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Home»Life in China»Legal Drinking Age in China
drinking age in china
Life in China

Legal Drinking Age in China

Vic-LiuBy Vic-LiuFebruary 19, 2023Updated:February 23, 2025No Comments10 Mins Read
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China is a country with a rich history and culture, famous for its iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. As a rapidly growing economy, China is also home to a diverse population that enjoys various forms of entertainment, including drinking alcohol.

The legal drinking age in China is an important topic, and it is essential to understand the laws and cultural attitudes surrounding alcohol consumption in the country.

What is the legal drinking age in China?

In China, the legal drinking age is 18 years old. This is the age at which individuals are legally allowed to purchase and consume alcohol. The minimum legal age is enforced by the Chinese government and is consistent across all provinces and municipalities.

However, it is worth noting that the legal drinking age in China is often not strictly enforced. It is not uncommon to see young people below the legal drinking age drinking alcohol in public places such as restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. This is especially true in tourist hotspots where establishments may be more lenient in enforcing the age limit to cater to international customers.

Cultural Attitudes Towards Alcohol in China

Alcohol has been an essential part of Chinese culture for centuries. Chinese society has a long history of producing and consuming alcoholic beverages, with some traditional Chinese drinks such as baijiu and rice wine being popular not only in China but also internationally. Alcohol consumption is often seen as a social activity, and drinking with friends or colleagues is a common way to bond and build relationships.

(Related: 17 Chinese Beer Brands You Must Know)

In Chinese culture, drinking is often associated with celebrations and auspicious occasions, such as weddings, banquets, and festivals. It is customary for hosts to offer their guests drinks as a sign of hospitality, and it is considered impolite to refuse such offers. However, excessive drinking is frowned upon, and individuals who drink to the point of intoxication may be viewed as lacking self-control or discipline.

Alcohol Consumption Among Chinese Youth

Despite the legal drinking age in China, alcohol consumption among young people is a growing concern. A study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that over half of Chinese youth aged 15-19 years reported having consumed alcohol in their lifetime. Furthermore, nearly a quarter of Chinese adolescents aged 13-15 years reported having consumed alcohol in the past month.

The rise in alcohol consumption among young people is attributed to several factors. One factor is the changing social and economic landscape in China, which has led to increased stress and pressure on young people to succeed academically and professionally. As a result, some young people turn to alcohol as a means of coping with stress or as a way to escape from their problems.

Another factor is the increasing availability and accessibility of alcohol. China’s growing economy has led to a proliferation of bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment venues that cater to young people. In addition, online shopping and home delivery services have made it easier for young people to purchase alcohol without being asked for proof of age.

Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Health

Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious health consequences. The WHO reports that alcohol is a leading risk factor for death and disability globally, and excessive drinking can lead to a range of health problems, including liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer.

In China, alcohol consumption is a major public health concern, with over 300 million people estimated to be heavy drinkers. Alcohol-related health problems, such as liver disease and alcoholism, are among the leading causes of death in China.

The Chinese government has implemented various measures to address the issue of excessive drinking, such as increasing taxes on alcohol and implementing stricter drunk driving laws. However, more needs to be done to raise awareness about the risks of excessive alcohol consumption and to promote responsible drinking habits.

Legal drinking age by country

This chart provides an overview of the laws and rules that establish the minimum age restrictions for purchasing, selling, providing, and consuming alcoholic beverages, as well as the methods used to verify age, in all countries where IARD has been able to verify the information from national authorities or publicly available documents.

The chart is continually updated as jurisdictions modify or enact their regulations, with assistance from the staff at the Law Library of Congress (Washington, DC). IARD’s most recent comprehensive review of the information for all countries was conducted between December 2021 and March 2022, during which the chart was expanded to include age verification requirements, which had not been previously included.

