Drinking age
From YRN
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 most states of the US it is 21. Some countries distinguish between drinks with fairly low alcohol-content (such as beer and wine) and stronger spirit-based drinks.
Some people argue that this lowers the risk of accidents and alcohol addiction in younger people. Others 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.
Laws surrounding alcohol vary, but generally, minors are not allowed inside of drinking establishments, are not allowed to purchase alcohol, and are not allowed to drink. 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. In the United States, the minimum age to purchase alcohol is 21. Some jurisdictions allow minors to drink in the privacy of their own home, with their parents' permission, and others do not. In 1984 (an appropriate year) congress passed the "National Minium Drinking Age Act" which effectively raised the drinking age in all states to 21 by reducing the federal funding for interstates by 10% in any state that did not comply. Special exceptions were made for the consumption of alcohol in religious ceremonies.
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, all of which are referred to as 18 Plus Cards; in the UK, driver's licenses, 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.
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Legal drinking age by country
A - D
- Antigua: 16
- Argentina: 18
- Armenia: No minimum age
- Australia: 18
- Austria: 16
- Azerbaijan: No minimum age
- Barbados: 18
- Belgium: 16
- Bermuda: 18
- Canada: varies from province to province, however all are either 18 or 19 years of age.
- Alberta: 18
- British Columbia: 19
- Manitoba: 18
- New Brunswick: 19
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 19
- Northwest Territories: 19
- Nova Scotia: 19
- Ontario: 19
- Prince Edward Island: 19
- Québec: 18
- Saskatchewan: 19
- Yukon: 19
- China: No minimum age / 18 purchase age Introduced 2006
- Czech Republic: 18
- Denmark: 16 (in shops) / 18 (in bars and restaurants)
E - H
- Estonia: 18
- Finland: 18 (beer and wine) / 20 (spirits)
- France: 16
- Georgia (country)|Georgia: No minimum age
- Germany: 16 (beer and wine) / 18 (spirits)
- Greece: 15
I - N
- Israel: 18
- Italy: No minimum age; it's illegal to serve alcoholic drinks to minor of 16 in public places
- Jamaica: No minimum age
- Japan: 20
- Korea: 21
- Malaysia: 21
- Netherlands: 16 for beer and wine, 18 for stronger drinks
- New Zealand: 18
- Nigeria: No minimum age
- Norway: 18 (beer and wine) / 20 (spirits)
O - V
- Poland: No minimum age (though one must be over 18 to buy alcohol legally)
- Portugal: No minimum age
- Puerto Rico: 18
- Republic of China: 18
- Republic of Ireland: 18
- Slovenia: 18
- Spain: 16
- Sweden: 18 (in bars) and 18 for buying alcohol up to 3,5% / 20 (in liqour stores)
- Switzerland: 16 beer and wine; 18 spirits
- Turkey: 18
- Ukraine: 21
- United Kingdom Drinking Age|United Kingdom: 18; 16 for beer or cider in restaurants; 5 in private, with adults
- United States: 21
- Vietnam: No minimum age
External links
world drinking ages NYRA's Drinking Age Resource
