(Newswire.net — June 4, 2022) — Having your first legal drink is a rite of passage that most people experience at some point in their life. It can even be treated as a celebration of sorts, a confirmation of adulthood and a moment to be enjoyed if done responsibly.
While it’s easy to think that everyone must wait until they’re 18 or 21, which are the legal ages for drinking in many countries around the world, there are a few places where this isn’t the case. Here’s a look at those nations that impose unusual legal requirements on their citizens, and how they have come to pass.
Germany – 16 years
Germany’s approach to youth drinking is more relaxed than in many countries. At the age of 14, a teenager can enjoy a beer or wine with their family; at 16, they can buy either of the two drinks on their own in a public place; at 18, they’re allowed to buy spirits. The sale of alcohol is widespread across the country, with cafes, restaurants, and snack bars all selling drinks, and it’s normal to see people enjoying a drink in the street or in a park.
While many people applaud these liberal rules, saying that it entrusts people with common sense to look after themselves, there are cases that cause moral panic among others. In 2007, a 16-year-old boy died after consuming 45 tequila shots in a bar, leading some politicians to call for a rise in the legal age.
However, it’s also down to the bar or restaurant to make sure that alcohol abuse doesn’t take place on their premises. Germany’s Protection of Young Persons Act (Jugendschutzgesetz) states that the bartender must not sell alcohol to anyone they consider to be intoxicated. At least this way, a responsible adult can step in and protect the youngster in question.
Despite the occasional calls to change the law, it looks like the German drinking age is set to remain at this young age for the foreseeable future.
Morocco – 16 years
While Germany is an example of Europe’s liberal approach to drinking, you could be forgiven for thinking that Morocco, with its Muslim population, would take the opposite stance. While it’s true that Muslims are forbidden to drink, many locals drink alcohol in private, and the country’s minimum age when it comes to tourists is sort of a grey zone. As a tourist, you should generally be able to buy alcohol from the age of 16, which is designed to allow you to drink should you wish to do so.
That being said, it’s strictly against the law to drink on the streets and anyone caught doing so could receive heavy punishment. Some venues may also adhere to strict time limits, so it might be difficult to get served after a particular time.
Morocco stands out as a liberal country in the Muslim world when it comes to alcohol, although other public acts that might be deemed acceptable in other countries are frowned upon in accordance with local tradition.
South Korea – 19 years
South Korea is a vibrant melting pot of Western and Asian cultures, with its capital Seoul being one of the liveliest places to visit in Asia. Visitors might be confused to see a unique legal drinking age of 19, however. Why 19, and not the more common ages of 18 or 21?
The answer is simple. The country follows the East Asian age reckoning system where people are considered to be born at the age of one, rather than zero. Then, on every Chinese New Year, or New Year’s Day, they add one year to their age rather than on the anniversary of their birth date.
So, what counts as 19 in South Korea, is actually 17 or 18 by Western standards, meaning the country falls in line with the majority of nations around the world.
Eritrea – 25 years
Some countries go the other way when it comes to age requirements. When surfing for information on alcohol laws around the world, you might not expect to see the age of 25 used as a minimum, but Eritrea does have this law for alcohol– in fact, it’s the only nation in the world to do so.
The reason for this may come down to one thing: the East African country has an interesting mix of cultures. On one hand, it’s strongly Islamic, with 63% of the country identifying it as their faith, according to Wikipedia. Islam’s strong stance against alcohol may be responsible for Eritrea’s restriction. On the other hand, it retains a European influence with its colonial past, and, as such, stops short of a full-on ban.
All this said, the law seems to be advisory. While Eritrea is currently under the control of a one-party dictatorship, rules regarding drinking are quite relaxed. Bars and nightclubs regularly serve 18-25-year-olds without fear of repercussions, and it only tends to be enforced according to the whims of the parties involved.
Burkina Faso – no restrictions
If you’re ever in Burkina Faso and you’re worried about being old enough to get served alcohol – don’t be. The West African country has no age restrictions when it comes to buying alcohol, so technically a bar could sell to a toddler and not be punished.
However, there is also a need for common sense. With the country being predominantly Muslim, selling alcohol to youngsters is generally frowned upon, and bars follow an unofficial minimum age of 13 in any case.
The discrepancy in the age limit is simply because no law has been drawn up to prohibit underage alcohol consumption, but this doesn’t mean that changes can’t be made in the future.
Burkina Faso also isn’t the only country without such a rule: nations including Angola, Mali, and Togo also lack legislation to enforce a minimum age.
Do your own research
Like with any law, drinking ages are subject to change at any time, so what is legal today may be illegal tomorrow, or vice versa. For this reason, it’s always good to do your own research before attempting to buy alcohol in the country you’re visiting. There are several sources for this online, including the official WHO list of age limits and an interactive map of alcohol laws which tells you more about the various alcohol laws around the world – so, brush up on your knowledge before you go!