Hi there, i am after a bit of information so any help would be much appreciated. I am visiting Prague early Feb with my family. I have a son who is 17 and he is bringing along 3 of his friends who are again all 17. I trust my son and his friends fully and when asked if it was possible if they could try out some of the bars and dancing clubs i said yes as long as you act in a respectable and responsible manner. I latter found out the drinking age in Prague is 18, will this be a problem for my son and his friends in terms of getting served for beer? Thanks Harry
Serving beer to kids under 18 won't be problem, trust me, I'm 18, so I have experience with it. Dancing Clubs: they can try club Nebe (it's near Tesco store and it's always full with Americans and Australians, it's not so easy to find some Czech there, I think) or another good dancing club near Charles Bridge - on the Staré Město side of Vltava (I haven't been there, so I don't know more info about it, but I heard that it's ok there.) It's good that you trust them. Btw, don't forget that the metro closes after midnight, so if you'll have hotel outside the downtown, it won't be easy to get to hotel at early morning. Metro starts riding again at 5am.
It's illegal. Only adults (18+) can buy (or drink) alcohol including beer. It's incumbent upon all sellers to control this age. But one thing is law and other thing is reality. They have very big chance (especially in dancing clubs) not to be controlled.
Thanks for the reply gementricxs Do you have msn messenger? Because i need to ask few more questions before i leave. Would this be possible? Thanks Harry
Are there different age requirements for types of alcohol? I ask because in two different bar establishments (sorry, I forget which ones, maybe even outside of Prague) I have seen signs that indicated drinking age differences - beer / wine 16 + , liquor 18 +
No, Czech Republic you have to be 18+ to buy any kind of alcoholic drink (including beer). For example in Belguim or Switzerland you can buy beer since you are 16, but in Czech Republic you have to be 18.
I guess I have been in too many pubs I just don't recall where exactly I saw the signs, but I agree with an earlier comment, while it is against the law to serve anyone under 18, it is a common practice to do so.
It does seem that underage drinking is not actively discouraged at the places that stand to make money from it!
Law on Protection from Alcoholism and Other Toxicomanias forbids the sale of alcohol and tobacco to persons younger than 18 years. Full law (in Czech): http://www.e-law.cz/zakony/37_89.txt
i deffinatly disagree with all of you. no wonder you canadians and americans always end up in car accidents when been drinking its because once you are 18 yay you can drink as well as you can drive so why not drive home. ive been drinking in czech republic since i was 5 and i could purchase it when i was 15 seriously i dont care what any of you have to say.. i lived there. and i still have a house there..dont listen to what theses people have to say i was 15 purchasing alcohol andd its not like i look older then i amm
Prosím? What a rant - this is an old thread, anyway. Sounds like you are not just buying but using - right now :?
Although I don't agree with her delivery, I understand what Jessica is saying here. I do believe that teenagers in Czech or other countries that permit underage drinking are not so prone to alcoholism or drunkenness. In the US, it is so forbidden that when a teenager gets a hold of it, they tend to over-indulge. Whereas in the CR or other countries, parents allow a teen to have a drink every now and then and the teenager doesn't think it's that big of a deal. So when the teen goes to a party, although I'm sure he/she still may get drunk, he/she may not over abuse it to the point of alcohol poisoning. Also, since underage drinking is not viewed as such a taboo in other countries, if a teen gets drunk, he/she is probably more prone to call a parent to ask for a ride home whereas in the states, most teens try to hide it from their parents and end up drinking and driving home. (Although when looking at stats of teen drunk driving, one must consider the fact that not as many teens in the CR own autos as in the US)
It is much more significant that in the Czech Republic (and Europe in general) driving while intoxicated is punished more severely than here in the US. The US really needs a no-tolerance policy like most of the world. Maybe in that regard, Paris Hilton will have finally started a productive trend.
oh boo hoo lets all cry about it why dont we who really cares i mean you guys bitch cause it says its eighteen but were i live and what i kno is write..stop trying to tell tourers shit you dont kno i live here grow up you read it on the internet ohhh cause the internet is always right i type it in on the internet and the next thing you kno everyone is believeing it..mabey thats why people are believeing you..but for future tourers go have fun drink its allowed.
maybe it is a language problem - no one said you are not able to drink under 18, they only said it was illegal. you can do it (drink, order alcohol, pay for it, whatever) but it is illegal. if you get caught (and perhaps the chances are small), there are consequences. those consequences may be more of a problem for a tourist from another country. just like losing a passport - if you are in your own country and not traveling and you lose your passport, no big deal - you just order another one and get it in a few weeks. if you are visiting another country and lose your passport, it is a big problem. getting arrested in a foreign country is also a big problem - something every tourist wants to avoid. that is all anyone here is saying. drinking, for me, is a moot point - I am 60 and can drink when and whatever I please. I have seen several underage people in bars in Prague - they were having a good time and caused no problems. I have also seen the police talking sternly to a group of what appeared to be underage, slightly intoxicated people outside of a popular dance club - don't know what happened but, the point is, that it is possible to be detained - not likely, but possible. most tourists wouldn't want to take that chance.
