To purchase short-term access, please sign in to your personal account above. For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more. In September, WHO launched an initiative called SAFER in an effort to help governments around the world reduce the harmful impacts of excessive alcohol consumption. Among 15-year-old boys, more than 1 in 5 reported weekly drinking across 24 European countries and regions, with the highest prevalence in Malta, Denmark, England, and Wales. But by 2014, only nine countries and regions had a prevalence greater than 20%, with the highest prevalence in Croatia, Malta, and Italy, according to the report.
Become a Culture Tripper!
Russia has a prominent drinking culture, with alcohol being readily available and consumed by people of all ages. While the legal drinking or purchasing age in Russia is 18, the government has been trying to curb excessive alcohol consumption through various measures, including restrictions on public drinking. Italy has set a minimum legal drinking age at 16 years, one of the lowest MLDA in the world. In 2002, Renato Balduzzi, the then Health Minister proposed to raise the minimum drinking age to 18 years. However, selling alcoholic drinks to children under the age of 18 years in premises is considered illegal and attracts a fine of €250 to €1,000.
Further restrictions may also apply during some public holidays. In St Petersburg, alcohol is not sold during the famous Scarlet Sails Festival. Once again, local governments have the liberty of deciding when there are alcohol sales restrictions.
- However, you cannot buy beer or wine in grocery stores – you can only buy them in special stores that sell alcoholic beverages.
- Individuals who are 18 years of age or older but have not yet reached their 19th birthday are allowed to drink alcohol in licensed establishments, such as restaurants and bars.
- Ghana has become a popular destination in West Africa, drawing in visitors with beaches and wildlife as well as cultural and culinary allures.
- Alcohol may also cause complications such as liver failure and hormonal imbalance in minors due to the constant changes in their bodies as they mature, especially during puberty.
These measures are intended to reduce the negative social, economic, and public health impacts of excessive alcohol consumption, which has been a longstanding issue in Russia. These policies have resulted in a significant decrease in alcohol consumption, with wine and beer overtaking spirits as the main sources of beverage alcohol. In recent years, there have been discussions about raising the legal drinking age in Russia from 18 to 21. However, as of 2024, the legal drinking age in Russia remains at 18, with some exceptions for stronger drinking age in russia alcoholic beverages. We say ‘mostly’ because alcoholism and underage drinking is quite rampant there. If you are 20 years old and below, you are not allowed to purchase any alcohol in bars, liquor stores, or just about anywhere where liquor is sold in the country.
It is illegal to drink alcohol in Russia until you are 18 years old. However, there is a loophole in the law that allows people as young as 16 to drink alcohol if they are accompanied by an adult. In New Zealand, you cannot purchase or drink alcohol if you are under the age of 18.
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With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage. Public intoxication is also considered a crime, and anyone caught misbehaving or acting rowdy in public shall be asked to pay up to 1000 Rubles.
Drinking and Driving Rules
One of the most exciting aspects of traveling is experiencing the local culture. But before you indulge in a new country’s drinking scene, it’s important to know the local laws. Russia is strict when it comes to IDs, and they won’t just let anyone in a bar or club without that person showing them a legal document that proves their age. Both adults and teenagers will be asked for an ID card before letting them in, as they want to make sure that this person is indeed 18 or 21 years old and above and doesn’t just look mature for their age. Back in the day, only IDs were required to be shown at these adult establishments, but recently, the government has started accepting driver’s licenses as well. If that wasn’t enough, South Africa is also making quite a name for itself in global wine circles.
Alcohol Availability
If you’re looking forward to a Molson or a Labatt in the Great White North, you’ll need to be 19 or older. That’s unless you’re in Alberta, Manitoba or Quebec, where they’ll cut you a 12-month break. You’re legally OK to drink alcoholic beverages at 18 in those three destinations. In Canada, each province and territory gets to set its own rules. Further restrictions may apply during public holidays, especially those that bring people together outside in large crowds or holidays connected with children.