Legal drinking age in Europe

[MotherOfTwo]

<p>Yes, I was referring to the dangers of drunk driving, which is obviously an important issue but not the only issue with teen drinking.</p>

[tli83]

<p>

@cangel

we are considering a trip of Europe celebrating our kids’ grad from high school and college, so only our son would not be legal here in the states, I wondered if there was anywhere in Europe he would not be legal. Possibly not in the UK if we went in the early summer, but he would be with us, and only a couple of weeks short of his birthday - thanks.

He wouldn’t be legal in much of Eastern Europe, at least early in the summer, since drinking age is mostly 18. In Ukraine it is 21. Of course, that is almost completely ignored.</p>

<p>There is list of all countries in the world on wikipedia:
<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[roshke]

<p>From that wikipedia article: Wow, I was really surprised about all this, if it’s accurate, possibly because I live in one of the states where consumption is not allowed under 21 in other settings. </p>

<p>

Contrary to popular belief, since National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, few states specifically prohibit minors’ consumption of alcohol in private settings (an exception includes Connecticut). In some cases or states, alcohol permits can be purchased at a cost to the parent or legal guardian. New York permits those under twenty-one to drink in restaurants provided that they are with a parent or guardian, the alcohol is poured (if applicable) by the parent or guardian, the parent or guardian hands the drink to the minor person, and the minor person is not seated at the bar. As of 2006, 20 states do not specifically ban underage consumption and an additional 15 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage consumption laws. [3]</p>

<p>Federal law explicitly provides for religious, medical, employment and private club possession exceptions; as of 2005, 31 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage possession laws. [4]

</p>

[TheDad]

<p>Sweden’s blood alcohol limit for driving is: 0.0.</p>

<p>There is so much more public transportation in Europe that the US’s deadly combination of teen drinking and driving is practically nil.</p>

<p>I don’t know what the legal age for Hungary is but D reports that many low-teen kids would have beers.</p>

[binx]

<p>Actually, in Germany beer and wine are legal at 16. Hard liquor is 18. But those are for public consumption only - there is no law about drinking at home. (In bars and such, the underaged drinker isn’t punished for drinking it, but the seller is punished for providing it. Discos, for example, won’t let kids in under 16.) My D is there now. She and her friends went out to a bar one night last week and WERE carded. She said the guy seemed intrigued by her US drivers license.</p>

[momfromme]

<p>Switzerland’s drinking age is 16 and you face very harsh penalties if you drive with blood alcohol over 0%. They also have a phenomenal public transportation system.</p>

[PackMom]

<p>My S"s friend spent last semester in Prague. He said it was very common
for people to buy beer at the streetside bars or carts (after class/work) and then get on the trains and drink thier beer while riding home. He was 19/20 and never carded.</p>

<p>Some friends at my church have hosted Belarussian children/young teens for the summer. My friend was surprised that a 14 year old expected to be allowed to drink and smoke here saying that kids his age were allowed to in his country.</p>