This table details legislation defining minimum purchase and/or consumption age limits for alcohol beverages in various jurisdictions.
It is updated on an ongoing basis as jurisdictions enact or revise their requirements with assistance from staff of the Law Library of Congress (Washington, DC).
If you have information about a country not currently listed, or if you find any of the information outdated, please email us at info@iard.org.
Suggested citation:
International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD). (2019). Minimum legal age limits. Retrieved from https://iard.org/science-resources/detail/Minimum-Legal-Age-Limits
| Country/Territory | On-premise | Off-premise | Notes | Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | Law to Fight Against Alcoholic Beverages and Narcotic Substances and to Control Them | |
| Albania | 18 | 18 | Law 9518 of 18 April 2006 For the protection of minors from the use of alcohol | |
| Algeria | 18 | 18 | Order No. 26-75 of 1975 Art 14 | |
| Andorra | 18 | 18 | Decree 16-6-2004 Approving Regulation of Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 16 | 16 | Licensing (intoxicating liquor) Act Ch 249 | |
| Argentina | 18 | 18 | Law No24.788 Combatting Alcoholism, published in Official Bulletin 3rd April 1997 | |
| Armenia | 18 | 18 | Code of Administrative Offences Art 158 | |
| Australia | 18* | 18* | Regulated at state / territory level. Exceptions may apply if accompanied by a responsible adult. | Capital Territory: Liquor Act 2010 New South Wales: Liquor Act 2007 Northern Territory: Liquor Act Queensland: Liquor Act 1992 South Australia: Liquor Licensing Act 1997 Tasmania: Liquor Licensing Act 1990, Sale or Supply of Alcohol to Youths (Police Offences Act 1935) Victoria: Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 Western Australia: Liquor Control Act 1988 |
| Austria | [varies by jurisdiction and by beverage] | [varies by jurisdiction and by beverage] | Both on- and off-premise: Each federal state prohibits sale of alcohol beverages to anyone under 16 years of age. Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tirol, and Voralberg also prohibit sale of spirits and mixed drinks (whether pre-mixed drinks or cocktails) to anyone under 18 years of age. |
National Youth Protection Act 2002 Help.gv.at - Overview by state |
| Azerbaijan | 18 | 18 | Law on Children's Rights Art 9 | |
| Bahamas | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licences Act Ch 372: 22 | |
| Bahrain | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | Penal Code 1976 as amended through 2010 Art 307 | |
| Bangladesh | [varies by religion] | [varies by religion] | Alcohol may not be purchased by Muslims. | Narcotics Control Act 1990 |
| Barbados | 16 | [none] | Chapter 182 Liquor licenses and Liquor license regulations do not establish legal purchase or consumption age limits. | [pending verification] |
| Belarus | 18 | 18 | Law No. 429-Z on State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Alcoholic, Non-food Alcohol-containing Products and Non-food Ethyl Alcohol Art 11.4 | |
| Belgium | [varies by beverage] | [varies by beverage] | Both on- and off-premise: 18 for spirits, 16 for other alcohol beverages | Act of 24 January 1977 on the protection of consumer health concerning food and other products (as amended through 2009) Art 6 |
| Belize | 18 | 18 | Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Law CAP. 150, as revised December 2000 | |
| Benin | 20 | 20 | Decree of 10 June 1942 regulating the production, import, advertisement, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in French West Africa, as cited in Republic of Benin Report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/BEN/2, 24 November 2005 | |
