What's the drinking age in Italy?

Question

What's the drinking age in Italy?

Answer 1

16

Answer 2

16.

but you can drink at a younger age if a parent is present.

Answer 3

Hi, I live in Italy.  There isn't a drinking age in Italy.  Of course, if you look younger than 15 the bartender most likely won't serve you.  Italians find it funny that Americans have to wait until they are 21 to drink yet can drive at 16.

P.S. Smilies1988 makes an excellent point!

Answer 4

There is not one because they dont drink like american do they only really drink with meals at family gatherings etc. Its only Italians that are in there 20s that hang out with americans that seem to go and drink like americans do.

Answer 5

It depends on what you want to drink

Answer 6

You have to be 16 in order to drink alcohol, but bartenders will serve you even if you're 14, and without your parents.

Answer 7

Alcohol is sold to minors....

I'm sorry smiles 1998...I work and live around teens here in Italy and drinking is not only "social" with minors.  The y do get waisted.  Both girls and boys.  They get into the clubs, even in the afternoon.  They are even taken by their own parents.  So I do not see your point...

In fact, about a month one girl got so waisted at a White Night, with all the security in place, that she was walking barefooted, and no police stoped her.  She was only 15, and the alcohol was given to her at the event...she doesn't look older than 15.

Answer 8

in italy to can drink to 18 years old

Answer 9

You won't get served a grappa if you are under 16... Although groups of 15 year olds can go to a bar after a match and order up a bottle of beer and 4 or 5 glasses to share with each other.

You'll see parents in restaurants dipping their finger in wine and putting in their babies mouths. There isn't too much of an alcohol problem in Italy (yet).

Answer 10

you know to tell you the truth, i have no idea. ive been living there for far too much time now and i can't even tell whether there is or isnt a drinking age.  there are no strict rules to be truthful, i have never ever been asked for id, not even when i barely came 5 years ago. im 24 now.  ive been to bars in the evening around 8 for the aperitivi and believe it or not ive seen little 14 to 16 years old walking around holding their drinks like as if nothing happened.  and in fact, nothing ever did happen.

Answer 11

16 is the limit for *being served* alcoholic drinks.

There's no limit for buying or drinking, actually.

I know somebody will give different answers (I read a similar question on Answer Italy, full of wrong replies and just a couple of user were aware of what the law actually says...)