Alcohol Drinking Ages Around the World

As a student traveler, you may be under 21, which is the legal drinking age in the US. Guess what? Drinking ages around the world are far more reasonable -- most drinking ages worldwide are at maximum 18, if not less, which makes sense for legal drinking ages. And provided you act like a grown up, you can probably be served a cerveza with that fish taco anywhere, regardless of age.

drinking age

Following is a brief rundown of legal drinking ages around the world (see a more complete list of legal drinking ages worldwide at International Center for Alcohol Policy). Remember that if you're old enough to fight wars, drive cars and vote, you're old enough to buy alcohol in most countries -- there's a reason you'll be treated like an adult with adult smarts and privileges elsewhere in the world. The joys of a pint of ale in London or a glass of vino in Italy are well worth exercising the self control 21-and-unders are assumed to possess and expected to demonstrate elsewhere on the planet.

Exceptions to legal drinking ages exist in many places (including the US) -- you can drink alcohol when  for travel to that piece of the Caribbean), but the legal drinking age you're with your parents in some countries, for instance. And the island of Puerto Rico is a US territory (meaning no passport is neededis 18.

Drinking Ages Worldwide

Drinking Age
Country	16-18	18	18-19
	Belgium	Australia	Canada
	China	Bahamas
	Denmark	Brazil
	France	Czech Republic
	Germany	Ireland
	Italy	Mexico
	Netherlands	New Zealand
	Spain	Puerto Rico
	Thailand	Romania
		Singapore
		South Africa
		Sweden
		United Kingdom