Drinking age in Czechia (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: The minimum age to be sold or served any alcohol in the Czech Republic is 18. Alcohol may not be sold from vending machines, and municipalities can ban drinking in public by ordinance.

RuleWhat applies
Minimum age to buy beer and wineBuying and drinking alcohol18 years [1]
Minimum age to buy spiritsBuying and drinking alcohol18 years [1]
Drinking by younger people with an adultBuying and drinking alcohol⚠ Not yet verified
Drinking in public placesBuying and drinking alcoholA municipality may ban, by ordinance, drinking alcohol in publicly accessible places or at public events open to people under 18, and may restrict or ban the sale, serving and drinking of alcohol at set times or places during cultural, sports or other public events. [1]
Where and when alcohol is soldBuying and drinking alcoholAlcohol may not be sold from vending machines, or to a person who is obviously under the influence of alcohol or another addictive substance. It may be sold only in listed premises such as food shops, catering outlets and wine producers' premises, and may not be sold or served in health facilities, schools, or at events for under-18s. [1]

Notes

  • The Act bans selling or serving alcohol to anyone under 18, with no distinction between types of drink.
  • The Act on the protection of health against harmful effects of addictive substances (version of 1 July 2025) was read; it bans selling or serving alcohol to under-18s but states nothing on this point, and no other law was checked.
  • The Act does not itself ban drinking in public; the power is given to municipalities.

Sources

  1. Ministerstvo vnitra České republiky (e-Sbírka): Zákon č. 65/2017 Sb., o ochraně zdraví před škodlivými účinky návykových látek, znění účinné od 1. 7. 2025 (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.