<Li> As of March 2015, the autonomous community of Asturias raised its drinking age from 16 to 18 years . Asturias was Spain's last community with a drinking age of 16 years . The new law brings the drinking age into line with the rest of Spain . </Li> <Li> As of 1 January 2018, Lithuania raised its minimum drinking age from 18 to 20 years </Li> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> State / Region / Province </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> De jure </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Drinking age </Th> <Th> Purchase age </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Albania </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Armenia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> There are no laws mandating alcohol vendors to ID potential underage drinkers . ID checks are very rarely, if ever, carried out </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Austria </Td> <Td> Burgenland Lower Austria Vienna </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Carinthia Upper Austria Salzburg Styria Tyrol Vorarlberg </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 18 </Td> <Td> Carinthia also requires adolescents to maintain a blood alcohol level below 0.05% . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Azerbaijan </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to a minor under 18 years of age . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Belarus </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> The law prohibits the sale of alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years . However, the law is rarely enforced . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Belgium </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 16 18 </Td> <Td> Since 10 January 2010, it is illegal to "sell, serve, or offer" any form of distilled alcohol to those under the age of 18 or any alcoholic drink to those under 16 . So fermented drinks like beer or wine are permitted above 16 . Previously, it was illegal to sell alcoholic drinks to under - 16s, but accompanying adults could buy drinks for them . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Bosnia and Herzegovina </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Selling alcohol to a minor under the age of 18 years is a offence . The law does not prohibit minors from buying, attempting to buy or consuming alcohol . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Bulgaria </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> By law, it is illegal to serve or sell alcohol to any child under the age of 18 . There is no restrictions for minors consuming alcohol . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Croatia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is prohibited to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under 18 years of age . There is no minimum age to buy or consume alcohol by law . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Cyprus </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or serve alcohol to anyone under thhe age of 17 years . There is no minimum age to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol in public . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Czech Republic </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to provide alcohol to minors (punishable by fine or up to 1 or 2 year (s) imprisonment). Consumption itself is not prohibited by law . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Denmark </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 16 18 </Td> <Td> While there is no age requirement for drinking alcohol in Denmark, there are laws that prevent minors from buying alcohol: <Ul> <Li> In order to buy alcohol above 1.2% and below 16.5% ABV in stores, one must be 16 years of age . </Li> <Li> In order to buy alcohol above 16.5% ABV in stores, one must be 18 years of age . </Li> </Ul> <P> By tradition, youths are privately allowed to drink alcohol after their confirmation . If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID card and is identified having sold alcohol to an underage, it is subject to fine . A national ID card, obtained in the local town hall, can serve as age verification . This card is rarely used though since a passport or drivers license is more commonly used . </P> <P> Both the legal drinking and purchasing age in the Faroe Islands is 18 . </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Estonia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, serve or supply alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years . Alcohol found in possession of any child can be confiscated by the police . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Finland </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 20 18 </Td> <Td> All major grocery chains have implemented a policy to ask for ID if the customer looks under 30 . Stores may refuse to sell alcohol if the customer is accompanied by a minor, or if proxy purchasing is suspected . Purchasing alcohol on behalf of a minor is a criminal offence . <P> Police may search minors in public places and confiscate or destroy any alcoholic beverages in their possession . Incidents are reported to the legal guardian and social authorities, who may intervene with child welfare procedures . In addition, those aged 15 or above are subject to a fine . </P> <P> In private, offering alcohol to a minor is considered a criminal offence if it results in drunkenness and the act can be deemed reprehensible as a whole, considering the minor's age, degree of maturity and other circumstances . </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> France </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> France has no explicitly stated consumption age, but selling alcohol to a minor (under 18) is illegal and can be fined 7500 euros . This age was raised from 16 to 18 in 2009 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Georgia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> By Georgian law, the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years is prohibited . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Germany </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 14 16 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, serve or supply fermented alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, cider and sparkling wine) to anyone under 16 years of age . However this age limit drops down to 14 if a minor is accompanied by his parent or legal guardian . It is generally illegal to serve, sell or supply any beverage containing spirits and aliments containing spirits above negligible amounts, to anyone under the age of 18 years . Violation of the "Protection of Young Persons Act" can be fined up to 50.000 € . See also: Alcohol laws in Germany </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Gibraltar </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 16 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell alcoholic drinks to anyone under the age of 18, other than the following two exceptions . The minimum age to be served in licensed premises is 16 if: <Ul> <Li> The alcoholic beverage is beer, wine or cider below 15% ABV, or </Li> <Li> The alcoholic beverage is served in a bottle, or a pre-packaged container below 5.5% ABV . </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Greece </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> In 2008, the consumption of alcoholic beverages was prohibited for minors in public . However, the law does not apply to private events or private premises . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Hungary </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Iceland </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> Possession or consumption of alcohol by minors is not an offence, but supplying them with alcohol is . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Ireland </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal for minors to buy alcohol or for a third party to attempt to buy it for minors . It is illegal to purchase alcohol for anybody under the age of consent without permission from their guardians . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Italy </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> In 2012 the then Health Minister Renato Balduzzi proposed to raise the age to 18 . Selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 in shops carries a fine between € 250 and € 1000 . Serving alcoholic beverages to those under the age of 16 is a criminal offense and is punished with prison up to one year, if the individual is 16 or 17 it will be treated as an offense that is fined between € 250 and € 1000 (Legge n . 189 / 2013). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Kosovo </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> None </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Latvia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or serve alcoholic beverages to any minor under the age of 18 years . There is no minimum age to consume or possess alcohol . