Staying Informed: Portugal’s Legal Drinking Age

The minimum age to legally drink alcohol in Portugal is 18, as in most European countries such as Spain, Italy, and France. The law has an exception – minors aged 16 can legally consume a glass of beer or wine in a restaurant.

Remember to have a photo of your ID/passport when buying alcohol in Portugal. Otherwise, they might not sell you alcoholic beverages if you are under 18 (or looking younger). And the best option will be a photo of you holding the document.

Besides the grocery stores, the Portuguese people are not picky about minors having a beer or watered wine.

The law does not ban drinking in public places (like beaches, streets). It is also more or less socially acceptable as long as you behave and do not cause any scenes or get into physical altercations.

Drinking is acceptable in Western culture; let's admit that. And people tend to feel concerned when you say you do not drink.

What people say on Reddit

I’m from Porto but I’m in Albufeira right now. You’ll probably go to the Strip, where all the bars, clubs and nightlife are, called the Rua da Oura. No one will ask for your age, you will almost certainly be able to buy and drink anything you want. I’ve been to the Strip every night since Sunday and have not seen anyone being asked for ID or anything like it. Have fun!

MuggleWizard

Recently, a bar I used to go to got busted selling alcohol to minors, but there’s a rumour they were set up. I live nowhere near Albufeira, though.

I often see underage kids buying and drinking booze, no onde gives a shit. I’ve been doing it since I was 13 and never had a problem, but that was a long time ago. It’s not a law that I have ever seen being enforced personally.

Just act normal and don’t cause a scene while drunk and I think you’re good. If a bar cards you at the entrance just go to another one.

forgotten_face

you will be served drinks. don’t get stupidly paralitycally obnoxious drunk though, both because you can be denied(just because, without relation to your age), because it is annoying to others, and because you are making yourselves vulnerable to theft or rape or scams – 3 foreign teenagers all stupidly drunk, is anybody going to be sober and responsible around you guys?

uyth

As long as you don’t appear completely drunk and don’t look like a 12 year, you should be fine. If not, try the next place

joselrl

Why ban alcohol for young people?

Drinking alcohol at a young age is dangerous for several reasons.

Alcohol consumption can lead to many issues, including liver impairment, brain damage, addiction, and a ruined and much shorter life. 

Drinking alcohol at a young age also increases the probability of becoming dependent on it in adulthood and affects brain development. 

Not to mention some severe social consequences since “violent attitudes, alterations in family relationships, problems with studies and risk behaviors” can occur. 

So, waiting until 18 is the most sensible thing to do.

The drinking age law is not perfect

Law restrictions do not always pass the reality check. According to studies, many young Portuguese people start drinking before 18.

Study shows that young people in Portugal were, on average, just 14 years old when they tried alcohol.

As I mentioned above, the Portuguese tend not to criticize minors for experimenting with alcohol. It is easy for young people to consume alcoholic beverages publicly without feeling guilty.

What are the most popular traditional alcoholic drinks in Portugal?

Beverage	% alcohol
Port Wine	18-23%
Madeira Wine	17-21%
Local beer (Lager, Ale)	5-7%
Licor Beirão	22%
Aguardiente	50-80% ⚠️
Aguardiente de Madroño	42%
Sour cherry liquor (Ginjinha)	18-20%

Which beverages can minors drink in Portugal?

The question is not as simple as it may seem because some alcohol-free drinks can still have traces of alcohol.

Non-alcoholic beverages (apart from the obvious ones) that you can find in Portuguese grocery stores:

• Kombucha
• Kefir
• Sumol Ananás (soft drink)
• Kima Maracujá (soft drink)
• Laranjada Melo Abreu (soft drink)
• Água das Pedras (gas water)

You may be surprised to learn that most alcohol-free beers still contain some amount of alcohol. This amount could be almost 0.5%, even though the label says 0%.

The same is the case with kombucha. It is a fermented drink, so it can contain alcohol that originates from fermentation. However, you can typically find kombucha in the non-alcohol section in grocery stores. 

I have a question (for adults). Would you tolerate minors drinking non-alcoholic beer/wine? I guess not since it cultivates a drinking culture and, later on, leads people to make a smooth transition to consuming alcoholic drinks.

The drinking age in Portugal if you are with parents

In Portugal, it is legal to consume alcohol while monitored by parents. 

Giving your little one a taste of wine if they ask is a great way to build trust and prevent a child from uncontrolled drinking. 

And if you are young and curious to partake in adult behavior such as drinking, talk to your parents – communication is the key. This way, you might devise a perfect way to try an alcoholic beverage in a safe environment.

Frequently Asked Questions