Singapore’s laws that ban the consumption and sale of alcohol from 10:30 PM to 7 AM islandwide may be a buzzkill for many. But what about the drinking laws of our neighbours in and around Asia?
Outside of Singapore, many places are like the wild west in that rules are in place but hardly anyone abides by them—bet none of you ever knew that the legal drinking age in Thailand is 20—and in some places, the laws are so strict that tourists require a permit just to buy alcohol.
Here’s a look at how some of our neighbours in and around Asia fair in comparison to Singapore’s stiff drinking laws—from the lax to crazy strict.
Countries With No Minimum Drinking Age & No Bans
Cambodia
Legal Drinking Age: No minimum age for drinking & purchasing
Drinking Laws: No ban.
Macau
Legal Drinking Age: No minimum age for drinking & purchasing
Drinking Laws: No ban.
Vietnam
Legal Drinking Age: No minimum age for drinking & purchasing
Drinking Laws: No ban.
Countries With Minimum Drinking Age But No Bans
China
Legal Drinking Age: 18
Drinking Laws: No ban.
Hong Kong
Legal Drinking Age: 18
Drinking Laws: No ban.
India
Legal Drinking Age: Varies between 18 & 25 depending on state.
Drinking Laws: Being a huge country, alcohol laws are difficult to enforce but there are laws relating to the public consumption of alcohol in many parts—despite enforcement being visually non-existent.
Drinking is illegal in the states of Mizoram, Nagaland, Gujarat, Manipur. In these parts, tourists have to purchase a liquor licence in order to be able to purchase alcohol.
Indonesia
Legal Drinking Age: 21
Drinking Laws: The implementation of drinking laws are weakly implemented in many parts although it varies depending on the region. For heavily concentrated Muslim areas such as Aceh—the only province in Indonesia that practises strict Syariah law—or even the capital of Jakarta, alcohol is strictly prohibited.
In other parts such as Bali—a predominantly Hindu area—alcohol regulations are weakly implemented.
Japan
Legal Drinking Age: 20
Drinking Laws: No ban.
Malaysia
Legal Drinking Age: 16
Drinking Laws: Being a Muslim country, all Muslims are banned from consuming alcohol. For non-Muslims, on the other hand, individuals aged 16 are permitted to drink but they have to be 18 in order to legally purchase alcohol.
Philippines
Legal Drinking Age: 18
Drinking Laws: Drinking in public is banned during elections or during large scale public events where big crowds gather.
In places such as Manila as well as other regions, there are laws that prohibit public drinking but the fines are so small (and little to no enforcement) that people still continue to do so anyway.
Singapore
Legal Drinking Age: 18
Drinking Laws: Public consumption of alcohol is banned between 10:30 PM to 7 AM and convenience stores and supermarkets are prohibited from selling alcohol between those times.
South Korea
Legal Drinking Age: 19
Drinking Laws: No ban.
Taiwan
Legal Drinking Age: 18
Drinking Laws: No ban.
Thailand
Legal Drinking Age: 20
Drinking Laws: The legal drinking age in Thailand is 20 years old (surprise, surprise). This is rarely enforced though and as a tourist, chances are you’ll be able to buy alcohol at any age.
The sale of alcohol is still (in certain places) banned between 2 PM to 5 PM, and between 12 AM to 11 AM. It’s also banned during some religious festivals.
Countries Where Alcohol Is Illegal
Brunei
Legal Drinking Age: Drinking is illegal here.
Drinking Laws: Don’t even think about having a boys night out or any night out for that matter because, in Brunei, both the sale and consumption of alcohol (in public) is prohibited.
It is legal for non-Muslim tourists above the age of 17 years old to bring in alcohol into the country, however, consumption has to be done in private.
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