwan ) |
18 |
18 |
|
| Colombia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Comoros |
None |
None |
|
| Congo, Republic of |
18 |
18 |
|
| Costa Rica |
18 |
18 |
|
| Croatia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Cyprus |
17 |
17 |
|
| Czech Republic |
18 |
18 |
|
| Denmark |
18 |
16 |
|
| Dominican Republic |
18 |
18 |
|
| Ecuador |
18 |
18 |
|
| Egypt |
18 for beer; 21 for wine and spirits |
18 for beer; 21 for wine and spirits |
|
| El Salvador |
18 |
18 |
|
| Equatorial Guinea |
None |
None |
|
| Eritrea |
18 |
18 |
|
| Estonia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Ethiopia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Fiji |
21 |
21 |
|
| Finland |
18 |
18 |
|
| France |
18 |
18 |
|
| Gabon |
None |
None |
|
| Gambia |
Illegal (18 for non-Muslim population, 5% of total population) |
Illegal (18 for non-Muslim population, 5% of total population) |
|
| Georgia |
16 |
16 |
|
| Germany |
16 for beer and wine;18 spirits |
16 for beer and wine; 18 spirits |
|
| Ghana |
None |
None |
|
| Greece |
18 |
None |
|
| Guatemala |
18 |
18 |
|
| Guinea-Bissau |
None |
None |
|
| Guyana |
18 |
18 |
|
| Hungary |
18 |
18 |
|
| Iceland |
20 |
20 |
|
| India |
18 to 25, depending on state |
18 to 25, depending on state |
|
| Indonesia |
21 |
21 |
|
| Ireland |
18 |
18 |
|
| Israel |
18 |
18 |
|
| Italy |
16 |
16 |
|
| Jamaica |
None |
16 |
|
| Japan |
20 |
20 |
|
| Kazakhstan |
18 |
18 |
|
| Kenya |
18 |
18 |
|
| Korea, Republic of (South Korea) |
19 |
19 |
|
| Kyrgyzstan |
None |
None |
|
| Latvia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Lesotho |
18 |
18 |
|
| Libya |
Illegal |
Illegal |
|
| Lithuania |
18 |
18 |
|
| Luxembourg |
16 |
None |
|
| Malawi |
18 |
18 |
|
| Malta |
16 |
16 |
|
| Mauritius |
18 |
18 |
|
| Mexico |
18 |
18 |
|
| Micronesia |
21 |
21 |
|
| Morocco |
None |
16 |
|
| Mozambique |
18 |
18 |
|
| Namibia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Netherlands |
16, but 18 for spirits that have an ABV of over 15% |
16, but 18 for spirits that have an ABV of over 15% |
|
| New Zealand |
18 |
18 |
|
| Nicaragua |
19 |
19 |
|
| Niger |
18 |
18 |
|
| Nigeria |
18 |
18 |
|
| Norway |
18, but 20 for spirits defined as 22% ABV |
18, but 20 for spirits defined as 22% ABV |
|
| Pakistan |
Illegal (21 for non-Muslim population) |
Illegal (21 for non-Muslim population) |
|
| Palau |
21 |
21 |
|
| Panama |
18 |
18 |
|
| Papua New Guinea |
18 |
18 |
|
| Paraguay |
20 |
20 |
|
| Peru |
18 |
18 |
|
| Philippines |
18 |
18 |
|
| Portugal |
16 |
16 |
|
| Russia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Samoa |
18 |
18 |
|
| Seychelles |
18 |
18 |
|
| Singapore |
18 |
18 |
|
| Slovenia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Solomon Islands |
21 |
None |
|
| South Africa |
18 |
18 |
|
| Spain |
18 (16 in Asturias) |
18 (16 in Asturias) |
|
| Sri Lanka |
21 |
21 |
|
| Swaziland |
None |
18 |
|
| Sweden |
18 |
20, but 18 for beer with ABV of 3.5% or less |
|
| Switzerland |
16/18, depending on the canton, for beer and wine; 18 in all cantons for spirits |
16/18, depending on the canton, for beer and wine; 18 in all cantons for spirits |
|
| Thailand |
18 |
18 |
|
| Togo |
None |
None |
|
| Tonga |
18 |
None |
|
| Trinidad and Tobago |
18 |
18 |
|
| Turkey |
18 |
18 |
|
| Turkmenistan |
18 |
18 |
|
| Uganda |
18 |
18 |
|
| Ukraine |
18 |
18 |
|
| United Kingdom |
18 |
18 |
|
| United States |
21 |
21 |
|
| Uruguay |
18 |
18 |
|
| Vanuatu |
18 |
18 |
|
| Venezuela |
18 |
18 |
|
| Zambia |
18 |
18 |
|
| Zimbabwe |
18 |
18 |
|