This results in three different drinking ages depending on the type of alcoholic beverage and circumstances: Those limits do not apply to married adolescents. [4] In Germany and the rest of Europe, alcohol consumption by adolescents is traditional and generally accepted.[5]. Official law in Germany regarding drinking age: www.gesetze-im-internet.de/juschg/__9.html. The closing hours where abolished in 2006. States have the right to set closing hours for licensed establishents (§ 18 GastG). Minors themselves can never be prosecuted for alcohol consumption under age. Above 0.11%, the penalty is a €500 fine and the withdrawal of the driver's licence for at least six months, but usually about one year (penalty is set by the court); from 0.16%, reissue of the licence requires a successful Medical Psychological Assessment (MPU), often referred to as the Idiotentest ("idiot test"). Drinking age. But buying beer in grocery stores, restaurants, beer gardens etc. [remark: thus nothing containing more alcohol than beer or wine for persons under 18 years] 2. Greece: Age 17 for both drinking … Actually it’s pretty great because it means nothing stands in the way of a real party to celebrate your successfully-passed driving test. The legal age for buying ‘hard alcohol’ like liqueur – Vodka, Gin or Whiskey in Germany … Underage drinking in private is not regulated by a specific legal restriction. January. However, I believe quite a few bars have a general „no minors under 18“ policy. Germany: Age 14 for beer and wine (in the presence of your legal guardian); age 16 for beer and wine; age 18 for spirits Gibraltar : Age 16 for alcohol with less than 15 … All I have for ID is my passport and my state of virginia ID. Cities can permit businesses to apply for an exception to the closing hours. Minimum age is 18. According to German law (Jugendschutzgesetz), §9: Minors 14 years of age and older may drink undistilled alcoholic beverages, such as wine and beer, when accompanied by a Custodial Person, Minors 16 years of age and older may drink undistilled alcoholic beverages, such as wine and beer, without accompaniment, and However, protection from physical and mental harm is part of parents' general obligation to care for a child. Re: Drinking age in germany. The closing hours for licensed establishments was abolished in 2015. Underage drinking in private is not regulated by a specific legal restriction. The first New Year’s Ski Jumping event was held in... Alcohol and legal drinking age in Germany. 16 is for beer and wine, no hard liqour, but unless you look very young, there is hardly a ID check like you would encounter in the States for example. The legal drinking age In Germany – or actually the legal age for buying ‘soft alcohol’ like Beer and Wine in Germany is 16. The permit is not required if alcohol-free beverages, free samples, prepared food is sold or administered or in connection with an accommodation establishment beverages and prepared food is delivered to residents. Of the 190 countries, 61% have a drinking age of 18 or 19 years old. In Central Germany, Thuringia is a birthplace of Christmas traditions: Lauscha, ThuringiaThe state of Thuringia, Germany, is known for its cultural heritage, being home... Four Hills tournament -- New Year’s Ski Jumping Drinking age in Germany? Drinking age. [9] Some cities have banned alcohol consumption in certain areas and at certain times, such as Göttingen in Nikolaistraße on Saturdays and Sundays between midnight and 8:00 am, or in Hannover Hauptbahnhof (outside the existing bars and restaurants) until 2011 when the ban was cancelled. From 0.16%, cyclists face the same penalties as driving a car at that limit. Supermarkets and stores generally check minors for their identity card. Beyond this, Germany has very few restrictions on alcohol consumption in public. From 0.11%, the courts usually also require the DUI offender to do unpaid community service. For violators above 0.11% within ten years of a prior offence above 0.05%, there is a minimum €1000 fine and a one-year licence withdrawal; the driver has to successfully pass an MPU and is required to prove to the court that they have been sober for the last twelve months, before they can get their licence back. Thanks. There is no general closing hour for licensed businesses. Several years ago, Congress passed a law (USC 10, Section 2683), that mandates that military bases adopt the exact same drinking age as the state (or country) that the base is located in. In Germany, it is legal to enjoy soft alcoholic drinks like beer and wine at the age of 16, whereas hard drinks like spirits and liqueurs are only allowed to adults over 18. Well, I am 17. Minimum age is 20. In 2009, the private railway company Metronom, which operates in parts of Northern Germany, introduced a much-discussed complete ban on alcohol in its trains. Minimum age is 19. 9. So what’s the Oktoberfest Drinking Age? There are a series of different rules and penalties tied to various blood alcohol levels. Legal drinking age in Germany. