Drinking age in New Zealand (2026)
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
In short: New Zealand has a single national purchase age of 18 for alcohol on licensed premises; a person under 18 may be supplied by their own parent or guardian in the circumstances the Act allows. Alcohol may be sold only under a licence, with default trading hours that local policies can restrict. Drinking in public is not covered here.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Minimum age to buy beer and wineBuying and drinking alcohol | 18 years [1] |
| Minimum age to buy spiritsBuying and drinking alcohol | 18 years [1] |
| Drinking by younger people with an adultBuying and drinking alcohol | On licensed premises (other than a restricted area), a person under 18 may be supplied alcohol if accompanied by and supplied by their own parent or guardian. Elsewhere, supplying alcohol to a minor is an offence unless a defence applies, for example that the supplier is the minor's parent or guardian and supplies it in a responsible manner, or reasonably believes they have the parent or guardian's express consent and supplies it responsibly. [1] |
| Drinking in public placesBuying and drinking alcohol | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Where and when alcohol is soldBuying and drinking alcohol | Alcohol may be sold only under a licence. Unless a local alcohol policy or licence condition says otherwise, the default maximum trading hours are 8 am to 4 am for on-licences and club licences, and 7 am to 11 pm for off-licences. Sale is further restricted on Anzac Day morning, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. Selling to an intoxicated person is an offence. [1] |
Notes
- The Act defines the purchase age as 18 years for the sale or purchase of alcohol on licensed premises (section 5). Selling or supplying alcohol to a person under 18 on licensed premises is an offence (section 239), as is a person under 18 buying alcohol on or from licensed premises (section 243). The text read is the legislation.govt.nz version as at 5 April 2025, captured in the Internet Archive in February 2026.
- Sections 240 and 241 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. The court may consider supervision, food, low-alcohol options, the occasion, transport, the period, the strength and volume and the age of the minor when judging whether alcohol was supplied responsibly. A minor is a person under 18.
- The Act refers to local bylaws prohibiting alcohol in public places and lets Police seize alcohol from a minor drinking in a public place, but the rules on drinking in public are made by councils and were not read.
- Sections 17, 43, 44, 47, 48 and 248 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. Local alcohol policies and licence conditions can set shorter hours, so the default hours do not apply everywhere.
Sources
- New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office: Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 No 120 (as at 05 April 2025), Public Act (Internet Archive snapshot of 25 February 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.