Country / TerritoryOn-premise saleOff-premise saleSupply by any personLegislation and regulations
Afghanistan[prohibited][prohibited][prohibited]Penal Code Art 349-352
Law to Fight Against Alcoholic Beverages and Narcotic Substances and to Control Them
Albania181818Law 9518 of 18 April 2006 For the protection of minors from the use of alcohol Art 4
Algeria1818[none found]Order No. 26-75 of 1975 Art 14
Andorra181818Decree 16-6-2004 Approving Regulation of Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages
Angola[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][pending verification]
Antigua and Barbuda1818[none found]Licensing (intoxicating liquor) (Amendment) Act Ch 249 (2018)
Argentina1818[none found]Law No24.788 Combating Alcoholism (Official Bulletin 3rd April 1997) Art 5
Armenia1818[none found]Code of Administrative Offences Art 158
Criminal Code Art 166
Australia18*18*[varies by jurisdiction]Regulated at state/territory level. See Youth Law Australia: Alcohol
Capital Territory: Liquor Act (2010)
New South Wales: Liquor Act (2007)
Northern Territory: Liquor Act (1987)
Queensland: Liquor Act (1992)
South Australia: Liquor Licensing Act (1997)
Tasmania: Liquor Licensing Act (1990), see also Sale or Supply of Alcohol to Youths (Police Offences Act 1935)
Victoria: Liquor Control Reform Act (1998)
Western Australia: Liquor Control Act (1988)
Austria[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][none found]National Youth Protection Act 2002
Austrian Federal Government: Overview by state
Azerbaijan1818[none found]Law on Children’s Rights Art 9
Bahamas1818[none found]Liquor Licences Act Ch 372: 22
Bahrain[varies by religion][varies by religion][varies by religion]Penal Code 1976 as amended through 2010 Art 307
Bangladesh21*21*21*Narcotics Control Act 2018, Ministry of Home Affairs Alcohol Control Rules 2022
Barbados181818Liquor Licenses Act 2021 Art 27
Belarus1818[none found]Law No. 429-Z on State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Alcoholic, Non-food Alcohol-containing Products and Non-food Ethyl Alcohol Art 11.4
Belgium[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage]Act of 24 January 1977 on the protection of consumer health concerning food and other products Art 6
Belize1818[none found]Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Law CAP. 150, as revised December 2000
Benin202020Decree of 10 June 1942 regulating the production, import, advertisement, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in French West Africa, as cited in Republic of Benin Report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/BEN/2, 24 November 2005
Bhutan1818[none found]Rules and Regulations For Establishment And Operation of Industrial And Commercial Ventures in Bhutan 1995, Rule 17
Notification No. Kha(12-7)/89/5070 dated 26 April 1993
Bolivia1818[none found]Law 259 Against the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages, July 2012 Art 20
Bosnia and Herzegovina181818Law on Public Peace and Order 2015 Art 25
Law on Internal Trade 2010 Art 10
Botswana181818Liquor Act No.9 of 2004 Art 32
Children Act 2009 Sec 2, 60
Brazil181818Presidential Amendment 13,106 of 17 March 2015 of
Law 8096 (1990) Statute on Children and Adolescents Art. 243
Decree-Law 3,688 (1941) Law on Criminal Misdemeanors
Brunei[prohibited][prohibited][prohibited]Liquor Form, Royal Customs and Excise Department, Ministry of Finance
Bulgaria181818Health Act 2005 Art 54, 218
Child Protection Act Art 5b, 45
Burkina Faso1818[none found]Penal Code Art 532-23
Burundi18*18*[none found]Penal Code Art 501-502 (Law No1/05 of 22 April 2009)
Cabo Verde181818Law No. 271/V/97 Art 1.1, 4
Law No. 51/IX/2019 Art 2-3
Cambodia[none found][none found][none found][n/a]
Cameroon18*18*[none found]Law No 2016/007 of 12 July 2016 Penal Code Article 348
Canada[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]Act respecting Offences Relating to Alcoholic Beverages, CQLR c I-8.1
Central African Republic[none found][none found][none found][n/a]
Chad18*18*[none found]Law 2017-01 Penal Code Chapter 6 Art 376-378
Chile18*1818Law 19.925 on the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages Art 3, 29, 42
China18*18*[none found]Ministry of Commerce Decree No. 25 of 2006 Art 19
Law on the Protection of Minors 2006 Art 37
Chinese Taipei181818Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act 2000 Art 30, 35
Protection of Children and Youth Welfare and Rights Act as amended in 2019 Art 91
Colombia181818Decree 120 of 21 January 2010 Adopting measures related to consumption of alcohol Art 17
Law 1098 Code on Children and Adolescents 1986 Art 20
Comoros[varies by religion][varies by religion][none found]Penal Code Arts 229-6, 229-7
Congo, Democratic Republic of[verification pending][verification pending][verification pending][verification pending]
Congo, Republic of181818[none found]
Costa Rica18181818
Cote d’Ivoire[verification pending][verification pending][verification pending][verification pending]
Croatia1818[none found][none found]
Cuba1616[none found][none found]
Cyprus18181818
Czech Republic181818[none found]
Denmark18[varies by beverage][none found][none found]
Djibouti[none found][none found][none found][none found]
Dominica1616[none found][none found]
Dominican Republic1818[none found][none found]
Ecuador1818[none found][none found]
Egypt2121[verification pending][verification pending]
El Salvador181818[none found]
Eritrea181818[none found]
Estonia18181818
Eswatini1818[none found][none found]
Ethiopia2121[none found][none found]
Equatorial Guinea1616[none found][none found]
Fiji1818[none found][none found]
Finland18[varies by beverage][none found][varies by beverage]
France1818[none found][none found]
Gabon1818[none found][none found]
Gambia1616[none found][none found]
Georgia1818[none found][none found]
Germany[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage][none found]
Ghana1818[none found][none found]
Greece1818[none found]18
Grenada16[none found][none found][none found]
Guatemala18181818
Guinea[none found][none found][none found][none found]
Guinea Bissau[none found][none found][none found][none found]
Guyana18*18[none found][none found]
Haiti[none found][none found][none found][none found]
Honduras1818[none found][none found]
Hungary1818[none found][none found]
Iceland202020[none found]
India[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]
Indonesia[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]
Iran[prohibited][prohibited][prohibited][varies by religion]
Iraq[verification pending][verification pending][verification pending][verification pending]
Ireland18181818*
Israel1818[none found]18
Italy1818[none found][none found]
Jamaica1818[none found][none found]
Japan2020[none found]20
Jordan1818[none found][none found]
Kazakhstan2121[none found]18
Kenya1818[none found][none found]
Kiribati2121[none found]21
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of1818[none found][none found]
Korea, Republic of19*19*19*[none found]
Kuwait[prohibited][prohibited][verification pending][verification pending]
Kyrgyzstan1818[none found][none found]
Lao People’s Democratic Republic1818[none found]18
Latvia18181818
Lebanon181818[none found]
Lesotho181818[none found]
Liberia181818*[none found]
Libya[prohibited][prohibited][prohibited][prohibited]
Liechtenstein[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage]
Lithuania18181816
Luxembourg161616[none found]
Madagascar[verification pending][verification pending][verification pending][verification pending]
Malawi1818[none found][none found]
Mali1818[none found][none found]
Malaysia[varies by religion][varies by religion][varies by religion][varies by religion]
Maldives[prohibited*][prohibited*][prohibited*][prohibited*]
Mali1818[none found][none found]
Malta17171717
Marshall Islands21212121
Mauritania[prohibited][prohibited][verification pending][verification pending]
Mauritius1818[none found][none found]
Mexico18181818
Micronesia, Federated States of[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][verification pending][verification pending]
Moldova1818[none found][none found]
Monaco1818[none found][none found]
Mongolia21212121*
Montenegro1818[none found][none found]
Morocco[varies by religion][varies by religion][none found][none found]
Mozambique1818[none found]18
Myanmar181818[none found]
Namibia18181818
Nauru21212121
Nepal1818[none found][none found]
Netherlands18181818
New Zealand181818*[none found]
Nicaragua1818[none found][none found]
Niger1818[none found][none found]
Nigeria[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][none found][none found]