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [30][31], Protection of Young Persons Act (Germany), "In Baden-Württemberg gilt nachts Alkoholverbot", "The Highs and Lows of Germany's Drinking Culture", "Jugendschutzgesetz (JuSchG) - § 28 Bußgeldvorschriften", "Bußgeldkatalog für Verstöße nach dem Jugendschutzgesetz (JuSchG)", "Gaststättengesetz - § 19 Verbot des Ausschanks alkoholischer Getränke", "Use of alcohol and drugs at the workplace", "Alkohol im Straßenverkehr Promille-Grenze für Radfahrer bleibt bei 1,6", "28 Irrtümer im deutschen Straßenverkehr: Bier am Steuer, Handy am Ohr - Was ist erlaubt? However, occupational safety legislation has since tightened down and has induced a significant decrease of alcohol consumption during work hours.[10]. Berlin Tourism Berlin Hotels Berlin Bed and Breakfast Berlin Vacation Rentals Berlin Packages Flights to Berlin Berlin Restaurants Berlin Attractions 16 for Beer and Wine; 18 for hard liquor. ", "Saarländisches Gaststättengesetz (SGastG) Gesetz Nr. Germany does not require any licenses for the production, wholesale, or retail sale of alcoholic beverages. There are three drinking ages: 1. Minimum … However, it is against the law if licensed businesses serve their customers outside after 10 PM without permission of the city, if someone files a complaint. No drinking age information was available for Djibouti, Lebanon, Marshall Islands, North Korea, or South Sudan, the other five countries listed by the State Department as independent states. 1745 - § 11", "10. Well, the Germans definitely do things a little differently than we do in the States. Berlin Tourism Berlin Hotels Berlin Bed and Breakfast Berlin Holiday Rentals Berlin Holiday Packages Flights to Berlin Berlin Restaurants Berlin Attractions The legal drinking age in the US is 21, which is older than that of every country in Europe. The legal drinking age in Germany for beer and wine is 16, but you can’t get your auto German driving licence until you’re 18, which is also the legal drinking age in German for spirits. Actually it’s pretty great because it means nothing stands in the way of a real party to celebrate your successfully-passed driving test. will not be a … Germany: Age 14 for beer and wine (in the presence of your legal guardian); age 16 for beer and wine; age 18 for spirits Gibraltar : Age 16 for alcohol with less than 15 percent ABV, age … While the law and Department of Defense directives allow drinking on-base by those under the age of 21 if the base is located within 50 miles of a country that allows a lower drinking age, the Secretary of the Navy issued a Navy policy (which included the … © Travel1000Places.com by DENALImultimedia LLC. Germany has some of the best vineyards in the world. Thanks. Underage drinking in private is not regulated by a specific legal restriction. (2) Sub-Clause 1, No. In 2008, the federal state of Lower Saxony started a series of trap purchases, conducted by specially trained police cadets, aged 16 or 17, who pose as customers. Going in two days. The legal drinking age in Germany is 16, though kids must wait until they're 18 to drink spirits. The legal age for buying ‘hard alcohol’ like liqueur – Vodka, Gin or Whiskey in Germany … Violation can result in fines up to 50.000€. However, my German teacher just said today in German class that they just recently changed the age to 18 for both. Hundreds of summary proceedings led to administrative fines ranging from 500 to 3000 euros. Most wineries will offer free wine-tastings with most villages in the wine region (southwestern Germany) holding wine festivals. Answer 1 of 12: Hello What is the age that people are allowed to drink at in germany and get into pubs? The legal drinking age In Germany – or actually the legal age for buying ‘soft alcohol’ like Beer and Wine in Germany is 16. [15] Operator of a licensed premises are not allowed to force their customers to buy a meal with a drink or change prices if a customer does not order a meal. If parents are present, the minimum age is not binding (kids could be younger). Berlin. [6], The "Bußgeldkatalog" of each state sets the possible fines for each violation of the act and varies slightly by state. At age eighteen, an adult now has access to distilled beverages. Most states have retained the so-called Putzstunde ("Cleaning hour"), which refers to the 1–2 hours (usually between 5 AM and 6 AM) during which licensed premises are not allowed to serve their customers. So if I were to go to a bar in germany, without my parent, could I order a beer, or a shot of liquor or something provided that I show my ID? Drinking age in Germany is None See below for more details on drinking age and alcohol purchase age in Germany This is not legal advice. Cities can permit businesses to apply for an exception to the closing hours. Gibraltar: Age 16 for alcohol with less than 15% alcohol. Drinking culture in Germany is vastly different from that of the United States. nor must their consumption by said persons be tolerated. A common weekend activity is starting in one village, sample the wine at a festival, stroll through the vineyard to the neighboring village to sample their wine, etc. Laws related to the MLDA cover a great range of issues, including when and where alcoholic drinks can be consumed. Italy has set a minimum legal drinking age at 16 years, one of the lowest MLDA in the world. Violation of restraints will involve prosecution for vendors who sell alcohol to underage persons and also for bystanders who do not intervene in underage drinking. But buying beer in grocery stores, restaurants, beer gardens etc. I'm 17 and wondered whether it was worth dressing up to go clubbing. 