Do you want to know what the legal drinking age is in Spain so you can make the most of your vacation and know if you can drink the fantastic Spanish wine or vermouth? You’ve come to the correct place because we have the information!
Spain produces some of the world’s greatest wine, beer, and – our favourite – Spanish vermouth, and many of the best things to do in Spain include alcohol. It’s also a fantastic Spanish souvenir! Locals are even seen sipping wine or beer during their lunch break!
In Spain, the legal drinking age is 18, which is substantially lower than in the United States. And, unlike in the United States, where the drinking age varies, the drinking age in Spain does not.
Caleb and I have travelled to Spain several times, and drinking their excellent alcoholic beverages is one of our favourite aspects of our four-day plan for Madrid, so we know a thing or two about Spanish laws and drinking culture!
In this post, we’ll tell you all you need to know about the legal drinking age in Spain, the drinking culture, the alcohol regulations, what happens if you breach the drinking rules, and even our favourite beverages and cultural suggestions so you can make the most of your Spanish trip!
Let’s get started! ¡Salud!
What Is Spain’s Legal Drinking Age?
In Spain, the legal drinking age is 18 years old. This is true whether you are drinking or attempting to acquire alcohol. In Spain, you must be at least 18 years old to perform either of these.
This is true regardless of the city or region of the country you are in. The legal drinking age is 18 from Barcelona to Madrid to Mallorca.
The legal drinking age was previously set at 16, but regulations began to alter in 1991 and were completely adopted in 2009. Praise the Lord for this, because can you picture going on a romantic trip with a bunch of intoxicated 16-year-old? Thank you very much.
In Europe, the legal drinking age is 18 years old.
Most European nations have the same legal drinking age as Spain: 18 years old.
There are, however, notable disparities throughout Europe:
- In Belgium, Denmark, and Germany, you can buy alcohol with less than 1.2% distilled alcohol at the age of 16 and alcohol with more than that at the age of 18.
- To buy anything stronger than 3.5% alcohol in Sweden, you must be at least 20 years old.
- Any alcohol can be purchased at 17 in Cyprus and Malta.
- In Luxembourg, you can buy alcohol at the age of 16.
The Legal Drinking Ages in Spain and the United States
The biggest difference between Spain’s and the United States’ legal drinking ages is that in the United States, you must be 21 to buy or consume alcohol. In Spain, you must be at least 18 years old.
As a result, nations such as Spain are popular for things like spring break (which is why we don’t recommend travelling during this time if you’re looking for a lovely, romantic couples holiday!)
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 set the legal drinking age in the United States at 21 years old in order to encourage young individuals to have a more responsible approach to alcohol. For similar reasons, Spain raised the legal drinking age from 16 to 18.
Both nations have regulations governing the purchase of alcohol, the sale of alcohol to minors, the serving of alcohol to minors, drinking in public, open containers, and driving while intoxicated. Both nations require you to present your ID if requested, but we’ve discovered that we never get carded in Spain, although we do all the time in the US (which always makes us happy since who doesn’t want to appear like they’re in their twenties?).
Returning Alcohol from Spain to the United States
When you return from your holiday, we guarantee you’ll want to carry some fantastic Spanish wine or Vermouth with you. We don’t want you to risk losing it, so here’s what you should know:
If you don’t want to pay duty on your booze, you can carry one small bottle per person back into the United States (as long as you’re 21).
There is no federal restriction on the amount of alcohol you may bring back for personal consumption, but huge amounts may get you flagged.
The Federal Aviation Administration, on the other hand, limits the amount of alcohol that may be transported on an aircraft to 5 litres of unopened alcohol per passenger if the alcohol concentration is between 24% and 70%. You may bring more if the percentage is less than 24%. Customs will tax ANYTHING that over 1 litre per person.
Remember that various states have different regulations about how much alcohol you may carry back if you reside in that state, so do your homework. This normally does not apply if you are only passing through that state, such as during a stopover.
Duty-free: When leaving the airport in Spain, you may always purchase alcohol duty-free. But keep in mind that this just means you don’t have to pay alcohol tax in Spain. If you bring back more than 1 litre per person, you will still have to pay duty in the United States.
Spain’s Drinking Culture
Alcohol use in Spain is far more calm, comfortable, and normal than in the United States, and people are lot more casual about it, especially while visiting some of the islands such as Mallorca. It’s not uncommon to see folks drinking a couple beers or glasses of wine with their lunch, especially if it’s a business day and they’re on a (long) lunch break. Isn’t it incredible?
We notice that Spaniards dine out a lot more than Americans (possibly because the cost of food/drinks is considerably lower), which means that going out for beer, wine, and cocktails at night is very prevalent. A glass of local beer or wine is frequently less expensive than a can of soda!
