Drinking age in Slovenia is 18
The legal drinking age is the minimum age at which a person can legally consume alcoholic beverages. The minimum age alcohol can be legally consumed can be different from the age when it can be purchased in some countries. These laws vary between countries and many laws have exemptions or special circumstances. Most laws apply only to drinking alcohol in public places with alcohol consumption in the home being mostly unregulated (an exception being the UK, which has a minimum legal age of five for supervised consumption in private places). Some countries also have different age limits for different types of alcohol drinks.
The majority of countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 18. The most commonly known reason for the law behind the legal drinking 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. Alongside that, it can cause liver failure, and create a hormone imbalance in teens due to the constant changes and maturing of hormones during puberty. Some countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 19 to prevent the flow of alcoholic beverages in high schools, while others like the United States have a minimum legal purchasing age of 21 (18 in P.R. and USVI) in an effort to reduce the amount of drunk driving rates among teenagers and young adults.
Most countries in Europe have set 18 as the minimum age to purchase alcohol. Although Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Serbia and Switzerland (except Ticino) maintain a minimum purchase age below 18 years, minors are permitted either full or limited access to alcohol. In 2005, 2007 and 2015 harmonization at the European Union level toward a minimum purchase age of 18 was discussed, but not agreed.
Timeline of changes to drinking/purchase age or laws restricting the access to alcohol for minors:
In 2002 the Spanish autonomous communities Madrid, Valencia and Catalonia raised their minimum purchase age to 18 years. Previously, Valencia and Madrid had a minimum purchase age of 16 years, and in Catalonia minors aged 16 or 17 could purchase alcohol up to 23% ABV on- and off-premise.
In 2004 Denmark raised its off-premise purchase age from 15 to 16 years.
In November 2005 Switzerland passed its Food and Commodities Regulation (German: Lebensmittel- und Gebrauchsgegenständeverordnung), introducing a ban on alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 16. The Alcohol Law (German: Alkoholgesetz) passed in 1980 requires a minimum age of 18 years for the retail sale of distilled spirits. Therefore, it is prohibited to sell fermented alcohol (e.g. beer, wine, sparkling wine or cider) to anyone under the age of 16, and any distilled alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. The canton of Ticino has a cantonal law since 1989 that makes the purchase age limit for all alcohol beverages 18 years.
In 2006 the Spanish autonomous community Castile and León raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years.
In late 2006, Gibraltar lawmakers passed the Children and Young Persons (Alcohol, Tobacco and Gaming) Act 2006, which raised the minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years. But the new law made an exception: minors aged 16 or 17 can purchase and consume beer, wine or cider under 15% ABV on-premise, and pre-packed containers of an alcohol strength not exceeding 5.5% ABV (e.g. alcopops).
In 2009 France raised its minimum purchase age to 18 years,[139][140] and fines were increased for selling or serving alcohol to a minor (up to €7,500). Previously, the minimum age was 16 years for off-premise and on-premise purchases of low-alcohol beverages (up to 3% ABV) such as wine, beer, cider, perry, mead, crème de cassis and juices from fermented fruits or vegetables that contain 1.2 to 3° alcohol, natural sweet wines from controlled cultivation and 18 for higher-ABV beverages.
In October 2009, the government of Malta passed a new law raising its drinking and purchase age from 16 to 17 years.
In 2010 the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years.
In 2011 Denmark passed a law raising the minimum age for off-premise sale of alcohol beverages of >16.5% ABV to 18 years of age. The minimum age to purchase alcohol beverages of <16.5% ABV remains 16.
In March 2012 Moldova raised the minimum purchase age to 18, from 16 previously.
Italy raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 in 2012. Previously Italy did not have a purchase age for off-premise sales, and the minimum age of 16 years for on-premise sales was not well enforced.
In 2013 the government of Portugal restricted alcohol sales to young people: distilled spirits cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18, and other alcohol beverages (e.g. beer, wine, or cider) cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16. Previously the minimum age for all alcohol beverages was 16 years.
As of 1 January 2014, the minimum legal purchase and consumption age was raised from 16 to 18 in the Netherlands. Previously young people over the age of 16 could purchase and consume alcohol beverages of <15% ABV, and those aged 18 and over could purchase all alcohol beverages.