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Liechtenstein </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 18 </Td> <Td> Wine, beer and ciders as well as some other party drinks sometimes without spirits may be purchased by the age of 16 . Spirits as well as alcopops may be sold only to people at least 18 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Lithuania </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 20 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, serve or supply acloholic beverages to anyone under the age of 20 years . Minors under the age of 20 are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages or from possessing them . The minimum age was raised from 18 to 20 since 2018 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Luxembourg </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell or serve alcoholic beverages> 1.2% ABV to any person under the age of 16 years . Violation is fined € 251 to € 1.000 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Macedonia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> Must show an ID card upon request . In certain smaller places, such as family - owned convenience stores and street kiosks, there is little to no enforcement on how old or young somebody purchases alcohol . There is little to no enforcement for drinking privately, but drinking in bars may require an ID . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Malta </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 17 </Td> <Td> Must provide identification upon request . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Moldova </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> It is illegal to sell, or serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 18 years . It is not illegal for minors to buy, attempt to buy or consume alcohol . The minimum purchase age was raised from 16 to 18 in 2012 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Montenegro </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Netherlands </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> The legal age for purchasing and consumption of alcoholic beverages was raised from 16 to 18 since 2014 . Alcohol is commonly available upon parental permission . Selling alcoholic beverages to people under 18 is illegal, although giving it away in private is not . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Norway </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 20 </Td> <Td> Selling alcohol to or buying alcohol for minors is illegal . Minors are defined as under 18 for beer and wine, under 20 for drinks that contain 22% ABV or more . Minors who buy alcohol are not held criminally responsible; instead, the crime lies with those who sold it or obtained it for them . <P> Alcohol with more than 60% ABV is generally not sold in Norway, although exceptions may be made by the government for specific products . </P> <P> Alcohol possessed by minors may be confiscated as evidence . Drinking in public is prohibited, though this is rarely enforced in recreational areas . </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Poland </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Article 15 of The Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism clearly states that buyers or persons being served must be at least 18 and prove it with ID if they look like they may not be at least that age . There is no mention of consumption age in this or any other act in Poland . Drinking on streets, town squares, and in parks is illegal regardless of age . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Portugal </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Romania </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> According to law 61 / 1991 updated in 2008, paragraphs 21 - 25, it is illegal to serve or sell alcohol to minors . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Russia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> There is no law or regulation in Russia that prohibits minors from consuming alcohol, but selling alcohol to minors is prohibited by federal and additional regional laws . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Serbia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Slovakia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Slovenia </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> There is no law regulating the possession and consumption, but it is illegal to sell or offer alcohol of any kind to minors . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Spain </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> Asturias was the last autonomous community in Spain where the drinking age was increased to 18 (previously 16) on 1 May 2015 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Sweden </Td> <Td> <P> None </P> </Td> <Td> <P> None 18 18 20, </P> </Td> <Td> See also: Alcohol in Sweden Many clubs choose to have higher age limits than 18, commonly 20 or 23 . It is legal to drink below 18, but it is illegal to sell, lend or give alcohol to someone under that age and the police can seize alcohol from them, apart from being served alcohol supervised in private "in moderation". It is legal to serve an underage person alcohol in a private place . The reason for lower limit in bars than in Systembolaget shops is that bartenders have a legal responsibility for how drunk a guest gets . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Switzerland </Td> <Td> Switzerland (federal law) </Td> <Td> None (See notes) </Td> <Td> 16 18 </Td> <Td> Whoever offers or supplies alcoholic beverages to a child under the age of 16 years in an amount which is harmful to one's health is punished with imprisonment up to 3 years or a fine . Whoever sells or supplies spirits to a person under the age of 18 years is punished with a fine up to 10.000 CHF . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ticino </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> The canton Ticino prohibits selling and consumption of any type of alcohol by minors under the age of 18 . Some shops and supermarkets may not sell alcohol to minors under the age of 18 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Turkey </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> See also: Alcohol laws of Turkey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Ukraine </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> England Wales </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 16 5 None </Td> <Td> Legislation in England and Wales: <Ul> <Li> It is illegal to sell, serve, offer or consume alcoholic beverages on licensed premises under the age of 18, other than the following two exceptions: <Ul> <Li> Minors aged 16 or 17 may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal, and accompanied by an adult . </Li> <Li> It is legal to sell liqueur confectionery to someone of any age . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> It is illegal to permit minors under the age of 5 to consume alcoholic beverages unless under medical supervision or in an emergency . </Li> <Li> Persons over 17 are entitled to their own duty free allowance, which includes alcohol . </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Scotland </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 16 None </Td> <Td> Legislation in Scotland: <Ul> <Li> It is illegal to sell, serve, offer or consume alcoholic beverages in public under the age of 18, other than the following two exceptions: <Ul> <Li> Minors aged 16 or 17 may consume wine, beer or cider on licensed premises when ordered with a meal . </Li> <Li> It is legal to sell liqueur confectionery to someone of any age . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Persons over 17 are entitled to their own duty free allowance, which includes alcohol . </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Northern Ireland </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> Legislation in Northern Ireland: <P> It is illegal to sell, serve, offer or consume alcoholic beverages in public under the age of 18 . </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Challenge 21 and Challenge 25 (applies to all of the United Kingdom) </Td> <Td> Under the BBPA's Challenge 21 and Challenge 25 schemes, customers attempting to buy alcoholic beverages are asked to prove their age if in the retailer's opinion they look under 21 (or optionally 25) even though the law states they must be a minimum of 18 . Many supermarket and off - licence chains display Challenge 21 (or Challenge 25) notices stating that they will not serve persons who look under 21 (or 25) without ID . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> State / Region / Province </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> De jure </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr>

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