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 selling of alcoholic beverages for consumption at the site of the sale, generally in pubs, bars, cafes or restaurants.
Off-premise retail sale refers to the selling of alcoholic beverages for consumption elsewhere and not on the site of sale. Off-premise sale takes place, for example, in state monopoly stores, wine shops, supermarkets, and petrol stations or kiosks, depending on the regulations of the country. (World Health Organization, 2004, p. 15)
This table is continually monitored and updated as international laws change. 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 If you have information about a country not listed here or if you find any of the information outdated, please email us.
Reference:
World Health Organization (WHO). (2004). Global status report: Alcohol policy. Geneva, Switzerland.
Table available in PDF format (click here)
|
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 |
16 |
16 |
|
|
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 |
16, but
18 for spirits. |
16, but
18 for spirits. |
|
|
Gabon |
None |
None |