As of March 2015, the Spanish autonomous community of Asturias raised its drinking age from 16 to 18 years. Asturias was Spain's last community with a drinking age of 16 years. The new law brings the drinking age into line with the rest of Spain, with the exception of Balearic Islands where no purchase age limit is set.
As of December 2015, Portugal harmonized its minimum drinking age to 18 years across all beverage types. Previously the purchase age was 16 years for low-alcohol beverages such as beer, wine or cider.
As of 1 January 2018, Lithuania raised its minimum drinking age from 18 to 20 years.
From January 2019 the federal states of Austria decided to align their drinking and purchase ages. The states Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vienna therefore raised their age limits for alcohol beverages containing spirits to 18. Prior to 2019 these states had a general ng and purchase age of 16 years. The sale and consumption of beer, wine and other fermented alcohol beverages is now prohibited to children and young people under the age of 16 years, and the sale and consumption of spirits to minors under the age of 18 years is prohibited throughout Austria.
Country Administrative division De jure Notes
Drinking age Purchase age
Private Public On-premise Off-premise
Albania None 18 18 The sale of alcohol beverage in bars, restaurants or other licensed premises, as well as other points of sale, is prohibited to minors under the age of 18 years. Vendors and operators of licensed premises are required to post a clearly legible notice in A4 format stating "Ndalohet shitja e alkoolit personave nën 18 vjeç" (It is prohibited to sell alcohol beverages to people under 18 years). Consumption by those under age 18 in public places is prohibited.
Andorra None 18 18 Selling, serving or supplying alcohol beverages is prohibited as well as public consumption of alcohol beverage by minors under the age of 18 years.
Armenia None 18 There are no laws mandating alcohol vendors to ID potential underage drinkers. ID checks are very rarely, if ever, carried out Criminal Code the Republic of Armenia (2003), Article 166: "Involvement, by a person who reached 18 years, of a child into regular use of alcohol drinks... is punished with correctional labour for up to 1 year, or with arrest for the term of 1–2 months, or with imprisonment for the term of 5 years"
Austria Differing between federal states, none or the same as in public 16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (distilled beverages) 16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (distilled beverages) The age limits are set out by the legislation of each federal state but were harmonized in January 2019. Carinthia also requires 16-18-year-olds to maintain a blood alcohol level below 0.05%.
Azerbaijan None 18 Law No. 499-IG on Children's Rights (1998)
Belarus None 18
Belgium None[160] 18 for distilled beverages of higher than 1.2%ABV and fermented beverages of higher than 22%ABV
16 for other alcohol beverages
Since 10 January 2010, it is prohibited to "sell, serve, or offer" any distilled alcohol beverages to those under the age of 18 or any alcohol beverage to those under 16. Previously, it was prohibited to sell alcohol drinks to under-16s, but accompanying adults could buy drinks for them.
Bosnia and Herzegovina None 18 Selling alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years is an offence. The law does not prohibit minors from buying, attempting to buy or consuming alcohol.
Law on Public Peace and Order (2015) Article 25 prohibits providing alcohol beverages to minors.
Law on Internal Trade (2010), Article 10 prohibits the sale in the retail trade of alcohol beverages to persons under 18 years of age.
Bulgaria None 18 It is prohibited to sell or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18.
Croatia None 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under 18 years of age. There is no minimum age to buy or consume alcohol by law.
Cyprus 17 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years, and for those under 17 years old to consume alcohol beverages.
Czech Republic None 18 It is prohibited to provide alcohol to minors but consumption itself is not prohibited by law.
Denmark None 18 16 (beverages of <16.5% ABV)
18 (beverages of ≥16.5% ABV) While there is no age requirement for drinking alcohol beverages in Denmark, there are laws that prohibit minors from buying alcohol from on-premise and off-premise outlets.
If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID card and is identified having sold alcohol to an underage, it is subject to fine. A national ID card, obtained in the local town hall, can serve as age verification. This card is rarely used though since a passport or driver's license is more commonly used.
Both the legal drinking and purchasing age in the Faroe Islands is 18.
Estonia 18 18 It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. Alcohol found in possession of any child can be confiscated by the police.
Finland 18 (1.2–22% ABV)
20 (>22% ABV) 18 18 (1.2–22% ABV)
20 (>22% ABV) All major grocery chains have implemented a policy to ask for ID if the customer looks under 30. Stores may refuse to sell alcohol if the customer is accompanied by a minor, or if proxy purchasing is suspected. Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is a criminal offence.
