Author: James Anderson

Drinking Ages Around The World

drinking age in russia

Lawmakers should pass legislation that would raise the legal age to buy alcohol from 18 to 21, he said. It’s quick to set up, and you can be confident that you’re making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Drinking in public places, with the exception of designated drinking zones, is prohibited regardless of age. As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a “foreign agent” by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear. Malaysian identity cards will display the word “ISLAM” if the holder is Muslim (and otherwise blank if the holder is non-Muslim) on the bottom right corner, which allows enforcement of the religion-based sales restriction.

However, there are no laws or regulations prohibiting minors from taking alcoholic drinks. On the contrary, selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years is prohibited by federal and regional laws and may attract fines and even jail terms. Although the majority of the countries around the world have set the MLDA at 18 years, 16 years is considered the youngest drinking age. These countries include Barbados, the British Virginia Islands, Cuba, Luxembourg, Panama, Serbia, Serbia, and Zimbabwe.

drinking age in russia

Back in the day, only IDs were required to be shown at these adult establishments, but recently, the government has started accepting driver’s licenses as well. Russia’s health minister on Wednesday said it was necessary to raise the legal age to buy alcohol to 21 after an increase in drink-related deaths during the coronavirus epidemic. In November, a survey by the state-run VTsIOM pollster said that 78% of Russians were in favor of raising the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 years. It is also prohibited for minors to purchase, or attempt to purchase alcohol from any licensed premises, in which the minors can also be fined up to $10,000. Despite Russia’s reputation for hard drinking, alcoholism has for years been on the wane, thanks in part to anti-drink campaigns and aggressive moves by the authorities to control sales.

Drinking Ages Around The World

In 2005,[130] 2007[131] and 2015[132] harmonization at the European Union level toward a minimum purchase age of 18 was discussed, but not agreed. Official statistics cited by Interfax show average alcohol consumption in Russia plummeting by a third between 2009 and 2016. Consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has credited new minimum price laws, advertising bans and sales restrictions for the drop.

  1. There has been a recent trend in the country in which Russian parents will allow their kids to consume alcohol, usually when they reach 12 to 14 years old.
  2. In 2019, the Ethiopian parliament passed a bill that bans a specific category of alcohol advertising in the media and also increases the age limit for purchasing alcohol from 18 to 21 years of age.
  3. Russia’s health minister on Wednesday said it was necessary to raise the legal age to buy alcohol to 21 after an increase in drink-related deaths during the coronavirus epidemic.
  4. Anyone caught breaking this law – Whether it’s a minor getting caught drinking or an adult lending alcohol to a minor – Will receive punishment, which includes up to six years of imprisonment.

Law prohibiting minors entry to entertainment venues Article 1 prohibits those under the age of 16 from entering cinemas and theaters (except during children’s programming), clubs, cafes, or venues licensed to sell alcohol beverages. Given how Russia has very controversial punishments for its prisoners, be sure to obey their laws and follow the proper drinking age in Russia when you do end up in this country. Meanwhile, there are still things you can do around Russia without the aid of alcohol, such as watching a ballet performance or visiting a museum. If you do get invited to drink though, just make sure you do it in moderation. There has been a recent trend in the country in which Russian parents will allow their kids to consume alcohol, usually when they reach 12 to 14 years old. This usually happens at family gatherings, where the parents and other adult relatives are present.

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But the government is actually doing something about this, as recently, harder kinds of liquor such as cognacs and vodka – Which is the country’s official drink, by the way – Are now sold to individuals aged 21 and above. If you are 20 years old and below, you are not allowed to purchase any alcohol in bars, liquor stores, or just about anywhere where liquor is sold in the country. Several reasons have been given for the laws and regulations behind the minimum legal drinking age.

Anyone caught breaking this law – Whether it’s a minor getting caught drinking or an adult lending alcohol to a minor – Will receive punishment, which includes up to six years of imprisonment. The offender should also pay at least 2,000 Rubles and “correctional labor” in a Russian prison. The same topic will also be discussed the drinking culture and additional drinking laws. We will also be talking about the punishment that people have to face whenever they end up breaking the law in a country such as this – Especially with its strict communist ruling. There will also be discussions about underage liquor consumption and whether this is outlawed or not. Over the past years there have been a number of attempts to raise the legal drinking age in Russia.

Contrary to popular belief, only a few states prohibit minors and young adults from consuming alcohol in private settings. While 21 years old is the standard for most of the United States (looking at you, Wisconsin), many consumers across the world have earlier introductions to alcohol. Russia’s Health Ministry is drafting legislation to raise the legal drinking age of strong alcohol from 18 to 21, Interfax reported on Friday, citing ministry officials.

In Canada, India, and the United Arab Emirates, different regions have varying legal drinking ages. The youngest legal drinking age in the world is 15, with both Mali and the Central African Republic allowing folks to drink at that time. Seven countries do not have a government-mandated drinking age, while 11 countries ban the consumption of booze entirely. One of Russia’s major laws is to prevent the spread of underage drinking among minors.

Alcohol purchases jumped after authorities imposed lockdown orders in late March, with sales in the first week of isolation rising, according to one study by market research group GfK. Public intoxication is also considered a crime, and anyone caught misbehaving or acting rowdy in public shall be asked to pay up to 1000 Rubles. At the beginning of World War I, prohibition was introduced in the Russian Empire, limiting the sale of hard liquor to restaurants.

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For some people, introducing minors to alcohol interferes with their normal expected activities such as studies. However, the commonly known reason for banning minors from taking alcohol until they attain a certain age is the effect of alcohol as on the brain in adolescents. Since their brains are still maturing, alcohol may harm their memory and long-term thinking. Alcohol may also cause complications such as liver failure and hormonal imbalance in minors due to the constant changes in their bodies as they mature, especially during puberty. Most Russians believe that the minimum drinking age in the country is 18 years.

Italy has set a minimum legal drinking age at 16 years, one of the lowest MLDA in the world. In 2002, Renato Balduzzi, the then Health Minister proposed to raise the minimum drinking age to 18 years. However, selling alcoholic drinks to children under the age of 18 years in premises is considered illegal and attracts a fine of €250 to €1,000. Giving alcohol to those under 16 years is considered a crime and is punishable by up to one-year imprisonment. Despite the regulations, many minors enjoy alcoholic drinks, especially in the company of their parents and during social events.

In 2019, the Ethiopian parliament passed a bill that bans a specific category of alcohol advertising in the media and also increases the age limit for purchasing alcohol from 18 to 21 years of age. Although he did not provide any figures, Murashko said the number of alcohol-related deaths had increased during the coronavirus outbreak. Compared to women of the same age, men’s mortality was higher from the age of 18 onwards, he added. I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage. For many, being able to buy a legal drink is a sign of maturity and freedom — and perhaps a harbinger of questionable decisions and good times to come.