Why Is The Drinking Age Different In Other Countries?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Some countries also have different age limits for different types of alcohol drinks. … The most commonly known reason for the law behind the legal age is

the effect on the brain in adolescents

. Since the brain is still maturing, alcohol can have a negative effect on the memory and long-term thinking.

What country has the lowest drinking age?


Italy

has set a minimum legal drinking age at 16 years, one of the lowest MLDA in the world. In 2002, Renato Balduzzi, the then Health Minister proposed to raise the minimum drinking age to 18 years.

What are the drinking ages in other countries?

  • Belgium- 16. A 16-year-old is allowed to have beer and wine. …
  • South Africa- 18. …
  • Bhutan- 18. …
  • China – 18. …
  • Hong Kong- 18. …
  • Japan- 20. …
  • Indonesia- 21. …
  • Canada* – 19.

Why is the US the only country with a drinking age of 21?

The drinking age was raised back to

21 over federal highway funding

. In 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act passed, which stated federal highway funds would be withheld from U.S. states that failed to set the minimum legal drinking age back at 21.

What countries have a 21 drinking age?

  • 20 MLDA (5 countries) Iceland, Japan, Paraguay, Thailand, Uzbekistan.
  • 21 MLDA (12 countries) Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Kiribati, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Samoa, Sri Lanka, United States.

What country has a drinking age of 13?

Around the world, the age when it's legal to purchase or be served most alcohol products varies from 13 in

Burkina Faso

to 25 in Eritrea. Here's a brief look at how not only the legal drinking age but the culture and parenting around varies across countries.

What is China's drinking age?

Country/ Territory On-premise sale Legislation and regulations Central African Republic [none] [n/a] Chad

18

* Law 2017-01 Penal Code Chapter 6 Art 376-378
Chile 18 Law 19.925 on the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages China 18* Law on the Protection of Minors as revised in 2006 Art 37

Can you drink at 14 in Germany?

Per Germany's Youth Protection Act, beer, wine and wine-like beverages may not be sold to children and young people under the age of 16. … The legal drinking age for spirits is 18.

Can you drink at 16 in Ireland?

Ireland's drinking laws are pretty crystal clear – the

legal drinking age in Ireland is 18

. That means you need to be 18 to buy a in a pub or to buy any form of alcohol from a store. … According to Ireland's drinking laws, it's illegal: For anyone below 18 years of age to buy alcohol.

What countries is it legal to drink at 16?

  • Austria (18 in some areas and varies by beverage) Dominica.
  • British Virgin Islands.
  • Congo.
  • Dominica.
  • Germany (varies by beverage)
  • Guyana (varies by beverage)
  • Liechtenstein (varies by beverage)
  • Lithuania.

What's the youngest drinking age in America?

A Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) of

21

saves lives and protects health. Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws specify the legal age when an individual can purchase alcoholic beverages. The MLDA in the United States is 21 years.

What is the lowest age of consent in the world?

The lowest Age of Consent in the world is

11

, in Nigeria.

The age of consent is 12 in the Philippines and Angola, and 13 in Burkina Faso, Comoros, Niger, and Japan.

Can you drink under 21 with a parent?

Only

a parent or guardian

(or a person authorised by the parent or guardian) may supply alcohol to a minor at an unlicensed premises (including a family home), however the supply must be consistent with the responsible supervision of the minor.

What is Japan's drinking age?

The legal drinking age in Japan is

20

. While this age differs from country by country, as long as you're over 20 years of age, you're free to drink in Japan. (Just be sure to bring your passport with you for ID.) As in many other countries, people under the legal age of 20 also cannot purchase alcohol.

What country has highest drinking age?

  • Malaysia.
  • Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Oman.
  • Palau.
  • Samoa.
  • Sri Lanka.
  • United Arab Emirates: Varies from 18 to 21 based on jurisdiction.
  • United States.

Can you drink at 18 in Bahamas?

The legal drinking age in The Bahamas is

18

.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.