Police may search minors in public places and confiscate or destroy any alcohol beverages in their possession. Incidents are reported to the legal guardian and child protective services, who may intervene with child welfare procedures. In addition, those aged 15 or above are subject to a fine.
In private, offering alcohol to a minor is considered a criminal offence if it results in drunkenness and the act can be deemed reprehensible as a whole, considering the minor's age, degree of maturity and other circumstances.
France None 18 France has no explicitly stated consumption age, but selling alcohol beverages to a minor (under 18) is prohibited and can be fined 7500 euros.
Georgia None 18 Under the Law on Protecting Minors from Harmful Influences 2001 the sale of alcohol beverages to minors is prohibited. Juvenile Justice Code (2015) Article 3 defines minors as those under 18.
Germany None 14(beer, wine and cider if accompanied)
16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts) 14(beer, wine and cider if accompanied)
16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts) It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply fermented alcohol beverages (beer, wine, cider and sparkling wine) to anyone under 16 years of age. However this age limit drops down to 14 if a minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. It is generally prohibited to serve, sell or supply any beverage containing spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts, to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violation of the "Protection of Young Persons Act" can be fined up to €50,000.
Gibraltar None 16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits) 18 It is prohibited to sell alcohol drinks to anyone under the age of 18, other than the following two exceptions. The minimum age to be served in licensed premises is 16 if:
The alcohol beverage is beer, wine or cider below 15% ABV, or
The alcohol beverage is served in a bottle, or a pre-packaged container below 5.5% ABV.
Greece None 18 18 In 2008, the consumption of alcohol beverages was prohibited for minors in public. However, the law does not apply to private events or private premises. However, the law is rarely enforced with authorities reporting high numbers of teen alcohol consumption yearly.
Hungary None 18 18
Iceland None 20 Possession or consumption of alcohol by people under the age of 20 is not an offence, but police will contact parents of those under 18 and send a report to the child protection agency, supplying them with alcohol is an offence. Drinking in public is prohibited, though this is rarely enforced in public places.
Ireland None 18 18 It is prohibited for minors to buy alcohol or for a third party to attempt to buy it for minors. Minors are prohibited to drink in private residences unless it is with their parent or guardian's permission.
Italy None 18 In 2012 the then Health Minister Renato Balduzzi proposed to raise the age to 18. Selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 in shops carries a fine between €250 and €1000. Serving alcohol beverages to those under the age of 16 is a criminal offense and is punished with prison up to one year, if the individual is 16 or 17 it will be treated as an offense that is fined between €250 and €1000 (Legge n. 189/2013).
Kosovo None 18
Latvia None 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to any minor under the age of 18 years. Persons between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to present an identity document to the retailer when purchasing alcoholic beverages, regardless of whether the retailer has requested it. There is no minimum age to consume or possess alcohol.
Liechtenstein 18 spirits and spirit-based beverages
16 other alcohol beverages
Spirits and alcopops may be sold only to people at least 18, and other alcohol beverages to people at least 16. Consumption and possession is prohibited at the same ages.
Lithuania 20 It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 20 years. People under the age of 20 are prohibited from consuming alcohol beverages or from possessing them. The minimum age was raised from 18 to 20 in 2018.
Luxembourg None 16 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages of >1.2% ABV to any person under the age of 16 years. Violation is fined €251 to €1,000.
Malta None 17 17 Must provide identification upon request.
Moldova None 18 It is prohibited to sell, or serve alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not prohibited for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol.
Montenegro None 18
Netherlands None 18 18 The legal age for purchase and consumption of alcohol beverages was raised from 16 to 18 in 2014. Selling alcohol beverages to people under 18 is prohibited, buying alcohol beverages for someone else under the age of 18 is also prohibited.
North Macedonia None 18
Norway None 18 (<22% ABV)
20 (≥22% ABV) Alcohol possessed by minors may be confiscated as evidence. Drinking in public is prohibited, though this is rarely enforced in recreational areas.
Poland None None (within designated drinking zones)
Prohibited (elsewhere) 18[196] Article 15 of The Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism prohibits sale or serving of alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 and that if doubt exists as to age, sellers/servers should require ID as proof of age.
Drinking in public places, with the exception of designated drinking zones, is prohibited regardless of age.