| Bermuda | 18 | 18 | Liquor License Act 1974 (amended 2014) Art 42 | |
| Bhutan | 18 | 18 | Rules and Regulations For Establishment And Operation of Industrial And Commercial Ventures in Bhutan 1995, Rule 17 Notification No. Kha(12-7)/89/5070 dated 26 April 1993 |
|
| Bolivia | 18 | 18 | Law 259 Against the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages, July 2012 Art 20 | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 18 | 18 | Law on Amendments to the Law on Trade (Off. Nov. No. 103/03) Art 1 | |
| Botswana | 18 | 18 | Liquor Act No.9 of 2004 Art 32 | |
| Brazil | 18 | 18 | Presidential Amendment 13,106 of 17 March 2015 of Law 8096 (1990) Statute on Children and Adolescents Art. 243 Decree-Law 3,688 (1941) Law on Criminal Misdemeanors |
|
| Brunei | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | Non-Muslims over 17 years of age are allowed to import alcohol not to exceed maximum total volume 2 L of spirits and 12 330 mL cans of beer for personal use, once in 48 hours. This alcohol must be “stored and consumed at the place of residence of the importer” and is “not to be given, transferred or sold to another person.” | Liquor Form, Royal Customs and Excise Department, Ministry of Finance |
| Bulgaria | 18 | 18 | Health Act 2005, Amended 2008 Art 54 | |
| Burkina Faso | 18 | 18 | Penal Code Art 532-23 | |
| Burundi | 18* | 18* | *unless accompanied by parent | Penal Code Art 501-502 (Law No1/05 of 22 April 2009) |
| Cabo Verde | 18 | 18 | Law No. 271/V/97 | |
| Cambodia | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Cameroon | 18* | [none] | *unless accompanied by person aged 21 or above in a supervisory role | Penal Code n° 67/LF/1, 12 June 1967 |
| Canada | [varies by province] | [varies by province] | 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. |
Act respecting Offences Relating to Alcoholic Beverages, CQLR c I-8.1 |
| Cayman Islands | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licensing Law Art 21 | |
| Chad | 18* | 18* | *unless accompanied by supervising adult | Law 2017-01 Penal Code Chapter 6 Art 376-378 |
| Chile | 18 | 18 | Law 19.925 on the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages | |
| China | 18* | 18* | *Macau autonomous region does not have specific regulation limiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors. | Law on the Protection of Minors as revised in 2006 Art 37 |
| Chinese Taipei | 18 | 18 | Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act 2000 Art 35 | |
| Colombia | 18 | 18 | Decree 120 of 21 January 2010 Adopting measures related to consumption of alcohol Art 17 Law 124 of 1994 |
|
| Comoros | [varies by religion] | [varies by religion] | sale to Muslims is prohibited | Penal Code Arts 229-6, 229-7 |
| Costa Rica | 18 | 18 | Decree 17410 (2010) Law Regulating Alcoholic Beverages | |
| Congo, Republic of | 18 | 18 | Law No.4-2010 of 14 June 2010 Child Protection Code Art 69, 123 | |
| Croatia | 18 | 18 | Trade Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia 87/2008, 116/2009, 76/2009, 114/2011, 68/2013 and 30/2014) | |
| Cuba | 16 | 16 | Resolution No 334/04, Official Gazette 7 January 2005 | |
| Cyprus | 17 | 17 | Sale of Alcoholic Beverage Law (Cap 144) Art 5A | |
| Czechia | 18 | 18 | Act 379/2005 on Measures to Protect Against Damage Caused by Tobacco Products, Alcohol and Other Addictive Substances, through Amendment 274/2008 | |
| Denmark | 18 | [varies by beverage] | Off-premise: 16 for beverages of 1.2%-16.5%ABV; 18 for alcohol beverages of 16.5%ABV or higher. |
Act prohibiting the sale of tobacco and alcohol to persons under 16, March 2004 |
