The official legal and drinking and purchasing ages differ from one country to the other in European countries. In America, it is pegged at 21 years. But, it is quite different and often earlier in European countries. So, we will show you the legal drinking ages for European countries below.
Maybe as a parent, you are going on vacation with your children. You need to know the legal drinking ages for European countries. This will ensure you stay within the law and not have yourself offend the law. And for mot countries, the drinking age on private property is different from drinking in public. Here is all you need to know.
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Legal Drinking Ages For European Countries
Below are the legal drining ages for European countries.
- Albania: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing
- Austria: Age 16 for both drinking and purchasing
- Belarus: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing
- Belgium: Age 16 for drinking and purchasing beer and wine; age 18 for drinking and purchasing spirits
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Bulgaria: No legal drinking age in Bulgaria, but the purchase age is 18
- Croatia: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Czech Republic: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Denmark: There is no legal drinking age in Denmark. There’s a purchase age of 16 to buy alcohol that’s less than 16.5 percent alcohol by volume (above), 18 to buy alcohol of greater than 16.5 percent above, and 18 to be served in restaurants, pubs, and bars
- Estonia: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Finland: Age 18 for purchasing alcohol between 1.2 and 22 percent above; age 20 for purchasing between 23 and 80 percent above; and age 18 to be served in bars, clubs, and restaurants
- France: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Germany: Age 14 for beer and wine (in the presence of your legal guardian); age 16 for beer and wine; age 18 for spirits
- Gibraltar: Age 16 for alcohol with less than 15 percent above
- Greece: Age 17 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Hungary: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Iceland: Age 20 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Ireland: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Italy: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Latvia: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol.
- Liechtenstein: Age 16 for purchasing wine, beer, and cider; age 18 for purchasing spirits
- Lithuania: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Luxembourg: Age 16 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Macedonia: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Malta: Age 17 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Moldova: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Montenegro: No drinking age; purchase age of 18
- Netherlands: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Norway: There is no legal drinking age in Norway, but there is a purchase age of 18 for less than 22 percent above and age 20 for greater than 22 percent above
- Poland: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Portugal: Age 16 for purchasing beer and wine; age 18 for purchasing spirits
- Romania: No legal drinking age; purchase age of 18
- Russia: No legal drinking age; purchase age of 18
- Serbia: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Slovakia: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Slovenia: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing; no drinking age for drinking on private property
- Spain: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Sweden: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- Switzerland: Age 16 for fermented alcoholic drinks; age 18 for spirits
- Ukraine: Age 18 for both drinking and purchasing alcohol
- United Kingdom: Age 5 for drinking on private property; age 18 for both drinking in public and purchasing.
Now you know the Legal Drinking Ages For European Countries. Drop your comments and questions below in the comment box.