As a young adult visiting France or the French capital, you may wonder if you are old enough to drink in the country during your stay. Or maybe you’re a parent bringing older teens for the trip, wondering if they are allowed that little glass of wine at dinner as a special treat.
Here’s What You Need To Know: Key Facts About French Alcohol Laws
The legal drinking age in Paris and the rest of France is currently 18 years old. This means that people over the age of 18 can legally buy alcohol in supermarkets or other retail outlets across the country, as well as in restaurants, bars and clubs.
Are you surprised that the age limit is so high? You are not alone: Many people have the misconception that France’s alcohol consumption restrictions are more lax compared to others in the developed Western world. In reality, the legal age increased from 16 to 18 in 2009, with the successful passage of a new law designed to protect the youngest citizens.
The legislation was drafted in an effort to align France’s laws with most other European countries, and in an attempt to curb alcohol use among teenagers in particular.
This, of course, counteracts the prevailing perception that France is a lax culture about underage drinking, a stereotype about locals that in the past had some basis in truth.
Those days are clearly gone, however. Under the new legislation, penalties have also been significantly strengthened: vendors in shops, bars or other establishments that sell alcohol to people under 18 can be fined up to 7,500 euros for breaking the rules. If there’s one thing that can fight arrogant attitudes about selling or giving alcohol to minors, it’s those kinds of potential monetary consequences.
How common is carding in bars, clubs and restaurants in Paris?
Unlike vendors in the United States, counterparts in France and Paris rarely require customers who purchase alcohol to show IDs, instead relying on subjective judgment to assess whether a customer is old enough to purchase alcohol. Parents traveling with children or teenagers from places like North America should be aware that in France, where alcohol consumption is not as stigmatized, it is still relatively easy for younger customers to purchase alcoholic beverages. That is why it is probably a good idea to supervise your teens a little more closely if you are concerned.
Bottom line: You might not allow your teens to go out at night alone to a dance club, even if the teens are allowed by gorillas.
Will parents be punished for allowing their teens some wine?
The answer is no. In Europe, it is considered acceptable for older teenagers to sip a little wine at dinner, or even have their own (very) small glass. Of course, this does not mean that you should allow it if you are uncomfortable with it: it is simply a cultural difference to be aware of.
Restaurant servers won’t move their eyelids if they watch you let your 16- or 17-year-old take a sip or two from your glass of wine. However, you should not order a glass for them. You probably won’t get into trouble if you do, but it’s best to refrain from putting servers in an awkward position.
