Addressing the harmful use of alcohol - WHO Western Pacific Region

6.
Setting a minimum
purchase age
Rationale
Research shows that the younger people start regular drinking, the more likely they are to
experience problems from heavy drinking at a later age (Hingson et al. 2006). Young people
experience more harm than adults from drinking the same amounts (Habgood et al. 2001;
Wyllie et al. 1996). Recent research also shows that alcohol can have adverse impacts on
adolescent brain development (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism 2004/5).
Medical associations in Australia and the United Kingdom now recommend no alcohol at all
for those under age 15 years and no more than a very minimal amount for those ages 15 to
18 years (Department for Children 2009; National Health & Medical Research Council 2009).
Legislation that sets a minimum age at which alcohol may be sold to young people, and at
which they may buy it, has been found to be an effective policy for reducing harm. This may
also be the minimum age for drinking, as in some American states.
Setting the minimum age in licensing legislation means that selling to minors may result in the
loss of a licence to sell alcohol and/or prosecution by police in court. A requirement to check
proof of age is often included in the granting of the licence. The legislation may also make
it a prosecutable offence for underage drinkers to buy alcohol or to show false identification.
But the main focus of such legislation is prohibiting adults – licensees and their staff or other
adults – from selling or supplying alcohol to underage drinkers.
Issues to consider
What age?
Most countries set a minimum age of 18 years or 21 years for the legal purchasing and
drinking of alcohol. China and Cambodia do not currently have a minimum age for the sale of
alcohol. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic has no minimum age for takeaway alcohol and
Malaysia has no minimum age for takeaway beer (World Health Organization 2004). Mongolia
has a drinking age of 21 and no one aged under 18 years may work in any aspect of the
alcohol industry.
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