What is legal drinking age in Japan?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 18, 2026
In Japan, the legal adult age is 20. Japanese law prohibits individuals under the age of 20 to drink alcohol or smoke. Regardless of age, you must not force anyone to drink or smoke as it may cause serious health and social consequences.
Can you drink at 18 in Japan?
Especially for people who hail from countries where drinking and smoking starts at 18, the age restrictions in Japan for buying and drinking alcohol, as well as the smoking age in Japan, may be surprising: You must be 20 years old and in possession of a valid ID (for foreigners, a residence card will do).
Can 16 year olds drink in Japan?
The legal drinking age in Japan is 20. 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. (Just be sure to bring your passport with you for ID.) As in many other countries, people under the legal age of 20 also cannot purchase alcohol.
Where is the drinking age 15?
Mali — Age to purchase is 15 for beer and wine, no minimum for spirits. Mauritius — Age to purchase is 18. Moldova — Age to purchase is 18. Monaco — Age to purchase is 18.
What is the lowest legal age in Japan?
At 13, Japan's base age of consent is the lowest of any developed country. However, many prefectures also have local "corruption of minors" or "obscenity statutes" (淫行条例) which raise the de-facto age of consent to 16-18, unless they are in a "sincere romantic relationship", usually determined by parental consent.
26 related questions foundCan a 30 year old date a 13 year old in Japan?
Now, after I received a quick 101 in Japanese law, it's more obvious that Japan's age of consent is left intentionally ambiguous. Under the Juvenile Obscene Acts, passed in 1947, no one over the age of 14 can have sex with 13–14 year-olds. The minimum sentence for sex with any female under the age of 13 is five-years.
Can you drink at 18 in Mexico?
The minimum legal drinking age in Mexico is 18 years old. Mexico requires that young adults show photo identification, either a passport or driver's license, as proof of age when buying alcohol.
What is China's drinking age?
Since China's underage drinking regulation was passed in 2006, the legal drinking age in the country has been 18. However, on any given Friday or Saturday evening in Beijing, kids from as young as 14 flock to nightclubs and bars in the city's Sanlitun and Gulou neighbourhoods.
Can you drink at 18 in Hawaii?
Hawaii has minor in possession (MIP) laws to prevent underage drinking. You must be at least 21 years to consume or possess alcohol in Hawaii. However, people who are age 18 are allowed to serve alcoholic beverages in a licensed establishment.
Is 14 an adult in Japan?
Adulthood is about to come a lot earlier in life for many in Japan. The government has enacted a bill lowering the age of adulthood from 20 to 18, which will affect millions across the country when it takes effect in 2022.
Is 18 considered a minor in Japan?
Children in Japan will be considered adults when they are 18 as opposed to 20, under a new proposal that is supported by the government.
Is 19 a minor in Japan?
Japan's courts will continue to treat defendants ages 18 and 19 as minors, in which their cases will be sent to family court, according to the ministry website. However, family courts may decide that those defendants should be tried as adults.
Does Japan have ID?
Japanese shops, restaurants and bars hardly ever ID. When you buy alcohol at a convenience store, they'll have you touch a computer screen confirming you're over 20. That's all. Unless you look like a child, zero chance anyone will ask you for ID.
What is Mexico's drinking age?
The legal drinking age is 18. 5. Open alcohol containers in public are illegal in Mexico. You may face a fine or time in jail.
What's the drinking age in Russia?
In Russia, the legal drinking age is usually eighteen. Usually, because there are some exceptions to that case. Technically, stronger alcohol such as cognac and vodka is sold only to those over 21.
What is the drinking age in Canada?
A Brief History of MLDA Changes in Canada
increased their legal drinking age from 18 to 19 years; since this time there have been no further changes to the MLDA in Canada. Currently, the MLDA is 18 years of age in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, and 19 years in the rest of the Canadian provinces and territories.
What is the drinking age in Bora Bora?
18. Same as France (it's a French territory).
What's the drinking age in Australia?
Laws that apply anywhere in Australia
Legal drinking age – you must be 18 or older to buy alcohol or to drink alcohol in a licensed venue. Selling alcohol – it's illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 or to someone who is already drunk.
What is India drinking age?
India: The minimum age for purchasing alcohol is 18 in Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, and Puducherry.
Is alcohol legal in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is one of 16 countries in the world where the drinking of alcoholic beverages at any age is illegal for most of its citizens. Violation of the law by locals is subject to punishment in accordance with the Sharia law. Drinkers can be fined, imprisoned or prescribed 60 lashes with whip.
Can you drink on a cruise ship at 18?
Yes. The rules vary by cruise line, but most allow 18-year-olds to hang out at bars or nightclubs on their own, or with family and friends who are also 18+. But do note that the drinking age on all ships that visit the U.S., as well as on many U.S.-based cruise lines sailing anywhere in the world, is 21.
What age can you drink in Europe?
In Europe, the most average (median) alcohol minimum purchasing age is 18 years old. But some countries (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain) still set the minimum age at 16.
Can I drink at 18 in Cancun?
Legal drinking age in Mexico is 18. We might ask for an I.D. at any time. Under-age drinking and providing alcohol to minors is punished by law. Introducing alcohol to the premises or taking it out of the premises is not allowed.
What is the Romeo and Juliet clause?
In the United States, many states have adopted close-in-age exemptions. These laws, known as "Romeo and Juliet laws" provide that a person can legally have consensual sex with a minor provided that he or she is not more than a given number of years older, generally four years or less.