3. Other alcoholic drinks must not be sold to Children and Adolescents below the age of 16 years. Chances are higher to buy alcohol in a regular store. Germany has three drinking ages. Germany Total population (2016): 80 682 351 Population aged 15 years and older (15+): 87% Population in urban areas: 77% Income group (World Bank): High income ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION: LEVELS AND PATTERNS 53% 28% BEER WINE 19% SPIRITS Recorded alcohol per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure alcohol) by type of alcoholic beverage, 2016 At 14 - minors are allowed to consume and possess undistilled (fermented) alcoholic beverages, such as beer and wine, as long as they are in the company of their parents. Germany: Age 14 for beer and wine (in the presence of your legal guardian), age 16 for beer and wine, age 18 for spirits. The rates of teenage drunk driving in countries like Italy, Germany, and Austria, where the legal drinking age is 16, are much lower than in the United States, where the drinking age is 21. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If nobody is disturbed it’s fine. Gibraltar: Age 16 for alcohol with less than 15% alcohol. 1 shall not apply to Adolescents accompanied by a Custodial Person. In the state of Baden-Württemberg the Bußgeldkatalog for violation against the "Protection of Young Persons Act" provides following fines:[7], Public parties are prohibited nationally on Good Friday, and regionally on other holidays such as All Saints' Day. Lv 7. If parents are present, the minimum age is not binding (kids could be younger). Thus, alcohol trap purchases bring a return of around €2 million annually. 2. Most politicians, however, spoke against that notion, pointing out instead that such abuse was already forbidden according to current laws, which simply needed to be enforced. Legal drinking and purchasing age for Alcohol is age 16 in Germany. The law is less thoroughly enforced in many bars and restaurants, but this can vary by location. The legal drinking age in Germany is 16, though kids must wait until they're 18 to drink spirits. In addition to fines, impaired drivers are generally given points in the Fahreignungsregister ("driving aptitude register", colloquially Verkehrssünderkartei, "traffic sinner index"), which is managed by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt ("Federal Motor Transport Authority") in Flensburg. Germany has strict laws regarding operation of motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol and other psychoactive substances. In contrast to many other countries, the legislation is not designed to keep young people away from alcohol completely, but rather to teach them an appropriate approach to alcohol consumption. Berlin. Several years ago, Congress passed a law (USC 10, Section 2683), that mandates that military bases adopt the exact same drinking age as the state (or country) that the base is located in. At age sixteen a minor can consume and possess fermented alcohol without their parents or legal guardian. These minimum penalties are usually exceeded by the German courts. Buying alcohol remains possible at these times. will not be a … Drinking Age In Italy. (2) Absatz 1 Nummer 1 gilt nicht, wenn Jugendliche von einer personensorgeberechtigten Person begleitet werden. In 2002, Renato Balduzzi, the then Health Minister proposed to raise the minimum drinking age to 18 years. ... 1 decade ago. [remark: thus nothing containing more alcohol than beer or wine for persons under 18 years] 2. However, I believe quite a few bars have a general „no minors under 18“ policy. Travel1000Places.com provides travel information for Germany, USA, New Zealand and Australia. From my observations, alcohol in the U.S. is treated as a taboo, with the 21 and over drinking age, but also often an unspoken understanding once a person reaches his or her senior year of high school or college. Other alcoholic drinks must not be sold to Children and Adolescents below the age of 16 years. Anyone over the age of 16 can legally drink beer in Germany without parental supervision. [1] Regarding alcohol purchase and alcohol consumption in public places (such as pubs and restaurants), Germany has three drinking ages by § 9 Jugendschutzgesetz (Youth protection act): Regarding alcohol purchase and alcohol consumption in public places (such as pubs and restaurants), Germany has three drinking ages regulated by § 9 Jugendschutzgesetz (Protection of Young Persons Act): For repeat offenses, the fine is multiplied by the ordinal of the offence (doubled, tripled, etc. Lucius T Fowler. A liquor license is generally required when alcoholic