Some countries, like Angola in Africa, have no national law that prohibits the sale of alcohol drinking age map to minors. Most Russians believe that the minimum drinking age in the country is 18 years. However, there are no laws or regulations prohibiting minors from taking alcoholic drinks.
“Alcohol is zealously marketed, easily obtained, inexpensive and existing laws are not consistently enforced. High-risk drinking and alcohol abuse are complex problems that no one strategy can remedy, but the higher MLDA is one effective approach. Statistics do show the effect of having the drinking age set at 21 instead of 18, which is why lawmakers still try to convince Puerto Rico to change the MLDA. It does seem to cause less accidents and fatalities, especially in the young people. Federal Government because they refused to raise the drinking age to 21 years. It affected this island’s economy so much that more than 54,000 people residing there had left.
Mental health disorders as a risk factor for alcohol dependency
In fact, 44% of global adults had never consumed alcoholic beverages at all. The charts show global consumption of wine, first in terms of wine as a share of total alcohol consumption, and then the estimated average consumption per person. The charts show global consumption of beer, first in terms of beer as a share of total alcohol consumption, and then the estimated average consumption per person. If you wish to explore your budding tastes in beer and wine, you can do so at 16 years old at Germany’s Oktoberfests, other festivals and bars.
Alcohol expenditure
Despite its reputation as a party destination, some of Mexico’s laws around drinking might surprise you. Open alcohol containers in public are illegal, and drinking on public streets is prohibited. Don’t cry for an alcoholic beverage in Argentina if you’re 17 or younger. It’s also forbidden in public spaces or during sports and entertainment events in stadiums.
- Although the majority of the countries around the world have set the MLDA at 18 years, 16 years is considered the youngest drinking age.
- For instance, in the Maldives, where alcohol is forbidden, tourists are allowed to purchase alcohol at select locations.
- Alcohol is rather easy to find in convenience stores, supermarkets and chain restaurants as well as bars and izakaya (Japanese style pubs).
- Be mindful of Prague’s public drinking laws; it’s illegal in most streets of the Old Town.
- Like the Philippines, there’s also been a movement in South Africa to make the legal age to drink 21.
Pro 1: 18 is the age of legal majority (adulthood) in the United States.
The chart shows direct death rates (not including suicide deaths) from alcohol use disorders across the world. The death rates are typically higher in Eastern Europe and lower in North Africa and the Middle East. The scatter plot compares the prevalence of alcohol use disorders in males versus that of females. The prevalence of alcohol dependence in men is typically higher than in women across all countries.
In the Maldives, alcohol is legal to tourists over the age of 18, but the sale of alcohol to local Maldivians is punishable by law. Alcohol is illegal in Iran, however, minority religious groups may purchase small amounts of alcohol from shop owners who are of the same minority religion. Take a look at the rest of the drinking ages of all the world’s countries on the map above, or read on for more insights. Despite this island’s drinking age, some people who consume excess alcohol have not turned 18 yet. Most countries in Europe have set 18 as the minimum age to purchase alcohol. In 2005,137 2007138 and 2015139 harmonization at the European Union level toward a minimum purchase age of 18 was discussed, but not agreed.
We also find correlates in drinking patterns when we look at groupings of income, education or work status. Although those in lower income or educational status groups often drink less overall, they are more likely to have lower-frequency, higher-intensity drinking patterns. Overall, these groups drink less, but a higher percentage will drink heavily when they do. Both are measured in terms of pure alcohol/ethanol intake rather than the total quantity of the beverage. Wine contains around 12% pure alcohol per volume, so that one liter of wine contains 0.12 liters of pure alcohol. Beer contains around 5% of pure alcohol per volume1 so that one liter of beer contains 0.05 liters of pure alcohol.