| Djibouti | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Dominica | 16 | 16 | Laws of Dominica Liquor Licences Act Chapter 70:03, Part IV, Sec 15(f) | |
| Dominican Republic | 18 | 18 | Law No.136-03: Code for the protection of the rights of Children and Adolescents 2003, Art 22 | |
| Ecuador | 18 | 18 | Reforms of the General Rules on the Natural Law for consumer Protection, 11 June 2001 No.344 | |
| Egypt | 21 | 21 | Law No. 371 of 1956 concerning public shops Art 25(2) | |
| El Salvador | 18 | 18 | Law regulating the production and sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages No640 (1996) | |
| Eritrea | 18 | 18 | Penal Code Art 267 | |
| Estonia | 18 | 18 | Alcohol Act 1999 Art 19 | |
| Eswatini | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licences Act of 1964 Sec 27 | |
| Ethiopia | 18 | 18 | Criminal Code, Proclamation 414/2004 Art 818 Revised Family Code, Proclamation No. 213/2000 Art 215 |
|
| Fiji | 18 | 18 | The Liquor Act 1975 as amended through 2009 Sec 2 | |
| Finland | 18 | [varies by beverage] | 18 for beverages up to 22% ABV; 20 for other beverages | Alcohol Act 1143/94, amended 1477/94 Sec 16, 24 |
| France | 18 | 18 | Code of Public Health as amended through June 2015 Art L3342 | |
| Gabon | 18 | 18 | Penal Code Art. 209bis-1 | |
| Gambia | 16 | 16 | Liquor License Act S16 as revised in 2009 | |
| Georgia | 18 | 18 | Law on Protecting Minors from Harmful Influences (2001) Art 4 | |
| Germany | [varies by beverage] | [varies by beverage] | 16 for beer and wine, 18 for spirits Those below 18 years of age are not permitted in premises licensed as bars, nightclubs and similar entertainment venues. |
Protection of Young Person Act 2002 and Amendment BT-DRS. 15/2578 |
| Ghana | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licensing Act 331-1970 Sec 15 | |
| Greece | 18 | 18 | Law 3730/2008 Protecting minors from tobacco and alcoholic beverages, and other provisions Art 3-4 | |
| Grenada | 16 | [none] | Chapter 174 Liquor Dealers’ Licenses Act As amended through 1988 Art 39 | |
| Guatemala | 18 | 18 | Public Health Code (1998) Art 50 | |
| Guinea Bissau | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Guyana | 18 * | 18 | except 16 for wine or malt liquor to be consumed with a meal | Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act 1998 |
| Haiti | [none] | [none] | The Senate voted on a proposed Law on the protection of minors from alcohol beverages, to establish a legal purchase age of 18 and related implementation measures, in December 2012; it has not yet been enacted. | |
| Honduras | 18 | 18 | Decree 226 of 2001 Art 68 | |
| Hungary | 18 | 18 | Law on Trade (2005) Sec 5 Art 7 | |
| Iceland | 20 | 20 | Alcohol Act No. 75/1998 Art 18 | |
| India | [varies by jurisdiction] | [varies by jurisdiction] | 18 in Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, and Puducherry 21 in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Orissa (Odisha), Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal 25 in Haryana, Meghalaya, Punjab, Delhi [all sale is prohibited] in Bihar, Gujarat, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Lakshadweep |
[various - see state Excise Acts and related regulaitons] |
| Indonesia | [varies by jurisdiction] | [varies by jurisdiction] | [all sale is prohibited] in Banda Aceh and Papua; 21 elsewhere for both on- and off-premise |
Ministry of Trade Regulation No 20/2014 Art 15 Aceh Law No 6/2014 (Oct. 22, 2014) Art 3 |
| Iran | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | [n/a] | |
| Iraq | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | [Law passed by Parliament on October 23, 2016] | |
| Ireland | 18 | 18 | Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 Sec 13 | |