What is the youngest drinking age in the world?

The minimum legal age for drinking is as low as 15 in Mali and the Central African Republic, making them the countries with the lowest minimum legal drinking age in the world. In seven countries, there are no government regulations on the minimum drinking age, while in 11 countries, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is completely prohibited.

What is the oldest drinking age in the world?

Most countries have established the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) to be either 18 or 19 years old. In contrast, the United States (excluding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and 19 other nations, primarily in Asia, have set the highest MLDA. Nevertheless, certain regions in India have MLDA as high as 25-30 years old.

FAQ: About the drinking age in China

Can you drink at 16 in China?

No, the legal drinking age in China is 18 years old. It is illegal for individuals under the age of 18 to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages in China. The law applies to both Chinese citizens and foreign nationals within China.

Can you drink at 16 in Hongkong?

No, the legal drinking age in Hong Kong is 18 years old. It is illegal for individuals under the age of 18 to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages in Hong Kong. The law applies to both Hong Kong residents and visitors to the city.

What is the drinking age in Germany?

In Germany, the legal drinking age for beer and wine is 16 years old, while the legal drinking age for distilled spirits or other alcoholic beverages is 18 years old.
This means that individuals who are 16 years or older can legally consume beer and wine in Germany, while those who are 18 years or older can consume any type of alcoholic beverage. It is important to note that these age limits apply to both purchasing and consuming alcohol.

What is the drinking age in Japan?

In Japan, the legal drinking age is 20 years old. It is illegal for individuals under the age of 20 to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.
Japan has strict laws and regulations regarding the consumption of alcohol by minors, and authorities regularly conduct enforcement operations to deter underage drinking. Businesses that sell or serve alcohol are required to check the identification of customers who appear to be under the age of 20 to ensure they are of legal drinking age.

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