Asia
| Country / region | De jure | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drinking age | Purchase age | ||
| Afghanistan | Illegal | ||
| Brunei | Illegal | Although it is illegal to purchase alcohol, it is legal for non-Muslims aged 17 and above to bring limited amounts of alcohol into the country every 48 hours if it is consumed in their home. | |
| Bangladesh | Illegal | ||
| Cambodia | None | ||
| China | 18 | Introduced in January 2006. | |
| Hong Kong | 18 | ||
| India | 18–25 (varies between states). |
Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the states of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Gujarat. |
|
| Indonesia | 21 | ||
| Iran | Almost entirely illegal | There is a ban on alcohol, but religious minorities may purchase small amounts from shops owned by the same religious minority. | |
| Iraq | 18 | ||
| Israel | 18 | It is illegal to sell alcohol between 11:00 p.m and 6:00 a.m, outside of pubs and restaurants. It is also illegal to drink outdoors after 9:00 p.m. | |
| Jordan | 18 | ||
| Japan | 20 | ||
| Kazakhstan | 21 | ||
| Kuwait | Illegal | Forbidden by Sharia. | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 18 | ||
| Lebanon | 18 | ||
| Macau | None | None | |
| Malaysia | None | 18 | In areas with more than 50% of Muslim population, sale of alcohol is restricted to selected places. It is illegal to sell alcohol to Muslims and to persons under 18, but there are no restrictions on drinking age. |
| Maldives | 18 | Sale of alcohol is limited to tourist resorts. It is illegal to sell alcohol to Muslims. | |
| Mongolia | 18 | ||
| Nepal | 18 | None | |
| North Korea | 18 | Alcoholic beverages are served on Saturdays. | |
| Oman | 21 | Residents need personal liquor licenses to consume alcohol in their private residences. | |
| Pakistan | 21 | Forbidden by Sharia. Illegal for Muslims | |
| Palestine | 16 | Legal in most cities | |
| Philippines | 18 | ||
| Saudi Arabia | Illegal | Forbidden by Sharia. Offenders are typically punished with lashes. | |
| Singapore | 18 | ||
| South Korea | 19 | If a person is at least 20 according to Korean age reckoning, that person may drink alcohol. | |
| Sri Lanka | 21 | ||
| Syria | 18 | ||
| Taiwan | 18 |
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| Tajikistan | 21 | Off-limits to the Muslim majority | |
| Thailand | 20 | The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008 increased the drinking age in Thailand from 18 to 20. Alcohol sale is banned between 2pm to 5pm and between midnight to 11am and also on election days and some religious holidays. | |
| Turkmenistan | 18 | ||
| United Arab Emirates | 21 | Expatriate non-Muslim residents may request a liquor permit to purchase alcoholic beverages, but it is illegal for such holders to provide drinks to others. | |
| Vietnam | None | 18 | |
| Yemen | Illegal | ||
Read more about this topic: Legal Drinking Age
Famous quotes containing the word asia:
“I believe that the fundamental proposition is that we must recognize that the hostilities in Europe, in Africa, and in Asia are all parts of a single world conflict. We must, consequently, recognize that our interests are menaced both in Europe and in the Far East.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)