| Israel | 18 | 18 | Business Licensing Law 2010 (26th amendment) Law to control alcohol intoxication 2010 |
|
| Italy | 18 | 18 | Penal Code, Book III, Title I, Art 689 as amended by Law 189/2012 | |
| Jamaica | 18 | 18 | Spirit License Act 42/1995, Sec 62 Child Care and Protection Act 2004, Sec 40 |
|
| Japan | 20 | 20 | Underage Drinking Act 2001 | |
| Jordan | 18 | 18 | Royal Decree (October 2001) | |
| Kazakhstan | 21 | 21 | Code of Administrative Offences Sec 200 | |
| Kenya | 18 | 18 | The Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010 Part III Licensing 24.1 | |
| Kiribati | 21 | 21 | Liquor Ordinance 1973 Liquor (Amendment) Act 12-2005 |
|
| Korea, Republic of | 19* | 19* | Being 19 is defined, for the purposes of this legislation, as effective from January 1st of the 19th year after one's birth | Juvenile Protection Act 2010 Art 1, 28 |
| Kuwait | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | Law No 46/1964 | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 18 | 18 | Law 269 of 13/09/2009 Art 13.2 | |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | 18 | 18 | Law on Control of Alcoholic Beverages 2015 | |
| Latvia | 18 | 18 | Handling of Alcohol Law as amended through 1999 Sec 52 | |
| Lebanon | 18 | 18 | Penal Code Art 625-626 | |
| Lesotho | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licensing Act 1997 Sec 39 | |
| Liberia | 18 | 18 | Penal Law of 1976 Sec 16, 50.7 | |
| Libya | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | Law No 4 of 1423 m Art 1 | |
| Liechtenstein | [varies by beverage] | [varies by beverage] | 18 for spirits and alcopops; 16 for other alcoholic beverages | Children and Youth Act 2008 Art 69 |
| Lithuania | 20 | 20 | Law on Alcohol Control I-857/1995 Art 22 | |
| Luxembourg | 16 | 16 | ||
| Macedonia | 18 | 18 | Law on Trade | |
| Malawi | 18 | 18 | Liquor Act Sec 2, 74 | |
| Malaysia | [varies by religion] | [varies by religion] | sale to Muslims is prohibited; 21 otherwise for on- and off-premise | Food Act Regulation 1985/361 as updated through 2014 Art 4, State and Federal Territories Syariah Criminal Offences Enactments |
| Maldives | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | sale to citizens is prohibited | Penal Code Law No. 6/2014 Sec 616 |
| Mali | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Malta | 17 | 17 | Trading Licences Act Subsidiary Legislation 441.07 Regulation 13 as amended through 2011 Art 7 | |
| Marshall Islands | 21 | 21 | Alcohol Restriction Act of 1994 Art 202(1) | |
| Mauritania | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | [n/a] | |
| Mauritius | 18 | 18 | Child Protection Act 30/1994 Sec 16, 18 | |
| Mexico | 18 | 18 | General Health Law as amended through 2007 Art 220 | |
| Moldova | 18 | 18 | Law 1100/2000 on Alcohol Production and Sale as amended through 2012 Art 30 | |
| Monaco | 18 | 18 | Ordinance 2,533 of 1941 on manufacture, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages Art 8 | |
| Mongolia | 21 | 21 | Law to Combat Alcoholism 2000, as amended through 2011 Art 7 | |
| Montenegro | 18 | 18 | Law on Public Order (Official Gazette 64/2011) Art 25 Law on Tourism 2010 Art 104 |
|
| Morocco | [varies by religion] | [varies by religion] | sale to Muslims is prohibited | Legislative Decision No. 3.177.66 of 1967 Art 28-29 |
| Mozambique | 18 | 18 | Decree 54/2013 Regulations on the Monitoring of the production, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, Art 5 | |
| Myanmar | 18 | 18 | The Excise Act 1958 Art 40(7) | |
| Namibia | 18 | 18 | Liquor Act 1998-6 Art 56 | |
| Nauru | 21 | 21 | Liquor Ordinance 1967 Art 33 | |
| Nepal | 18 | 18 | Liquor Act 2031-10 Art 4A.6 Hotel Management and Sale and Distribution of Liquors (Control) Act as amended through 2010 |
