ALCOHOL LAWS AROUND THE WORLD

Thailand’s take…  ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL ACT 2008  Legal drinking age- ↑ 20 from 18  Prohibited- religious, educational venues /public offices/gas stations/public parks etc.

THAILAND’S TAKE…

ALCOHOL IN AMERICA…  “The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 withholds revenue from states that allow the purchase of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21.”National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984  Public drinking prohibited --streets and parks etc almost all over USA  Laws vary from state to state, city to city Beer at a Walmart in Kissimmee, Florida. Some states permit beer to be sold in grocery stores while others prohibit it.

ALCOHOL IN BRITAIN  Children under 5 must not be given alcohol unless under medical supervision or in an emergency.  Between the ages of 5 and 17, it is legally permissible for children to drink alcohol at home or at a friend's house with the permission of a parent or legal guardian.  The minimum age for the purchase of alcohol is 18. People aged 16 or 17 may consume wine, beer on licensed premises when ordered with a meal.

ALCOHOL IN INDIA  Liquor in India is generally sold at bars, clubs and discos.  Home delivery of alcoholic beverages is illegal in Delhi.  However, Delhi permits home delivery of beer and wine by private vends and departmental stores. The sale of beer at departmental stores, banquet halls and farm houses, is legal in Delhi.  Dry Days are specific days when the sale of alcohol is banned. National holidays such as Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day(August 15) and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) are usually dry days throughout India.

ALCOHOL IN ITALY  There is no legal minimum age for consumption of alcoholic beverages, but like many nations in Europe, Italy sets a minimum age for purchase.  Article 689 of the Codice Penale (Penal Code) of Italy makes the sale of alcoholic drinks to minors under 16 a criminal offense. A minor must be at least 16 to buy alcoholic drinks of less than 10 percent alcohol in a public establishment. The law sets a minimum age of 18 to purchase stronger alcoholic drinks.  Those 14 or 15 years of age, by the law, may drink in a restaurant or other public establishment if the alcohol is provided by a parent or legal guardian. The state of South Tyrol, lying along the northern border with Austria, has a slightly stricter law that sets a minimum age of 16 for anyone who wishes to consume or purchase alcohol.

ALCOHOL IN GERMANY  In Germany there are three age-limits for drinking alcohol; 14, 16 and 18.  At 14 - minors are allowed to consume and possess fermented alcoholic beverages, such as beer and wine, as long as the minors are in the company of their parents.  At 16 - fermented drinks are allowed without a parent.  At 18 - having become adults, people are allowed access to distilled liquor.  The German alcohol regulation is one of the least restrictive in the world.  The government is working on stopping the access of alcohol among minors and to stop the excessive drinking. The alcohol law has the function to protect teenagers. Although the purpose is not to keep teenagers away from alcohol completely; it is to teach them a good way to consume alcohol. Vendors who sell alcohol to minors can risk facing prosecution.  An underage person who consumes alcohol can not be prosecuted.  It is legal to drink in public.

ALCOHOL IN FRANCE  Legal age is 18  Selling alcohol to a minor (under 18) is illegal and can be fined 7500 Euros.  This age was raised from 16 to 18 in  Supplying minors with alcohol that results in intoxication is forbidden.

ALCOHOL IN SPAIN  Legal age is 18  18 in most regions. 16 in Asturias.  It is illegal to sell alcohol to people under 18, the fine being between €30,000 and €600,000.  Stores are not allowed to sell alcohol between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m after a recent law was passed.

ALCOHOL IN BELGIUM  Legal age is 16  16 for beer and wine, 18 for spirits  Since 10 January 2010, it is illegal to "sell, serve, or offer" any form of distilled alcohol to those under the age of 18 or any alcoholic drink to those under 16. So drinks like beer or wine are permitted above 16.  Previously, it was illegal to sell alcoholic drinks to under-16s, but accompanying adults could buy drinks for them.

ALCOHOL IN DENMARK  Legal age is 16  To buy alcohol in stores, one must be 16; but to be served alcohol at bars, restaurants and discos, the minimum is 18  There is no drinking age, only a purchase age, and an adult may buy alcohol for a minor. By tradition, youths are privately allowed to drink alcohol after their confirmation  If a shop or bar fails to ask for an ID card and is identified having sold alcohol to an underage, it is subject to fine. A national ID card, obtained in the local town hall, can serve as age verification.

ALCOHOL IN NETHERLANDS  Alcoholic beverages may not be sold to anyone under the age of 16. Young people may buy drink with a moderate alcohol content – beer, wine and spirits with less than 15% alcohol – once they reach 16. From the age of 18 they may also purchase strong liquor – distilled beverages with an alcohol content of 15% or more.  Young people under the age of 16 can be fined if they have alcohol in their possession on the street, and also at railways stations, in shopping centers or in cafes  Supermarkets and other retailers that are caught selling alcohol to underage young people three times in one year will be completely forbidden for a limited period to sell alcohol