Portugal None 18 18
Romania None 18 18
Russia None 16 18 Penalties apply to parents of those under 16 years of age who consume alcohol beverages in public places.
The legal purchase age limits are 18.
San Marino None 16 Criminal Code Article 165
Serbia None 18
Slovakia 18 18
Slovenia None 18
Spain None 18 Autonomous region Balearic Islands does not have legislation on legal purchase age limits.
Sweden None 18 20
It is legal for anyone at any age to drink, but off-premise sale or supply to anyone under the age of 20 is prohibited and on-premise establishments are prohibited from serving alcohol beverages to anyone under 18. It is legal to serve an underage person alcohol in a private place, provided it's a limited amount and done in moderation. The reason for the lower limit in bars than in Systembolaget shops is that bartenders have a legal responsibility for how drunk a guest gets.
Switzerland Switzerland (federal law) None 16 (fermented beverages with up to 15% ABV and natural wines with up to 18% ABV)
18 (spirits) Whoever offers or supplies alcohol beverages to a child under the age of 16 years in an amount which is harmful to one's health is punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine. Whoever sells or supplies spirits to a person under the age of 18 years is punished with a fine up to 10.000 CHF.
Ticino 18 Canton Ticino prohibits the selling of any type of alcohol beverage to minors under the age of 18.
Ukraine None 18 Law No. 1824-VI on state regulation of production and turnover of ethyl, cognac and fruit, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products Article 15-3
United Kingdom England
Wales None / 5 18
16 (beer, wine or cider with meal and if accompanied by adult) 18
It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcohol beverages in licensed premises to anyone under the age of 18, but those aged 16–17 may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal and they are accompanied by an adult. Minors are prohibited to consume alcohol beverages in public.
Import: People over 17 are entitled to a duty-free allowance for alcohol beverages.
Scotland None 18
16 (beer, wine or cider with meal if accompanied by adult)) 18
It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18, except for those aged 16–17, who may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal and they are accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older. Minors are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages in public.
Import: People over 17 are entitled to a duty-free allowance for alcoholic beverages.
Northern Ireland 14 18 18 It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18. Minors are prohibited to consume alcohol beverages in public. It is illegal for persons under 14 to drink alcohol in private, unless it is for medical purposes.
The majority of countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 18. The most commonly known reason for the law behind the legal drinking 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. Alongside that, it can cause liver failure, and create a hormone imbalance in teens due to the constant changes and maturing of hormones during puberty. Some countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 19 to prevent the flow of alcoholic beverages in high schools, while others like the United States have a minimum legal purchasing age of 21 (18 in P.R. and USVI) in an effort to reduce the amount of drunk driving rates among teenagers and young adults.
Most countries in Europe have set 18 as the minimum age to purchase alcohol. Although Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Serbia and Switzerland (except Ticino) maintain a minimum purchase age below 18 years, minors are permitted either full or limited access to alcohol. In 2005, 2007 and 2015 harmonization at the European Union level toward a minimum purchase age of 18 was discussed, but not agreed.
Timeline of changes to drinking/purchase age or laws restricting the access to alcohol for minors:
In 2002 the Spanish autonomous communities Madrid, Valencia and Catalonia raised their minimum purchase age to 18 years. Previously, Valencia and Madrid had a minimum purchase age of 16 years, and in Catalonia minors aged 16 or 17 could purchase alcohol up to 23% ABV on- and off-premise.
In 2004 Denmark raised its off-premise purchase age from 15 to 16 years.
In November 2005 Switzerland passed its Food and Commodities Regulation (German: Lebensmittel- und Gebrauchsgegenständeverordnung), introducing a ban on alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 16. The Alcohol Law (German: Alkoholgesetz) passed in 1980 requires a minimum age of 18 years for the retail sale of distilled spirits. Therefore, it is prohibited to sell fermented alcohol (e.g. beer, wine, sparkling wine or cider) to anyone under the age of 16, and any distilled alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. The canton of Ticino has a cantonal law since 1989 that makes the purchase age limit for all alcohol beverages 18 years.
In 2006 the Spanish autonomous community Castile and León raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years.
In late 2006, Gibraltar lawmakers passed the Children and Young Persons (Alcohol, Tobacco and Gaming) Act 2006, which raised the minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years. But the new law made an exception: minors aged 16 or 17 can purchase and consume beer, wine or cider under 15% ABV on-premise, and pre-packed containers of an alcohol strength not exceeding 5.5% ABV (e.g. alcopops).
