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Visiting Ireland without having a Guinness is like going to London without seeing Big Ben.
Is it illegal? No, but it’s something you’ll wish you checked off of your travel bucket list.
Do you know what else is legal in most European countries? Drinking alcohol under age 21.
The minimum legal drinking age in the vast majority of European countries is 18. Others range from 16 to 20, depending on where it’s served, its alcohol content, and if it’s within the presence of an adult.
Heading to Europe for its low minimum drinking age? Be responsible, be reasonable, and if you’re going to get ripped, be wise enough to arrange safe train travel back to your hostel or hotel.
Image Credit: Getty Images, LedLopezHdz
The legal drinking age in different European countries
Visit Europe as an 18 year old and you should rarely find obstacles to alcohol, especially in countries like France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Legal drinking age in the UK
The legal drinking age in the UK is 18. This includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. In Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), it’s legal for a 16 or 17 year old to drink (not purchase) a beer, wine, or cider only with a meal when accompanied by an adult. Northern Ireland is a little different: kids under 18 cannot drink alcohol in a place other than a private house and kids under 14 can only drink in a private house for medical purposes.
- What to drink in England: Gin
- Where to drink in England: Find a Grade I or II listed pub and sip slowly
- When to drink in England: Bonfire Night (aka Guy Fawkes Night)
- What to drink in Wales: Beer
- Where to drink in Wales: Tŷ Coch Inn, Porthdinllaen
- When to drink in Wales: During Wrexham AFC matches
- What to drink in Scotland: Scotch
- Where to drink in Scotland: A cozy pub in the Highlands
- When to drink in Scotland: Enjoy a dram on Burns Night
- What to drink in Northern Ireland: Whiskey
- Where to drink in Northern Ireland: The Bushmills Distillery in Bushmills
- When to drink in Northern Ireland: On a late summer’s evening while dining outdoors
Two pints of Guinness in Dublin, Ireland. Image Credit: Getty Images, Alberto Marrupe Gutierrez
Legal drinking age in Ireland
- Legal drinking age: 18
- What to drink: Guinness
- Where to drink: Temple Bar, Dublin, of course
- When to drink: St. Patrick’s Day; it’s cliche but absolutely warranted
The Emerald Isle has plenty of pubs serving up Irish red ale and Irish whiskey like Jameson, but your first drink in Ireland needs to be a pint of the black stuff. Drink a Guinness, a real Guinness, and you’ll realize that the imported stuff you drink in the States is exceptionally different. Go ahead and play tourist at the Guinness Storehouse or sing along at the pubs in Temple Bar.
Legal drinking age in France
- Legal drinking age: 18
- What to drink: Champagne
- Where to drink: The Champagne region, naturally
- When to drink: Autumn’s annual Champagne et Vous Festival
Whether you’re on a high school graduation trip or on your first collegiate backpacking trip, you’ve surely got a pin on your map for Paris. Sightsee and spot scenes from shows like Emily in Paris, then get on the train and see the less crowded beauty of France. Head to the Champagne region and impress even the most discerning connoisseurs with how you handle a glass of Dom Perignon, despite being little older than the vintage itself.
Legal drinking age in Spain
- Legal drinking age: 18
- What to drink: Sangria
- Where to drink: Any tapas bar, preferably in view of the beach
- When to drink: After a long day of sun worshiping
You can plan a trip to Spain on Madrid’s tapas bars alone; just don’t forget that Spain's also got one heck of a coastline to explore. Go from the platform to the playa and you’ll find refreshing sangria waiting for you at the bars and clubs. Indulge, especially if you’re on your last summer vacation before college. You’ll make memories—or lack thereof—that’ll last a lifetime.
Legal drinking age in Italy
- Legal drinking age: 18
- What to drink: Regional wine (as hyperlocal as possible)
- Where to drink: A quiet vineyard surrounded by endless hills
- When to drink: Harvest season, September through October
If you grew up in an Italian family, your lips probably knew the taste of vino before you hit your teenage years. Unfortunately, the laws in the country are a little different than at nonna's house: you need to be 18 to drink in Italy. Still, a glass of wine with a fine Italian meal is something that even a grad fresh from high school can appreciate like any seasoned-swirling adult.
Legal drinking age in Germany
- Legal drinking age: 14/15 with parent, 16 for beer/wine, 18 for spirits
- What to drink: Pilsner or Hefeweizen/Weißbier beer
- Where to drink: Munich’s Hofbräuhaus
- When to drink: Oktoberfest for the beer
German drinking culture is way more accessible than you’d believe: just see “kinderbier”, the children’s beer that 14 and 15 year olds can drink with a parent or guardian, if you need proof. Americans rightly assume Oktoberfest is the ultimate time to visit Germany, but you can find a friendly crowd gathered at a biergarten any day of the year. If Bavaria doesn’t convince you to belly up to the bar for a beer, visit Germany’s Christmas markets and feel all warm ‘n’ fuzzy inside with a cup of cheerful Gluhwein.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Klaus Vedfelt
Legal drinking age in Amsterdam
- Legal drinking age: 18
- What to drink: Jenever (Dutch gin)
- Where to drink: Canalside cafe or Koffie Huis
- When to drink: Spring when flowers bloom around the city
You watch the clock melt in a coffeehouse or drink a pint while basking in the neon of the Red Light District, but we prefer pleasures as delicate as Holland’s tulips. Namely, a glass of Jenever whilst sitting along a canal. Just as there’s much more to the Netherlands than its capital, so too is there more to Amsterdam than its acceptance and availability of sex and drugs. The Dutch gin is easy on the body and airy on the mind, (and purchasable thanks to the low Netherlands drinking age), which is exactly what you need if you actually want to enjoy semi-sober museum hopping.
Read also: Best things to do in Amsterdam | Best bars in Amsterdam
Which European country has the lowest drinking age?
Germany has the lowest drinking age of any European country. You can drink as young as 14, but don’t assume that kids are knocking back shots on their first day of high school. Germans between 14 and 15 can only drink beer and wine if they’re under the supervision of a parent or guardian. They have to wait until 16 to drink beer and wine without a parent, then wait until 18 to drink spirits.
Why is Germany's drinking age so low?
Germany’s drinking age is so low because it emphasizes a focus on teaching young adults how to drink responsibly in private and social situations. It’s believed that banning alcohol for young adults doesn’t teach them how to responsibly handle alcohol; allowing them the freedom to begin making their own decisions regarding alcohol (especially in the presence of parents or guardians) may help build safer drinking habits.
Which European country has the highest drinking age?
Sweden is the European country with the highest drinking age requirements. The minimum drinking age in bars is 18, but many bars won’t let people under 20 (or even 25) in. That’s because the minimum age to purchase alcohol over 3.5% ABV is 20. You can purchase alcohol under 3.5% ABV at 18.
Toast to European train travel with Trainline
Responsible drinkers are rewarded on Europe’s trains, many of which allow you to purchase booze on board or bring your own to sip and savor. And for our sober riders, you’ll find an ample selection of non-alcoholic beverages for sale as well.
Download the Trainline app today and plan your own bar crawl across Europe.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Marco_de_Benedictis. Image Location: Burano, Venice, Italy.
