by Jonte Rhodes

Created on: March 06, 2007   Last Updated: December 16, 2008

The legal drinking age varies greatly throughout different countries and cultures, as well as having a large number of different sub laws regarding specific types of alcohol. Although generally the late teens are thought of internationally as the right time for people to be able to drink, there are plenty of countries that have set their legal age as higher or lower than this, and even some who don't have a legal age at all.

In America for example the legal age is 21 to drink, yet in some states 16 to get married and drive etc. This in the opinion of many seems strange, that someone can be considered an adult in one sense, yet not in another. Also underage drinking is just as abundant under these laws as many other countries with lower legal ages.

The United States in this respect is the least lenient country in the world that allows alcohol to be legally bought. This is to the point of having to buy beer and spirits in separate stores for example, and there are also many dry counties, which don't sell alcohol at all. The reason for this is thought to be the strong Christian representation in the government and authorities, as well as a history of prohibition movements.

Despite the fact that 21 is the universal legal age for possession of alcohol in the United States, there are numerous bylaws and other loopholes which mean that drinking is still allowed under this age in certain circumstances. These vary in each state, with some prohibiting drinking underage under all circumstances, and others being much more permissive.

In the UK the legal age is 18 to buy alcohol, but 16 to drink with parental permission in your own home, or with a meal. However due to the culture of Britain being much more accepting of drinking than the United States for example, many people will drink much Younger than this. Also the laws regarding underage drinking are a lot different than more strict countries, with the alcohol in question being merely confiscated by police if any underage drinkers are caught.

The majority of first world countries around the world use 18 as a legal age for drinking, which tends top coincide with the legal age for marriage and voting in many places as well. Several of these countries also have laws regarding the type of alcohol consumed. For example beer and low alcohol wines might be 16, whereas spirits and strong wine might be 18.

The system of having one legal age for beer and another for spirits is often used so that teenagers have less chance of being

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