In 2009 France raised its minimum purchase age to 18 years,[139][140] and fines were increased for selling or serving alcohol to a minor (up to €7,500). Previously, the minimum age was 16 years for off-premise and on-premise purchases of low-alcohol beverages (up to 3% ABV) such as wine, beer, cider, perry, mead, crème de cassis and juices from fermented fruits or vegetables that contain 1.2 to 3° alcohol, natural sweet wines from controlled cultivation and 18 for higher-ABV beverages.
In October 2009, the government of Malta passed a new law raising its drinking and purchase age from 16 to 17 years.
In 2010 the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 years.
In 2011 Denmark passed a law raising the minimum age for off-premise sale of alcohol beverages of >16.5% ABV to 18 years of age. The minimum age to purchase alcohol beverages of <16.5% ABV remains 16.
In March 2012 Moldova raised the minimum purchase age to 18, from 16 previously.
Italy raised its minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 in 2012. Previously Italy did not have a purchase age for off-premise sales, and the minimum age of 16 years for on-premise sales was not well enforced.
In 2013 the government of Portugal restricted alcohol sales to young people: distilled spirits cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18, and other alcohol beverages (e.g. beer, wine, or cider) cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16. Previously the minimum age for all alcohol beverages was 16 years.
As of 1 January 2014, the minimum legal purchase and consumption age was raised from 16 to 18 in the Netherlands. Previously young people over the age of 16 could purchase and consume alcohol beverages of <15% ABV, and those aged 18 and over could purchase all alcohol beverages.
As of March 2015, the Spanish autonomous community of Asturias raised its drinking age from 16 to 18 years. Asturias was Spain's last community with a drinking age of 16 years. The new law brings the drinking age into line with the rest of Spain, with the exception of Balearic Islands where no purchase age limit is set.
As of December 2015, Portugal harmonized its minimum drinking age to 18 years across all beverage types. Previously the purchase age was 16 years for low-alcohol beverages such as beer, wine or cider.
As of 1 January 2018, Lithuania raised its minimum drinking age from 18 to 20 years.
From January 2019 the federal states of Austria decided to align their drinking and purchase ages. The states Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vienna therefore raised their age limits for alcohol beverages containing spirits to 18. Prior to 2019 these states had a general ng and purchase age of 16 years. The sale and consumption of beer, wine and other fermented alcohol beverages is now prohibited to children and young people under the age of 16 years, and the sale and consumption of spirits to minors under the age of 18 years is prohibited throughout Austria.
Country Administrative division De jure Notes
Drinking age Purchase age
Private Public On-premise Off-premise
Albania None 18 18 The sale of alcohol beverage in bars, restaurants or other licensed premises, as well as other points of sale, is prohibited to minors under the age of 18 years. Vendors and operators of licensed premises are required to post a clearly legible notice in A4 format stating "Ndalohet shitja e alkoolit personave nën 18 vjeç" (It is prohibited to sell alcohol beverages to people under 18 years). Consumption by those under age 18 in public places is prohibited.
Andorra None 18 18 Selling, serving or supplying alcohol beverages is prohibited as well as public consumption of alcohol beverage by minors under the age of 18 years.
Armenia None 18 There are no laws mandating alcohol vendors to ID potential underage drinkers. ID checks are very rarely, if ever, carried out Criminal Code the Republic of Armenia (2003), Article 166: "Involvement, by a person who reached 18 years, of a child into regular use of alcohol drinks... is punished with correctional labour for up to 1 year, or with arrest for the term of 1–2 months, or with imprisonment for the term of 5 years"
Austria Differing between federal states, none or the same as in public 16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (distilled beverages) 16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (distilled beverages) The age limits are set out by the legislation of each federal state but were harmonized in January 2019. Carinthia also requires 16-18-year-olds to maintain a blood alcohol level below 0.05%.
Azerbaijan None 18 Law No. 499-IG on Children's Rights (1998)
Belarus None 18
Belgium None[160] 18 for distilled beverages of higher than 1.2%ABV and fermented beverages of higher than 22%ABV
16 for other alcohol beverages
Since 10 January 2010, it is prohibited to "sell, serve, or offer" any distilled alcohol beverages to those under the age of 18 or any alcohol beverage to those under 16. Previously, it was prohibited to sell alcohol drinks to under-16s, but accompanying adults could buy drinks for them.