|
| Netherlands | 18 | 18 | Licensing and Catering Act as amended 2013 Art 20 | |
| New Zealand | 18* | 18* | *does not apply if accompanied by permitting parent or legal guardian | Sale and Supply of Liquor Act 2012 Art 241 |
| Nicaragua | 18 | 18 | Law 287/1998 Art 66 | |
| Niger | 18 | 18 | Penal Code Art 302 | |
| Nigeria | [varies by jurisdiction] | [varies by jurisdiction] | Purchase age of 18 in Abuja (Abuja Municipal Area Council Bye-Law (2001), Section 15 Prohibited in Borno state |
|
| Niue | 18 | 18 | The Liquor Act 1975/2 Art 11 | |
| Norway | [varies by beverage] | [varies by beverage] | Both on- and off-premise sales: 18 for beverages of 0.7-22%ABV 20 for beverages of 22%ABV and above |
Law 1989-27 Act on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages Sec 1-5 Regulation 2005-38 Alcohol Regulations Sec 2-4 |
| Oman | 21 | 21 | Penal Code Law 7 of 1974 | |
| Pakistan | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | non-Muslim citizens may possess alcohol to be used in accordance with religious ceremonies | Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order of February 19th, 1979 |
| Palau | 21 | 21 | 11 P.N.C. 2014 Sec 1002(h), 1068 | |
| Panama | 18 | 18 | Law 3 of 1994 Family Code Art 561 | |
| Papua New Guinea | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licensing Act 1963 Art 103 | |
| Paraguay | 20 | 20 | Law 1642 of 2000 Art 1 | |
| Peru | 18 | 18 | Law 28681 of 2006 Art 14 | |
| Philippines | 18 | 18 | Act Regulating the Access of Minors to Alcohol | |
| Poland | 18 | 18 | Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and the Prevention of Alcoholism Article 15 (1) | |
| Portugal | 18 | 18 | Decree-Law no 50/2013 as amended by Decree-law no 106/2015 | |
| Qatar | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | Law No 11 of 2004 Art 272 | |
| Romania | 18 | 18 | Law 61/1991 as amended through 2011 for sanctioning the violation of rules of social life, the public order Art 22-23 | |
| Russia | 18 | 18 | Code of Administrative Offences, Art 14.16 | |
| Rwanda | 18 | 18 | Organic Law implementing the Penal Code 01/2012/OL Art 219 | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licences Act Sec 32(f) | |
| Saint Lucia | 16 | 16 | Chapter 13.17 Liquor Licence Act Art 37 | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 16 | 16 | Liquor License Act Sec 27,28(1) | |
| Samoa | 21 * | 21 | *unless at a food and beverage establishment and accompanied by parent | Liquor Act 2011 Sec 14, 57 |
| San Marino | 16 | 16 | Law No. 139 of November 26, 1997 | |
| Sao Tome and Principe | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Saudi Arabia | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | [n/a] | |
| Senegal | 18 | 18 | Decree 97-338 of 1997 Art 12 | |
| Serbia | 18 | 18 | Law 62/2014 Consumer Protection Art 24 | |
| Seychelles | 18 | 18 | Chapter 113 Licenses Act as amended through 27th September, 2010 | |
| Sierra Leone | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Singapore | 18 | 18 | Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 05/15 | |
| Slovakia | 18 | 18 | Law 219/1996 on protection against the abuse of alcoholic beverages and the establishment and operation of abstinence rooms | |
| Slovenia | 18 | 18 | Act Restricting the Use of Alcohol (Official Gazette 15/03) | |
| Solomon Islands | 21 | 21 | Liquor Act (Ch. 144) Sec 72 | |
| South Africa | 18 | 18 | The National Liquor Policy, under discussion in 2015, proposes to raise the on- and off- premise legal purchasing ages to 21. | Government Gazette No.38808 20 May 2015 |
