International Guide to Minimum Legal Drinking Ages (MLDAs) in 138 Countries
The charts below contain the Minimum Legal Drinking Ages (MLDAs) and related data from 138 countries - the total number of countries studied by our sources the 2004 World Health Organization (WHO) reports and the Jan. 2010 International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) report. The US State department, as of June 2011, listed the total number of countries on earth at 194.
Click on a country in Chart III to see related data including production controls (license requirements, state monopoly present, etc.), taxation %s, definition of alcohol (by %), and restrictions on sales (hours, days, places, etc.), advertising (TV, print, billboards, health warnings present, etc.), public consumption (sporting events, parks, concerts, etc.), and more.
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China (PRC), China (Tiawan), Colombia, Congo (Republic of), Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (South), Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
20 MLDA (3 countries)
Iceland, Japan, Paraguay
21 MLDA (6 countries)
Fiji, Indonesia, Micronesia, Palau, Sri Lanka, United States
Illegal to drink alcohol at any age (5 countries) some exceptions for non-Muslims may apply
Brunei, Gambia, Iran, Libya, Pakistan
III. Country by Country Chart of Minimum Drinking Age Laws
Country
When available, each country is linked to a 22 KB PDF document from the World Health Organization (WHO) detailing its alcohol policy
Purchase Age: On Premise On-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption at the site of the sale, such as in pubs, bars, cafes, or restaurants.
Purchase Age: Off Premise Off-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption elswhere such as liquor stores, wine shops, and supermarkets.
The on-premise age limits vary between different states for spirits, being either 16 or 18 years. For off-premise sales the limits vary from no age limit or 16 for beer, no age limit or 16 for wine, and no age limit or 18 for spirits.
Non-Muslims over 17 years of age are allowed to import up to 2 bottles of liquor and 12 cans of beer for personal use, once every 48 hours. This alcohol must be stored and consumed at the place of residence and not given, or sold to any other person.
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.
When available, each country is linked to a 22 KB PDF document from the World Health Organization (WHO) detailing its alcohol policy
Purchase Age: On Premise On-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption at the site of the sale, such as in pubs, bars, cafes, or restaurants.
Purchase Age: Off Premise Off-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption elswhere such as liquor stores, wine shops, and supermarkets.
When available, each country is linked to a 22 KB PDF document from the World Health Organization (WHO) detailing its alcohol policy
Purchase Age: On Premise On-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption at the site of the sale, such as in pubs, bars, cafes, or restaurants.
Purchase Age: Off Premise Off-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption elswhere such as liquor stores, wine shops, and supermarkets.
When available, each country is linked to a 22 KB PDF document from the World Health Organization (WHO) detailing its alcohol policy
Purchase Age: On Premise On-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption at the site of the sale, such as in pubs, bars, cafes, or restaurants.
Purchase Age: Off Premise Off-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption elswhere such as liquor stores, wine shops, and supermarkets.
When available, each country is linked to a 22 KB PDF document from the the World Health Organization (WHO) detailing its alcohol policy
Purchase Age: On Premise On-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption at the site of the sale, such as in pubs, bars, cafes, or restaurants.
Purchase Age: Off Premise Off-premise sales refer to the sale of alcohol for consumption elswhere such as liquor stores, wine shops, and supermarkets.
PDF document from the World Health Organization (WHO) detailing its alcohol policy