Bosnia and Herzegovina None 18 Selling alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years is an offence. The law does not prohibit minors from buying, attempting to buy or consuming alcohol.
Law on Public Peace and Order (2015) Article 25 prohibits providing alcohol beverages to minors.
Law on Internal Trade (2010), Article 10 prohibits the sale in the retail trade of alcohol beverages to persons under 18 years of age.
Bulgaria None 18 It is prohibited to sell or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18.
Croatia None 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under 18 years of age. There is no minimum age to buy or consume alcohol by law.
Cyprus 17 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years, and for those under 17 years old to consume alcohol beverages.
Czech Republic None 18 It is prohibited to provide alcohol to minors but consumption itself is not prohibited by law.
Denmark None 18 16 (beverages of <16.5% ABV)
18 (beverages of ≥16.5% ABV) While there is no age requirement for drinking alcohol beverages in Denmark, there are laws that prohibit minors from buying alcohol from on-premise and off-premise outlets.
If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID card and is identified having sold alcohol to an underage, it is subject to fine. A national ID card, obtained in the local town hall, can serve as age verification. This card is rarely used though since a passport or driver's license is more commonly used.
Both the legal drinking and purchasing age in the Faroe Islands is 18.
Estonia 18 18 It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. Alcohol found in possession of any child can be confiscated by the police.
Finland 18 (1.2–22% ABV)
20 (>22% ABV) 18 18 (1.2–22% ABV)
20 (>22% ABV) All major grocery chains have implemented a policy to ask for ID if the customer looks under 30. Stores may refuse to sell alcohol if the customer is accompanied by a minor, or if proxy purchasing is suspected. Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is a criminal offence.
Police may search minors in public places and confiscate or destroy any alcohol beverages in their possession. Incidents are reported to the legal guardian and child protective services, who may intervene with child welfare procedures. In addition, those aged 15 or above are subject to a fine.
In private, offering alcohol to a minor is considered a criminal offence if it results in drunkenness and the act can be deemed reprehensible as a whole, considering the minor's age, degree of maturity and other circumstances.
France None 18 France has no explicitly stated consumption age, but selling alcohol beverages to a minor (under 18) is prohibited and can be fined 7500 euros.
Georgia None 18 Under the Law on Protecting Minors from Harmful Influences 2001 the sale of alcohol beverages to minors is prohibited. Juvenile Justice Code (2015) Article 3 defines minors as those under 18.
Germany None 14(beer, wine and cider if accompanied)
16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts) 14(beer, wine and cider if accompanied)
16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts) It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply fermented alcohol beverages (beer, wine, cider and sparkling wine) to anyone under 16 years of age. However this age limit drops down to 14 if a minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. It is generally prohibited to serve, sell or supply any beverage containing spirits and foods containing spirits above negligible amounts, to anyone under the age of 18 years. Violation of the "Protection of Young Persons Act" can be fined up to €50,000.
Gibraltar None 16 (beer, wine and cider)
18 (spirits) 18 It is prohibited to sell alcohol drinks to anyone under the age of 18, other than the following two exceptions. The minimum age to be served in licensed premises is 16 if:
The alcohol beverage is beer, wine or cider below 15% ABV, or
The alcohol beverage is served in a bottle, or a pre-packaged container below 5.5% ABV.
Greece None 18 18 In 2008, the consumption of alcohol beverages was prohibited for minors in public. However, the law does not apply to private events or private premises. However, the law is rarely enforced with authorities reporting high numbers of teen alcohol consumption yearly.
Hungary None 18 18
Iceland None 20 Possession or consumption of alcohol by people under the age of 20 is not an offence, but police will contact parents of those under 18 and send a report to the child protection agency, supplying them with alcohol is an offence. Drinking in public is prohibited, though this is rarely enforced in public places.
Ireland None 18 18 It is prohibited for minors to buy alcohol or for a third party to attempt to buy it for minors. Minors are prohibited to drink in private residences unless it is with their parent or guardian's permission.
