What is the Drinking age in France?
Feb 7th, 2008, 08:06 PM
#2
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No idea about Israel, but in France I'm pretty sure that its 18 for her to buy it herself. Though a French foreign exchange student I hand out with said that most of her friends started having wine with dinner when they were in secondary school, but I have no idea if that is normal or not.
Feb 7th, 2008, 08:12 PM
#3
From wiki:
France - 16, for drinking strong liquor on premises: 18
It is not customary to request identification, unless the person is manifestly of inappropriate age. It is, however, a crime to sell alcohol to a minor under 16.[14] It is illegal for someone under the age of 16 to be at a bar without an adult, even if drinking a non-alcoholic drink.
France - 16, for drinking strong liquor on premises: 18
It is not customary to request identification, unless the person is manifestly of inappropriate age. It is, however, a crime to sell alcohol to a minor under 16.[14] It is illegal for someone under the age of 16 to be at a bar without an adult, even if drinking a non-alcoholic drink.
Feb 8th, 2008, 01:34 AM
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In European countries (except Scandinavia), there NO drinking age at all.
In USA, drinking age means that minors are forbidden to drink. This American concept of drinking age is simply not known in Europe. And wikipedia may be misleading, because the European regulations are not translated correctly.
In European countries, shopkeepers and bartenders are forbidden to sell minors under 16 alcohol unless the parents are present. And even this rule is handled very loosely.
For the minors, it is not forbidden to drink alcohol, however they got the stuff.
If they are together with the parents, there is no restriction at all.
About your daughter: With 18, she is an adult with full rights and no restrictions at all.
In USA, drinking age means that minors are forbidden to drink. This American concept of drinking age is simply not known in Europe. And wikipedia may be misleading, because the European regulations are not translated correctly.
In European countries, shopkeepers and bartenders are forbidden to sell minors under 16 alcohol unless the parents are present. And even this rule is handled very loosely.
For the minors, it is not forbidden to drink alcohol, however they got the stuff.
If they are together with the parents, there is no restriction at all.
About your daughter: With 18, she is an adult with full rights and no restrictions at all.
Feb 8th, 2008, 01:42 AM
#8
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traveller1959: in the UK there certainly is a drinking age, and it's 18. It may not always be enforced, but pubs, off-licenses, etc. can be severely penalised for serving alcohol to under-age drinkers.
Feb 8th, 2008, 01:53 AM
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I think traveller was talking about the difference between being able to drink and being able to buy alcohol.
In the UK you need to be 18 to buy alcohol or drink in a pub.
You may be able to legally drink in a restaurant at 16 depending on certain factors.
But elsewhere it is not illegal for children to drink.
In the UK you need to be 18 to buy alcohol or drink in a pub.
You may be able to legally drink in a restaurant at 16 depending on certain factors.
But elsewhere it is not illegal for children to drink.
Feb 8th, 2008, 02:28 AM
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I know Patrick, I was simplifying to try and clear up some confusion but I appear to have confused the issue even more
.
Glass of wine at home-legal, buy them 2 litres of cider and send them down the park-illegal.
It's also illegal to give alcohol to under 5s.
But the point was that there is a difference between the age that one can legally drink and the age that one can purchase alcohol.
None of which really pertain to the OP at all..
.Glass of wine at home-legal, buy them 2 litres of cider and send them down the park-illegal.
It's also illegal to give alcohol to under 5s.
But the point was that there is a difference between the age that one can legally drink and the age that one can purchase alcohol.
None of which really pertain to the OP at all..
Feb 8th, 2008, 02:30 AM
#12
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"In European countries (except Scandinavia), there NO drinking age at all.
In USA, drinking age means that minors are forbidden to drink. This American concept of drinking age is simply not known in Europe. And wikipedia may be misleading, because the European regulations are not translated correctly.
In European countries, shopkeepers and bartenders are forbidden to sell minors under 16 alcohol unless the parents are present. And even this rule is handled very loosely.
For the minors, it is not forbidden to drink alcohol, however they got the stuff.
If they are together with the parents, there is no restriction at all.
"
That is untrue.
I read in one of the papers in Ireland about a bar getting a fine and a one day closure because a barman served an underage teenager, with his father present. When I was 17-18 and went to dinner with my parents, the waiter would always ask if I was 18 when I ordered a glass of wine. The rules are nowhere near as strict as in the US, but they definitely exist.
In USA, drinking age means that minors are forbidden to drink. This American concept of drinking age is simply not known in Europe. And wikipedia may be misleading, because the European regulations are not translated correctly.
In European countries, shopkeepers and bartenders are forbidden to sell minors under 16 alcohol unless the parents are present. And even this rule is handled very loosely.
For the minors, it is not forbidden to drink alcohol, however they got the stuff.
If they are together with the parents, there is no restriction at all.
"
That is untrue.
I read in one of the papers in Ireland about a bar getting a fine and a one day closure because a barman served an underage teenager, with his father present. When I was 17-18 and went to dinner with my parents, the waiter would always ask if I was 18 when I ordered a glass of wine. The rules are nowhere near as strict as in the US, but they definitely exist.
Feb 8th, 2008, 02:56 AM
#13
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There is no common "European rule".
Each country handles it on an individual basis - though some regulations are or look similar.
Where I live, it is illegal to serve or sell
beer and wine to anyone younger than 16 (14 when parent/guardian is present),
other alcohol to anyone younger than 18.
Each country handles it on an individual basis - though some regulations are or look similar.
Where I live, it is illegal to serve or sell
beer and wine to anyone younger than 16 (14 when parent/guardian is present),
other alcohol to anyone younger than 18.
Feb 9th, 2008, 02:37 PM
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In France I was served champane at my 13 th birthday, and so were all my friends. Just a glass each , but it was a non issue. At 10 I was given watered wine to drink at special occasion dinners.
In a pub in Essex my son who was 14 was served a glass of beer, I was present, and we did not conceal his age and he is small and looked his age.
I am not sure but I think America has the highest drinking age in any developed country. In fact I am not even aware of any country other then America that has such a drinking age.
In Canada the drinking age varies with province, mostly 19, but 18 in Alberta. Never 21.
In a pub in Essex my son who was 14 was served a glass of beer, I was present, and we did not conceal his age and he is small and looked his age.
I am not sure but I think America has the highest drinking age in any developed country. In fact I am not even aware of any country other then America that has such a drinking age.
In Canada the drinking age varies with province, mostly 19, but 18 in Alberta. Never 21.
