What is the legal drinking age in Amsterdam?
In the Netherlands, and many other countries in the European Union, the legal age for purchasing alcoholic beverages is 18 years.
For purchasing drinks that have less than 15% alcohol by volume, the minimum legal age is 16; for drinks with more than 15% alcohol by volume, the minimum legal age is 18; in both cases ID must be produced.
You are not allowed to buy alcohol until you are 18. If you are under 18 and have alcohol in your possession in public, you are committing a punishable offence under the Licensing and Catering Act. Outdoor areas like streets and parks are public places, and so are shopping centres and pubs.
In the Netherlands you must be 18 years old or older to buy alcohol or have alcohol with you.
In the Netherlands, only those over the age of 16 can purchase alcohol (over 18 for spirits), while you have to be 16 to buy cigarettes (18 to smoke dope). Driving is limited to over-18s. Get into a relationship with our newsletter. Discover the best of the city, first.
It is illegal to sell alcohol to people under 18. This is laid down in the Licensing and Catering Act.
However, there is a little bit of good news on this topic. Different clubs in Amsterdam has a different age limit for access. Some clubs require that you are not any less than 21 years of age while some other clubs set their own age limit to people of 18 years of age and above, granting more access to people.
The requirement to present identification applies to residents of the Netherlands that are over 13 years old. Police and other officials (such as traffic wardens or customs officials) may ask for it and if you fail to present the right documents you risk having to pay a fine.
Belgium, Denmark and Germany set 16 years as the minimum age for purchasing beverages containing less than 1.2 % of distilled alcohol and 18 years for buying spirits (more than 1.2 % of distilled alcohol). Sweden set the minimum age for purchasing beverages with more than 3.5 % of alcohol at 20 years.
Can minors drink alcohol in Germany under supervision? Yes, in Germany, minors aged 14 and older are allowed to consume beer, wine, or cider when accompanied by a custodial person, usually a parent or legal guardian. However, for spirits, the minimum age is strictly 18, regardless of supervision.
What country has no drinking age?
However, Angola (except Luanda Province), Central African Republic, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali have no laws on the books restricting the sale of alcohol to minors. In Libya, Somalia and Sudan the sale, production and consumption of alcohol is completely prohibited.
Setting a legal drinking age of 21 is designed to discourage reckless alcohol consumption by youth, limiting consumption to those who are more mature, who can be expected to make reasonable and wise decisions when it comes to drinking.
Tourists are allowed to buy weed in coffeeshops in Amsterdam. To enter, you must be 18 years of age – your ID will be checked. Only purchase from reputable coffeeshops (not street dealers) and start with a small amount if you are not experienced with cannabis. Never mix soft drug use with alcohol.
The legal drinking age in France is 18 years old. This means individuals must be at least 18 years of age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages, including wine, beet and spirits. This age limit is strictly enforced, and establishments serving alcohol are required to verify proof of age.
Unlike other European countries, there is no official legal drinking age in Greece if you are drinking in private (like a house). However, if you want to purchase alcohol and drink in public, you must be at least 18 years of age. While that is the law, it isn't always strictly enforced.
Unaccompanied children under 16 will not be allowed in night clubs or bars or casinos, most of such establishments have higher age restrictions (mostly 18 or 21 years).
The legal drinking age for beer, wine, and sparkling wine in Germany is 16 years old—one of the lowest drinking ages in the world. That means that young people in Germany can drink beer and wine at age 16, two years before they become eligible for a driver's license at age 18.
Every coffeeshop requires some form of ID before you enter.
The Amsterdam coffeeshop legal age is a minimum of 18 years old. Regardless of adult supervision, it's explicitly forbidden to enter a coffeeshop under the age of 18 — no exceptions.
Adolescents aged 16 and over are allowed to buy and drink beer, wine or sparkling wine also in absence of their parents, but other -heavy- alcoholic drinks are not allowed for them either. From the 18th birthday, a person is considered an adult in Germany.
Another common misconception is that marijuana is legal. In reality, it is not legal but it is widely tolerated. In Amsterdam, you can consume it freely as long as you are 18 years old but there are certain rules and regulations that need to be followed.
What is the lowest drinking age in the world?
1. Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso is the country with the youngest drinking age at 13 years. Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa, a population 20.9 million (2020), has an area that expands to roughly 170,255 miles.
As in the rest of the world, drugs are officially illegal in the Netherlands. Amsterdam's lenient drug policy allows for the sale and consumption of certain soft drugs, such as cannabis, in designated coffeeshops. However, the use and distribution of hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy remain strictly illegal.
Some clubs may have designated smoking areas where patrons can smoke cigarettes or tobacco. However, these areas do not typically permit the use of cannabis. Always be sure to check the specific rules of the venue you are visiting.
Opening hours and admission
Bars and cafes in the city center may open weekdays until 1:00am, weekends until 3am. Clubs usually open their doors around 22:00, and are often open until 3am.
Clubs and bars often ask for ID when you want to enter. You can be denied entry without. The general rule is that you have to show your ID until you're 25, although the legal limit is 18. Even if you're older than 25, when asked by a cashier, doorman or bartender you have to show it in order to buy your goods.
References
- https://www.timeout.com/amsterdam/things-to-do/amsterdam-essentials-information-for-visitors
- https://smartergerman.com/blog/rules-facts-drinking-beer-germany/
- https://www.oldest.org/people/youngest-drinking-age/
- https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/visitor-information/hard-drugs-and-street-dealers
- https://www.frommers.com/destinations/the-netherlands/planning-a-trip/fast-facts
- https://www.government.nl/topics/alcohol/question-and-answer/how-old-do-i-need-to-be-to-buy-alcohol-or-have-it-in-my-possession-in-public
- https://www.tripsavvy.com/drinking-in-greece-1526099
- https://www.france.fr/en/holiday-prep/regulation-about-smoking-drinking-alcohol-and-using-drugs
- https://www.moretimetotravel.com/drinking-age-in-germany/
- https://paradoxcoffeeshop.com/can-you-smoke-in-amsterdam-nightclubs-know-the-rules/
- https://amsterdamnightlifeticket.com/blogs/how-to-party-in-amsterdam
- https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/visitor-information/coffeeshops-and-cannabis-use
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age
- http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2017/mapping-minimum-age-requirements-concerning-rights-child-eu/purchasing-and-consuming-alcohol
- https://amsterdamnightlifeticket.com/blogs/coffeeshops-in-amsterdam
- https://www.government.nl/topics/travelling-outside-the-netherlands/customs-declarations/bringing-alcohol-to-the-netherlands
- https://www.protection-of-minors.eu/en/country/NL
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age_in_the_United_States
- https://handbookgermany.de/en/child-youth-protection
- https://www.quora.com/Is-Amsterdam-strict-on-ID
- https://www.government.nl/topics/alcohol/young-people-and-alcohol
- https://amsterdam.org/en/nightlife.php
- https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/visitor-information/rules-and-regulations
- https://whoisamsterdam.com/10-coffeeshop-dos-and-donts/