beverages are served or sold for consumption on premises. And would they accept my passport as a legal form of ID? Under federal law, it is illegal to serve customers outside of the establishent after 10 PM, or 11 PM with permission of the city (Emissionsschutzgesetz). Are clubs in Germany (Stuttgart) as strict as London? Of the 190 countries, 61% have a drinking age of 18 or 19 years old. However, protection from physical and mental harm is part of parents' general obligation to care for a child. [1] Regarding alcohol purchase and alcohol consumption in public places (such as pubs and restaurants), Germany has three drinking ages regulated by § 9 Jugendschutzgesetz[2] (Protection of Young Persons Act): § 9 Alcoholic drinks(1) In licensed premises, at points of sale or elsewhere in public places. Answer 1 of 12: Hello What is the age that people are allowed to drink at in germany and get into pubs? Closing hours for bars and discotheques are appointed mostly by state legislation. No drinking age information was available for Djibouti, Lebanon, Marshall Islands, North Korea, or South Sudan, the other five countries listed by the State Department as independent states. Greece: Age 17 for both drinking … [13] Every other establishment which does not apply to this scheme requires a Gaststättenkonzession [de]. The drinking age applies to everyone, of course. At 16 - undistilled drinks are allowed without a parent. For one thing, the legal drinking age for beer and wine consumption is 16, while hard liquor can be sold/served to people over the age of 18. So don’t wonder if you see some youngsters having a beer – it is probably legal. 9. Actually drinking age can be as low as 14 when you go with your parents. Countries where 16 year olds are allowed to drink are often used as examples for why the age should be lowered in other countries. It is allowed to consume alcohol in the public – – the rule of thumb is that you cannot bother other people. 0.00% for those under the age of 21 or with less than two years' experience, professional drivers, bus drivers, truck drivers, and drivers transporting passengers commercially; 0.03% in conjunction with an accident or traffic offense; 0.16% for cyclists, where not in conjunction with any other traffic offense or accident. Within the past 10 years many states have abolished the closing hours for licensed establishments. The rates of teenage drunk driving in countries like Italy, Germany, and Austria, where the legal drinking age is 16, are much lower than in the United States, where the drinking age is 21. This page was last edited on 31 October 2020, at 11:31. The standard rate for the illegal sale of one bottle of spirits is 1500 euros. Answer 1 of 12: Hello What is the age that people are allowed to drink at in germany and get into pubs? The closing hours for licensed establishments was abolished in 2005. It is however legal to consume alcohol while driving, provided the driver remains under the legal blood alcohol limits.[12]. okay, so i plan on visiting berlin, germany next month or so. An interesting fact about Bavaria is that beer is actually considered a staple food. However, protection from physical and mental harm is part of parents' general obligation to care for a child. Underage drinking in private is not regulated by a specific legal restriction. 18 to buy liquor :) 3 0. ), regardless of the amount by which the driver was over the limit. They cannot drink liquor until the age of 18. Penalties start at a €500 fine and one-month license suspension. ", "Sperrzeit - Verkürzung oder Aufhebung beantragen", "Sperrzeit; Beantragung einer Verlängerung, Verkürzung oder Aufhebung", "Keine Sperrstunde für die Simon-Dach-Straße", "Keine Landesregierung hebt Sperrzeitverordnung auf - Brandenburg kann noch gastfreundlicher werden", "Verordnung zur Ausführung des Bremischen Gaststättengesetzes (Bremische Gaststättenverordnung - BremGastV)", "In NRW soll es neue Sperrstunden für eine "gefährliche" Kneipenstraße geben", "Welche Sperrzeiten gelten für Rheinland-Pfalz? Until 2009, it was acceptable for employees in many fields of work (especially construction workers, gardeners and the like) to consume medium quantities of alcohol during work hours. On-licence premises have to place a clearly legible notice with the restrictions of the Protection of Young Persons Act (Jugendschutzgesetz)[14] and the bartender must ensure that alcoholic beverages may not be sold or served to underage or visibly intoxicated persons. Travelling to Oktoberfest with kids under 16? Generally the drinking age is not monitored, except for in the bigger cities at bars and such. Drinking age in Germany...? The legal drinking age in Germany for beer and wine is 16, but you can’t get your auto German driving licence until you’re 18, which is also the legal drinking age in German for spirits. [1] Regarding alcohol purchase and alcohol consumption in public places (such as pubs and restaurants), Germany has three drinking ages by § 9 Jugendschutzgesetz (Youth protection act): However, the society does not look upon drinking in moderation as a sin or great harm and