Italy None 18 In 2012 the then Health Minister Renato Balduzzi proposed to raise the age to 18. Selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 in shops carries a fine between €250 and €1000. Serving alcohol beverages to those under the age of 16 is a criminal offense and is punished with prison up to one year, if the individual is 16 or 17 it will be treated as an offense that is fined between €250 and €1000 (Legge n. 189/2013).
Kosovo None 18
Latvia None 18 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages to any minor under the age of 18 years. Persons between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to present an identity document to the retailer when purchasing alcoholic beverages, regardless of whether the retailer has requested it. There is no minimum age to consume or possess alcohol.
Liechtenstein 18 spirits and spirit-based beverages
16 other alcohol beverages
Spirits and alcopops may be sold only to people at least 18, and other alcohol beverages to people at least 16. Consumption and possession is prohibited at the same ages.
Lithuania 20 It is prohibited to sell, serve or supply alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 20 years. People under the age of 20 are prohibited from consuming alcohol beverages or from possessing them. The minimum age was raised from 18 to 20 in 2018.
Luxembourg None 16 It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol beverages of >1.2% ABV to any person under the age of 16 years. Violation is fined €251 to €1,000.
Malta None 17 17 Must provide identification upon request.
Moldova None 18 It is prohibited to sell, or serve alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years. It is not prohibited for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol.
Montenegro None 18
Netherlands None 18 18 The legal age for purchase and consumption of alcohol beverages was raised from 16 to 18 in 2014. Selling alcohol beverages to people under 18 is prohibited, buying alcohol beverages for someone else under the age of 18 is also prohibited.
North Macedonia None 18
Norway None 18 (<22% ABV)
20 (≥22% ABV) Alcohol possessed by minors may be confiscated as evidence. Drinking in public is prohibited, though this is rarely enforced in recreational areas.
Poland None None (within designated drinking zones)
Prohibited (elsewhere) 18[196] Article 15 of The Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism prohibits sale or serving of alcohol beverages to anyone under 18 and that if doubt exists as to age, sellers/servers should require ID as proof of age.
Drinking in public places, with the exception of designated drinking zones, is prohibited regardless of age.
Portugal None 18 18
Romania None 18 18
Russia None 16 18 Penalties apply to parents of those under 16 years of age who consume alcohol beverages in public places.
The legal purchase age limits are 18.
San Marino None 16 Criminal Code Article 165
Serbia None 18
Slovakia 18 18
Slovenia None 18
Spain None 18 Autonomous region Balearic Islands does not have legislation on legal purchase age limits.
Sweden None 18 20
It is legal for anyone at any age to drink, but off-premise sale or supply to anyone under the age of 20 is prohibited and on-premise establishments are prohibited from serving alcohol beverages to anyone under 18. It is legal to serve an underage person alcohol in a private place, provided it's a limited amount and done in moderation. The reason for the lower limit in bars than in Systembolaget shops is that bartenders have a legal responsibility for how drunk a guest gets.
Switzerland Switzerland (federal law) None 16 (fermented beverages with up to 15% ABV and natural wines with up to 18% ABV)
18 (spirits) Whoever offers or supplies alcohol beverages to a child under the age of 16 years in an amount which is harmful to one's health is punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine. Whoever sells or supplies spirits to a person under the age of 18 years is punished with a fine up to 10.000 CHF.
Ticino 18 Canton Ticino prohibits the selling of any type of alcohol beverage to minors under the age of 18.
Ukraine None 18 Law No. 1824-VI on state regulation of production and turnover of ethyl, cognac and fruit, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products Article 15-3
United Kingdom England
Wales None / 5 18
16 (beer, wine or cider with meal and if accompanied by adult) 18
It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcohol beverages in licensed premises to anyone under the age of 18, but those aged 16–17 may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal and they are accompanied by an adult. Minors are prohibited to consume alcohol beverages in public.
Import: People over 17 are entitled to a duty-free allowance for alcohol beverages.
Scotland None 18
16 (beer, wine or cider with meal if accompanied by adult)) 18
It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18, except for those aged 16–17, who may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal and they are accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older. Minors are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages in public.
Import: People over 17 are entitled to a duty-free allowance for alcoholic beverages.
Northern Ireland 14 18 18 It is prohibited to sell, serve, or offer alcohol beverages to anyone under the age of 18. Minors are prohibited to consume alcohol beverages in public. It is illegal for persons under 14 to drink alcohol in private, unless it is for medical purposes.
26-30, F