| Spain | 18* | 18* | *Baleares Islands autonomous region does not have specific regulation limiting the sale of alcohol beverages to minors. | Access autonomous region legislation on the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality: Alcohol and youth - Legislation |
| Sri Lanka | 21 | 21 | National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act 27 of 2006 Part II Art 31 | |
| Sudan | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | Penal Code 1991, Art 78-79 | |
| Suriname | 18 | 18 | Law 44 of 2015 on Further Amendment of the Criminal Code | |
| Sweden | 18 | [varies by beverage] | 18 for beer of 3.5% ABV or lower, 20 otherwise | Alcohol Act (SFS 2010:1622) Cap 3 Art 7 |
| Switzerland | [varies by beverage and jurisdiction] | [varies by beverage and jurisdiction] | 18 for spirits 16 or 18 for beer and wine depending on the Canton |
Order on foodstuffs and consumer goods of 23 November 2005 Art. 11 Federal Law on Alcohol of 21 June 1932, as amended through 2011 Art. 41 Federal Customs Adminstration: Prevention and protection of minors |
| Syria | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Tajikistan | 18 | 18 | Parents are required to forbid their children who have not reached age 20 to consume alcohol beverages. | Law 451 of 1997 on State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Ethyl Alcohol and Alcohol Products Law No. 762 on Parental Responsibilities for Raising Children (2011) Art 8 |
| Tanzania | 18 | 18 | Law No. 21 Law of the Child (2009), Article 17 | |
| Thailand | 20 | 20 | Alcohol Beverage Control Act B.E. 2551 Sec 29 | |
| Timor-Leste | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Togo | [none] | [none] | [n/a] | |
| Tonga | 21 | 21 | Intoxicating Liquor Act Cap 84 Art 65 as amended in 2014 | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licences Act Cap 84:10 Art 60, as amended 2002 | |
| Turkey | 18 | 18 | Regulation about Retail Sale of Tobacco and Tobacco Products and Alcohol and Alcoholic Drinks 11 January 1998 Art 5 | |
| Turkmenistan | 21 | 21 | Law on Prevention of the Harmful Impact of Alcohol 2018 Art 22-2 | |
| Uganda | 18 * | 18 | *16 for beer, wine, perry, porter, cider, or native liquor with a meal in a meal-service section of the premises | Liquor Act of 1960 Cap 93 |
| Ukraine | 18 | 18 | Law N 1824-VI 21 January 2010 Art 15-3 | |
| United Arab Emirates | [varies by religion and jurisdiction] | [varies by religion and jurisdiction] | [n/a] | |
| United Kingdom | 18 * | 18 | *16 for beer, cider, and wine with a meal and bought by and accompanied by an adult. This does not apply in Northern Ireland. | Licensing Act 2003 and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 |
| United States | 21 * | [varies by jurisdiction] | See the NIAAA Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) for more details *18 for on-premise and off-premise sales in Puerto Rico (Law 118, 18 October 1984) |
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (Title 23 U.S.C. §158) |
| Uruguay | 18 | 18 | Code of Childhood and Adolescence | |
| Uzbekistan | 20 | 20 | Law 302 On restriction of Distribution and Taking of Alcohol and Tobacco Products 2011 | |
| Vanuatu | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licensing Act Art 17 | |
| Venezuela | 18 | 18 | Natural Law for the Protection of Children and Adolescents 5/266 1998 | |
| Vietnam | 18 | 18 | Prime Minister's Decision 2044 QD-TTg: National Policy on Prevention of Harmful Use of Alcoholic Beverages 2014-2020 | |
| Yemen | [all sale is prohibited] | [all sale is prohibited] | [n/a] | |
| Zambia | 18 | 18 | Liquor Licensing Act 20/2011 | |
| Zimbabwe | 18 | 18 | Parent or guardian can consent to sale of alcohol beverages to their child who is under 18 years of age. | Liquor Act as amended in 2001 |
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