The legal drinking age in Spain was 16, but there are many incidents of drunk and wasted teenagers, so in 2009 they changed the law and raised the legal drinking age nationwide to 18. Spain has greatly relaxed drug laws with regard to private use. You can grow and smoke drugs in your own home or in other private places like the « cannabis clubs » you`ll see across the country. Public health agencies are also in the process of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. It is the same thing, the legal age to consume alcohol is 18 in these cities and throughout the country. 81.6% of young people have tried some type of legal drug in the past 12 months and 31.6% have experimented with illegal drugs, according to the latest Estudes survey. Of course you can. Don`t get used to drinking too much non-alcoholic beer. The most worrying factor, especially when it comes to legal drugs, is that they are « very affordable for everyone, » despite the explicit ban on selling substances to minors. The neon-lit stripes of Magaluf, Arenal de Palma and Sant Antoni de Portmany are popular with young holidaymakers in the UK, Germany and Ireland. In recent years, however, they have become overly inclusive for antisocial behavior, binge drinking, and teen excess. It is hoped that the new laws will help resorts revamp their festive image and improve the well-being of residents and tourists.
Note that the legal drinking age only prohibits 18 and under from purchasing alcoholic beverages, but they are not prohibited from drinking them. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to drink alcohol if you are under 18 years old in Spain, only if you are not the one who bought it and if you consume it indoors. In this sense, according to the Ministry of Health, « the risk to the physical, mental and social health of young alcohol users is taking on worrying dimensions ». This is why Spain strictly observes its drinking age. Spain is one of the best places in the world to enjoy a cold drink. The country is famous for its bars, taverns and terrazas and enjoys countless festivals that make underage drinking very common, but are still frowned upon. The forbidden fruit is sweet. Eventually, your child will get drunk and it`s best not to obsess over drinking to annoy their parents.
If you are young and curious about participating in adult behaviors such as drinking, suggest it to your parents. See if it works. So there you have it. If you`re planning to visit Spain and experience the country`s rich drinking tradition, spectacular local festivals, and bar culture, make sure you do it responsibly and stay out of trouble. For a long time, the drinking age in Spain was 16, then it rose to 18 in some regions, but today and since 2009, THE DRINKING AGE IN SPAIN IS 18 IN ALL REGIONS. This change in the law came after a series of incidents of underage drinking. Despite some suggestions to raise the legal drinking age to 21, it remains unchanged at 18, which some people consider quite young. It is important to mention at this point that the European Union is concerned about the practice of excessive alcohol consumption and that the regulations of Member States such as Spain follow the debate within the European Union on this issue. Spain has regulations similar to those of most European Union countries, where alcohol consumption is allowed at the age of 18 (which is common in the vast majority of countries in the world). Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Austria are an exception in Europe, where under-18s are allowed to drink beer and wine, but no spirits. This reality is different from the United States, where the drinking age is 21 (this is the case in about 11 countries around the world).
Muslim countries do not allow alcohol consumption and some countries in Spain should follow the law on the legal drinking age of 18. No exemption. If children under the age of 16 wish to taste the wines in Spain, a parent or elderly person will allow the person under the age of 16 to purchase alcoholic beverages. The law states that it is illegal for minors to buy alcoholic beverages, but the law does not apply to drinking alcohol at home. In recent years, there have been problems with underage alcohol consumption in Spain. You can hear locals talking about Botellón, which literally translates to « big bottle, » a practice where teenagers hang out on the street and get drunk. The government has proposed that underage drinkers and their families be fined if caught, but the more liberal Podemos party has suggested offering family counseling instead to address the root cause of the problem. In many areas, shops selling to underage drinkers are subject to heavy fines or closure. There are some things you can`t do when you`re younger, some of the drink. It is legal to consume alcohol in Spain while it is supervised by parents. If you attend « illegal » parties, you can be fined up to 30,000 euros.
The age of alcohol consumption varies from country to country and when planning a trip to Spain, it is important to understand what can and cannot be done. This becomes especially important in a country like Spain, where the legal drinking age in Spain and the culture of alcohol consumption in the country are two very different things. So, if you plan to travel to Spain and enjoy the incredible culture of bars and drinks that the country enjoys, it is good to understand the peculiarities and avoid difficulties. In this article we will cover the age of alcohol consumption in Spain so that you can plan your trip without surprises. More interesting tips for traveling to Spain can also be found in our special section. However, this is not the case in all countries of the world. In the United States, for example, the legal age is 21 and in Canada it is 19. In addition, there are countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria or the Nordic countries where 16-year-olds are legally allowed to consume low-alcohol or moderate beverages (beer, wine). The Estudes survey shows that children aged 14 to 16 bought alcohol in bars, pubs, supermarkets and nightclubs in 2018/2019, « where only 18-year-olds are legally allowed to buy it, » says Xisca Bibiloni, who said local authorities have the power to enforce regulations.
When you come to Menorca, you don`t need to drink to have fun. It`s not like in some parts of Mallorca. This is different. Tourism here focuses more on quality. The minimum age to consume alcohol in Barcelona or Madrid is the same as in the rest of Spain: 18 years. Spain is a popular holiday destination, and for many people, that means enjoying a few drinks and soaking up the sun. For others, however, it means excessive alcohol consumption and perhaps even the use of illegal substances, which can lead them to end up on the wrong side of Spain`s drug and alcohol laws. Unfortunately, some Britons see Spain as a fairly liberal and open place to drink and party without consequences, but it is easy for them to clash with the Spanish authorities, who often do not hesitate to put drunk tourists in cells at night. Here is some information about the laws surrounding alcohol and drug use in Spain to help you avoid legal problems.
Also, if you try to buy alcohol in a store after 10pm in Spain, you will be turned away. The sale of alcohol after 10 p.m. is illegal in Spain. It is possible to find stores that sell you alcohol after 10 years, but it is 100% illegal and if you get caught, you will be punished. In Menorca and Spain in general, the minimum drinking age is 18, but it`s not just drinking. So, would you tolerate minors drinking kombucha, non-alcoholic beer, or alcohol-free wine? I don`t think so, because it cultivates a culture of alcohol consumption and later leads people to make a smooth transition to drinking alcoholic beverages. Spain has clear laws on this issue and a quick look at official statistics would show that teenagers start drinking alcohol around the age of 13 or 14. Culturally, the age of alcohol consumption seems to be much more permissive than actual laws. Despite strict drug and alcohol laws in Spain, Spaniards have one of the highest rates of drug use in Europe.