You would be a fool not to take advantage of this, especially as Spain produces some of the greatest wines in the world! We prefer Spanish wine over popular California wine in the United States.
We discovered that beer is the “fancier” drink in Spain, whereas wine is “less fancy.” This is not the case in the United States.
Spain, like the United States, has a problem with underage drinking. In Spain, drinking normally begins at the age of 13, with 75% of persons aged 14-18 having consumed alcohol at some time in their lives.
When you visit huge cities like Madrid, Barcelona, or Ibiza, you will notice that the charming bars are hopping till late at night since Spain is a party country.
If you merely order a drink at the bar in some regions, notably Andaluca or less touristic areas, you may discover that they give you a little tapa for free as a result. This was not particularly often in major cities like Madrid or Barcelona, but it was a pleasant surprise when it happened!
Alcohol Consumption Regulations in Spain
Public Consumption of Alcohol
When strolling the streets of Spain, you may come across something called a “botellón” (“big bottle” in English). To save money, a group of young people gathers with loud music and shares drinks in public.
Botellón is legally illegal, and various restrictions have been imposed, such as the inability to purchase alcohol in stores after 10 p.m. But it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen – both the botellón and purchasing alcohol after the age of ten. Some businesses may sell it to you after 10 p.m., but it is still illegal, so please do not put them in danger. Simply go to a pub.
Of sure, you can enjoy your beverage in public on a restaurant patio.
Spain’s Open Container Laws
Even if you’re not having a loud and chaotic botellón, it’s forbidden in Spain to go around with an open container of alcohol.
Driving While Intoxicated (DUI) in Spain
It is never acceptable to drink and drive, no matter where you are. There is always a cab, Uber, or a train/metro because Europe offers great public transit that is far superior to that of the United States. There is no excuse for you to drink and drive!
The legal limit when driving on islands like Mallorca or on the mainland of Spain is:
0.25 mg/l for a breathalyser test or 0.5% in your system.
If you are a novice driver, the limit in your bloodstream is 0.03 g/l.
Minors Should Not Be Served Or Sold Alcohol
While some waiters may overlook serving kids if they are accompanied by their parents, this is not allowed, and the punishment is a least of €30,000 and a maximum of €600,000.
Drinking Expressions in Spain
Now that you know what NOT to do and say when drinking in Spain, it’s time to learn what to do and say! The following are the most common terms you will need to know:
- Wine – Vino (VEE-NO)
- Red wine – Vino Tinto (VEE-NO TEEN-TOE)
- White Wine – Vino Blanco (VEE-NO BLAH-NCO)
- Beer – Cerveza (SIR-VAY-SA)
- Cider – Sidra (SEE-DRAH)
- Gin – Ginebra (JIN-E-BRAH)
- Whiskey – Whiskey
- Vodka – Vodka
- Rum – Ron
- A shot – Un chupito (OO-N CHU-PEE-TOE)
- Alcohol-free – Sin Alcohol
- I would like – Me gustaría (MAY GOO-STAH-REE-AH)
- Cheers! – ¡Salud! This translates to “Health!” Note: the “d” is silent so it’s
pronounced (SAH-LOO) - No more – no más
- Please – Por favor (POOR FAH-VOR)
Traditional Drinks in Spain You Must Try (Alcoholic)
Spain has several fantastic adult beverages that you must sample during your visit:
- Sangria – A fruity concoction of red wine, brandy, sprite, peaches, oranges, apples, sugar, lemon, and cinnamon. Taberna El Sur in Madrid serves delicious sangria.
- Spanish Wine – Spain produces some of the world’s most magnificent wines.
Try a tempranillo if you enjoy red wine. Try Albario if you enjoy white wine.
- Mahou – The most popular beer brand, Mahou is brewed in Madrid.
- Tinto de verano – A basic relative of Sangria (and the local alternative), Tinto de verano is just wine and Sprite with a slice of lemon.
- Vermouth – We adore Vermouth. It is very distinct from Italian vermouth and is gaining popularity in Spain.
Spanish vermouth is a fortified wine with caramel, spices, and herbal flavours. It’s a dark brown colour but is really created from white wine, and it’s rich, sweet, and medicinal but in a delicious, one-of-a-kind way. I swear it tastes even better than it sounds.
Taberna La Concha in Madrid is our favourite place to get Vermouth. We ALWAYS carry bottles home with us.
Conclusion
Spain is a fantastic nation full of culture, delicious food, and fantastic beverages! We know how important it is to understand the drinking age in Spain after visiting nearly ten times and enjoying the greatest wine, vermouth, and sangria the nation has to offer.
We hope this answered all of your questions and that you’re now ready to eat and drink your way through Spain!
