The legal age to consume or buy alcoholic drinks is 18. Champagne, cocktails, and other spirits are also popular and easy to find. A drinking age of 16 was established by the late 20th century. Some nations have laws in place prohibiting minors from purchasing alcohol but no laws preventing alcohol consumption. But something happened to change that…. Has there always been a legal drinking age in France? Just to the north of the U.S. is Canada, which has a legal drinking age of 18 to 19. Teens ages 16 and 17 may drink wine, beer or cider with a meal at a public establishment if purchased by an accompanying adult. Still, binge drinking was seen as a problem sweeping the nation. Indeed, 20 years old is the legal age for drinking in Japan, and one must have a valid ID to prove one's age. The legal drinking age in Paris and the rest of France is currently 18. Alysa Salzberg is an American writer, worrier, teacher, and cookie enthusiast who has lived in Paris, France, for more than a decade. The legal drinking age in India and the laws which regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol vary significantly from state to state. You can read about her adventures here, or feel free to stop by her website. After all, France has a reputation for being a country of wine-lovers. And often within countries. You may even have heard that there’s no legal drinking age at all. Drinking in Europe. She is co-author of the 2012 Michelin Green Guide to Northern France & the Paris Region. A person that sells alcohol to a minor faces license suspension or a hefty fine - probably 750 euros But as you read, you realize that since the site is tied to the public health service, the article is set up to warn people against abusing alcohol. And of those that have higher legal drinking ages, the average age is 18.6.The enforcement of minimum legal drinking ages also varies widely between countries. Answer: What is the legal drinking age in France Hi there Ashley, There is no age limit for drinking wine in France, but there is a limit for buying wine – you need to be 16 years of age. Antonyms for Legal drinking age. Adults may buy alcohol for children to drink in private at home. Based on the findings of the study, it is estimated if the drinking age was raised to be 19 across the country, about seven 18-year-old males would be prevented from death each year. Or perhaps you're a parent bringing older teens along for the ride—and you wonder whether they're allowed that small glass of wine at dinner as a special treat.Â. ... and if you give them champagne it is only legal if you are either their parent or legal guardian. Throughout history, until clean water and pasteurized milk were accessible to the population, it was indeed safer to drink alcohol. Synonyms for Legal drinking age in Free Thesaurus. Believe it or not, there are even some nations where the drinking age is far lower. If there's anything that's likely to fight cavalier attitudes about selling or giving alcohol to minors, it's those sorts of potential monetary consequences. The answer is no. We don’t know when or why the teens surveyed are consuming alcohol. In all 50 states, the minimum legal drinking age is 21 years old. Really appreciated :) Contrary to vendors in the United States, counterparts in France and Paris rarely require customers purchasing alcohol to show IDs, instead relying on subjective judgement to assess whether a customer is old enough to purchase alcohol. Alcoholic drinks of all sorts have been available in France since they were invented. A legal drinking age of 21 has been shown to reduce the number of people who develop an alcohol dependency later in life. Through movies, TV, and other forms of popular culture, countries that consider binge drinking and wild parties the norm among young people seem to have influenced more recent generations of French youth. While this age differs from country by country, as long as you’re over 20 years of age, you’re free to drink in Japan. But wine has always been the most popular. It’s important to remember that if you want to legally purchase and consume alcohol in France, you should be 18 years old, or 16 if you want to have a glass or two and you’re with adults/in a family setting. That is in most states int the US. But it’s hard to know whether or not binge drinking has significantly decreased. In Paraguay, the legal drinking age and purchase age is 20 years. This is why it's probably a good idea to supervise your teens a bit more closely if you're at all concerned. For instance, this webpage about the consumption of alcohol in France , dated to early 2020, contains some interesting and helpful statistics. That said, the study is a bit vague. Underage Drinking Legal in Most States. A later drinking age also protects youths and adolescents from the negative impact alcohol can have on the developing brain. What Is The Legal Drinking Age in Paris and France? * — = no legal age limit ** NA = no data available. However, in the United Kingdom it is okay for children older than the age of 16 to drink beer, wine or cider with food as long as an adult is present and gives permission. But when it comes to alcohol consumption laws, France has changed in some interesting and often surprising ways. Voting : 18 Working : 16, if your parents allow it when you are under 18. But the culprit, you could say, is a better understanding of the effects of alcohol on developing bodies and brains. 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