<P> Some Islamic nations prohibit Muslims, or both Muslims and non-Muslims, from drinking alcohol at any age . In other countries, it is not illegal for minors to drink alcohol, but the alcohol can be seized without compensation . In some cases, it is illegal to sell or give alcohol to minors . The following list indicates the age of the person for whom it is legal to consume and purchase alcohol . </P> <P> Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Paraguay, Solomon Islands, India (certain states), the United States (except U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico), Yemen (Aden and Sana'a), Japan, Iceland, Canada (certain Provinces and Territories), and South Korea have the highest set drinking ages, however some of these countries do not have off - premises drinking limits . Austria, Belgium, Burundi, Denmark, Germany, Georgia, Luxembourg, Moldova and Western Sahara have the lowest set drinking ages . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Country / region </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> De jure </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Drinking Age </Th> <Th> Purchase age </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Algeria </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Angola </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Botswana </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Burundi </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td> No limit if accompanied by parents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cameroon </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> 18 on the premises, 21 off the premises </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cape Verde </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Central African Republic </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Comoros </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> None </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Egypt </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 21 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Equatorial Guinea </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Eritrea </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ethiopia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gabon </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gambia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ghana </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Guinea - Bissau </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> None </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kenya </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lesotho </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Libya </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Illegal </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Malawi </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mauritius </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Morocco </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> Forbidden for Muslims </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mozambique </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Namibia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Niger </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nigeria </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Republic of the Congo </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rwanda </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Senegal </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Seychelles </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Somalia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Illegal </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Africa </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> The parent, adult guardian of a minor or a person responsible for administering a religious sacrament, may on occasion supply to that minor a moderate quantity of liquor to be consumed by the minor in the presence and under the supervision of that parent, guardian or other person . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Sudan </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sudan </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Illegal </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Swaziland </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tanzania </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Togo </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> None </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tunisia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Uganda </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Western Sahara </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Zambia </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Zimbabwe </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Country / region </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> De jure </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr>

Legal age for alcohol consumption in south africa