enforcement tends to reflect that fact. Welche Sperrzeiten gelten für Gaststättenbetriebe und Spielhallen", "Sachsen-Anhalt Land besteht nicht mehr auf Sperrstunde", "Übersicht der Sperrzeiten nach Bundesländern", "Alcohol Policies in EU Member States and Norway", Alcohol consumption by youth in the United States, Alcohol-related traffic crashes in the United States, Legal drinking age controversy in the United States, List of alcohol laws of the United States, Beer classification in Sweden and Finland, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alcohol_laws_in_Germany&oldid=986364716, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Selling or serving spirits or food products, containing more than insignificant quantities of spirits, to a child under 14 years of age, Selling or serving spirits or food products, containing more than insignificant quantities of spirits, to a young person over the age of 14 but under the age of 18 years, Selling or serving beer, wine, wine-like beverages or sparkling wine or mixtures of beer, wine, wine-like beverages or sparkling wine and soft drinks, to a child under 14 years of age, Selling or serving beer, wine, wine-like beverages or sparkling wine or mixtures of beer, wine, wine-like beverages or sparkling wine and soft drinks, to an unaccompanied young person over 14 years but under 16 years of age. www.gesetze-im-internet.de/juschg/__9.html, Electricity and Voltage in Germany — you need a travel adapter, Lauscha, Thuringia, Germany — a birthplace of Christmas ornaments, Chicago — Overview and Intro for travellers, Australia Time Zones / Daylight Saving Time, Beer in Germany – from purity law to calories and beer types, Cologne, Germany — breweries, kölsch beer, and typical dishes, Impressum/Imprint, Terms and Disclaimer, Privacy Policy. Under the Protection of Young Persons Act selling, furnishing and supplying alcoholic beverages in licensed premises, at points of sales or elsewhere in public by a person over the age of 18 years to a person under the required age limits is considered a misdemeanor. Countries where 16 year olds are allowed to drink are often used as examples for why the age should be lowered in other countries. Nor must their consumption by said persons be tolerated. The closing hours do not apply during the night of 1. It's not uncommon that children pick up things for their parents or so it's assumed. However, protection from physical and mental harm is part of parents' general obligation to care for a child. Cities can permit exceptions to the general closing hours. At age fourteen a minor can consume and possess fermented alcohol in the company of their parents or legal guardian. The legal drinking age in Germany is 16, though kids must wait until they're 18 to drink spirits. While the law and Department of Defense directives allow drinking on-base by those under the age of 21 if the base is located within 50 miles of a country that allows a lower drinking age, the Secretary of the Navy issued a Navy policy (which included the Marine Corps), which prohibited the practice. Germany has one of the lowest legal drinking ages in Europe, allowing youth to drink alcohol at 14 when accompanied by an adult. Legal drinking and purchasing age for Alcohol is age 16 in Germany. (§ 1 JuSchG (5)), Because of moral panic involving alcohol abuse among minors (a 16-year-old boy died after having consumed 45 shots of tequila in a bar in early 2007),[3] some people demanded that the drinking age be raised. Specific Drinking Age Rules in the Various Branches . 16 to drink and buy beer. Favorite Answer. Although restrictions are nationwide and well-known, some salespersons violate the law at times. That five-year difference to the US, where the drinking age is 21, appears to be significant. Minimum age is 21. The Minimum Legal Drinking Age, or MLDA, is the minimum age at which someone is legally allowed to buy and drink alcohol. In 2009, about 3000 trap purchases were carried out in Lower Saxony, in 1327 cases (44%) alcohol was sold without age verification to underage persons. Changing prices if a customer does not buy an alcoholic drink is also against the law, and every licensee must ensure that there is at least one non alcoholic drink that is cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic drink.[15]. Include a German Amusement Park Berlin Tourism Berlin Hotels Bed and Breakfast Berlin Berlin Holiday Rentals Flights to Berlin Berlin Restaurants Berlin Attractions Berlin Shopping Germany: Age 14 for beer and wine (in the presence of your legal guardian), age 16 for beer and wine, age 18 for spirits. § 9 Alkoholische Getränke(1) In Gaststätten, Verkaufsstellen oder sonst in der Öffentlichkeit dürfen1.Bier, Wein, weinähnliche Getränke oder Schaumwein oder Mischungen von Bier, Wein, weinähnlichen Getränken oder Schaumwein mit nichtalkoholischen Getränken an Kinder und Jugendliche unter 16 Jahren,2.andere alkoholische Getränke oder Lebensmittel, die andere alkoholische Getränke in nicht nur geringfügiger Menge enthalten, an Kinder und Jugendlicheweder abgegeben noch darf ihnen der Verzehr gestattet werden.