This is actually a bit of a trick question, as several European countries including: Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Russia have no formal laws on what age people are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages. However, the map above (with a few errors) shows what age people have to be buy various types of alcohol.
According to Wikipedia these are the ages you’re allowed to purchase alcohol by country in Europe:
At 16 (no restrictions)
- Georgia
- Luxembourg
- Moldova
At 16 (some restrictions)
- Austria (16 for beer and wine and 18 for distilled beverages in some areas; 16 for both in others)
- Belgium (16 for beer and wine and 18 for spirits)
- Denmark (16 for drinks under 16.5% ABV and 18 for drinks over 16.5% ABV)
- Germany (16 for beer and wine and 18 for spirits)
- Liechtenstein (16 for wine, beer and cider and 18 for spirits and spirit-based beverages)
- Portugal (16 for beer and wine and 18 for spirits)
- Switzerland (16 for fermented alcoholic drinks with less than 15% ABV and natural wines with less than 18% ABV and 18 for spirits)
At 17 (no restrictions)
- Cyprus
- Malta
At 18 (no restrictions)
- Albania
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- France
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain (16 in Asturias)
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
At 18 (some restrictions)
- Finland (18 for drinks up to 22% ABV and 20 for drinks above 22% ABV)
- Norway (18 for drinks up to 22% ABV and 20 for drinks above 22% ABV)
- Sweden (18 for drinks up to 3.5% ABV and 20 for drinks above 3.5% ABV)
At 20 (no restrictions)
- Iceland
So to answer the original question: Georgia, Luxembourg and Moldova have the lowest legal ages to buy all types of alcohol. However, the actual enforcement of laws does vary widely by country. Moreover, the laws can also be a bit more complex in reality, as some countries have special laws for bars, clubs and restaurants.
On the other end of the spectrum you have the Scandinavian countries which, with the exception of Denmark, have government run liquor stores to further control supply: Systembolaget in Sweden, Alko in Finland, Vínbúð in Iceland, Rúsdrekkasøla Landsins in the Faroe Islands, Vinmonopolet in Norway
Interestingly, all Europe countries have lower drinking ages than the United States, which at 21 is among the highest in the world.
To learn more read:
- Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition
- Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol
- Proof: The Science of Booze
- Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big Book, 4th Edition
Do you think the drinking age in your country is fair? Why or why not? Let us know below:
NSA Snooper says
As an American dependent living in Europe in the 50’s and 60’s it was common to have wine served to me at age 9/10 in Paris as a boy. In High School I would take a train from Verona (where my father was stationed ) to an American high school in Vicenza. As a Sophomore and Junior I could order beer on the way home from school on the train (or a Coke) at 15. I would often go to Italian restaurants with or without parents and have beer or wine with food. It was funny here in Ohio in high school where students could drink 3.2 % beer at parties and really over do it. They had no idea of how stupid they looked on the ground, smashed and puking all over themselves. I got to drive many of them home in my or their cars. Learned much from this, made it through college vertical and ventilating. I was lucky, I guess the mystery of drink was to enjoy it with the right food and the right people, age didn’t seem to be an issue.
Eric says
Yes, I think sometimes restrictions actually tempts people to abuse whatever the thing is we are trying to protect people from.
Jay And I'm Outta Here says
Yep, really screwed up with no reciprocity across the globe. They will rip young boys/men from their mother’s bosom to fight wars and psy ops mind fuck them to kill other fellow human beings yet make it illegal to go grab an ice cold beer after a particularly brutal and harrowing military mission. Go figure right?
I left Arizona of perfect legal age to walk onto a bar and order anything on the menu. Moved to California then had to wait 24 months before I could legally drink again.
Now bars are closed due to a manufactured plandemic. Isolate, deprive, instill fear, weaken, render them fully dependent then control completely. Masses march right off the cliff like moths to the flame. Go figure right?
Map that.
Lee says
Canada province Alberta drinking age is 18 no restrictions rest of Canada is 19 but since you dont care or think Canada is a country why put it on your blog
Becki says
Is Canada European? I think not.
Oscar says
No it’s in North-America
Sylwia says
In Poland, there is a law and you need to be 18 to drink and be able to buy alcohol, the same with cigarettes.
paul says
In lithuania now you can drink and buy just from 20
Ralph Heron says
Let them drink whatever they wish…just hope someone records them in video…puking their guts up and pissing their pants…then spend the night in bed scratching ,farting and snoring and oh….the joy of a really bad hangover…. hahahaha. No mercy.:-)
Karol says
First time when I was drunk on birthday party when I was 6 in Czechoslovakia.
Azrael says
Now i have seen this factually incorrect info about the swedish drinking age repeated in so many places i feel the need to correct it. (sorry)
1: Sweden does not have a legal drinking age, it is for example completely ok to give some alcohol to your kids as long as they don’t pay for it.
2: The legal drinking age at bars, restaurants and clubs is 18 for any type of alcohol, and also for 3.5 percent beer which is the only alcohol sold i normal food stores. Age 20 is only for buying alcohol at the liquor store.
David Sellers says
Portugal is 18 for beer. Not 16