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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:
