Drinking age - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

byler · 02-22-2004, 04:59 PM

Here's a dumb question... what is the legal drinking age in most of the European countries?

**Fedfe** · 02-22-2004, 10:42 PM

i'm not sure what the legal age is. but you won't get ID'ed. its less then here (canada) though. which is 19.

**crionnacht** · 02-25-2004, 11:01 AM

canada is weird that way. in manitoba, alberta and a few other provinces it's only 18, but others are 19. make up your mind, canada!

candyfliss · 06-26-2004, 02:21 PM

hey, im from europe, n did a fair bit of travelling last summer (n am again this summer) so jus thought i'd let u kno that for MOST of the countries in europe, the legal age for drinking is 16, but in england and uk, its 18!
hoe that helps ur plans x

tegan_lala · 12-08-2004, 07:38 PM

Really?? So in Euro can u get into the clubs and everythin if your 17?

**omisan** · 12-09-2004, 12:13 AM

It depends where you are, whether you can get into clubs or not at 17. I've never seen *anyone* carded in Europe except for one club I went to in Dublin and some trendy bar in London. (London seems to have a lot of 25+ places now.) Legal requirements vary a bit, but the rule of thumb is that if you go to a place that caters to a younger crowd, you generally won't have to worry. There are tons of student-oriented clubs and DJ bars all over, where it seems being an old fart like me is more likely to bar you from admission rather than being underage. My friend's little sister and her best friend came over to the US last summer and were absolutely astounded at how often they couldn't get into places here ,whereas at home, they could waltz into any bar/club.

Hannah100 · 04-19-2006, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by byler@Feb 23 2004, 12:59 AM
Here's a dumb question... what is the legal drinking age in most of the European countries?

[snapback]12256[/snapback]

In England the legal drinking age is 18 although they're not usually very strict with it so if you are younger but look about 18 you'll be ok. In France and Holland its 16 and I think its similar to that in most other European counties.

Aurenna · 08-03-2006, 04:59 AM

Regarding drinking ages in the UK, no one's got it quite right yet. Here are the rules;

- 16+ kids can have a glass of wine in a restaurant with parental/guardian permission.
- 18+ can drink in a pub or a bar. You WILL be ID'd if you look younger than eighteen or if you're WITH someone who looks under 18. Bouncers don't card everyone, but be prepared for it to happen - take your driving license out with you.
- 21+ Most nightclubs are 21+. This isn't a legal requirement, but general policy. Sometimes you can argue your way in at the door, sometimes you can't. Bouncer's word is law - you annoy them in any way, you're not getting past those doors they guard even if you are over 21.
- 25+ "Trendy" nightclubs are now starting to show up as over twenty-fives only...this is, again, policy.

About the rest of Europe, I dunno...I'm English, I only know British laws for sure. Hope that clears it up!

**lauren313** · 08-03-2006, 12:48 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE('Ren @ Aug 3 2006, 12:59 PM) [snapback]133500[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Regarding drinking ages in the UK, no one's got it quite right yet. Here are the rules;

- 16+ kids can have a glass of wine in a restaurant with parental/guardian permission.
- 18+ can drink in a pub or a bar. You WILL be ID'd if you look younger than eighteen or if you're WITH someone who looks under 18. Bouncers don't card everyone, but be prepared for it to happen - take your driving license out with you.
- 21+ Most nightclubs are 21+. This isn't a legal requirement, but general policy. Sometimes you can argue your way in at the door, sometimes you can't. Bouncer's word is law - you annoy them in any way, you're not getting past those doors they guard even if you are over 21.
- 25+ "Trendy" nightclubs are now starting to show up as over twenty-fives only...this is, again, policy.

About the rest of Europe, I dunno...I'm English, I only know British laws for sure. Hope that clears it up!
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I agree with all of the above except for the one about most nightclubs being 21+. In all the clubs I've been in, it has been 18+ as a legal requirement. As far as I know, that's the case with most clubs. I'm not sure about London clubs, but myself and my friends have been to London clubs with no problems, and I'm not 21 yet. And we've not had to "argue" our way in or anything.

Anyway, not trying to pick an arguement or anything, just telling from my own experience!