Drinking age in Delaware (2026)

Last reviewed: 29 October 2026

In short: Alcohol rules are set by state law; these rules have not yet been verified for this state.

Rule	What applies
Drinking in public placesBuying and drinking alcohol	⚠ Not yet verified
Minimum age to buy beer and wineBuying and drinking alcohol	21 years ^[1]
Minimum age to buy spiritsBuying and drinking alcohol	21 years ^[1]
Drinking by younger people with an adultBuying and drinking alcohol	The ban on buying or giving alcoholic liquor to a person under 21, or knowingly letting a person under 21 under your supervision drink it, does not apply to religious services or to members of the same family within the private home of any of them. The same exception applies to possession and consumption by a person under 21. ^[1]
Where and when alcohol is soldBuying and drinking alcohol	Off-premises licensees may not sell or deliver alcohol on Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas, between 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Monday to Saturday, or on Sundays before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. (a municipality of 50,000 or more may limit Sunday sales to 4 hours). On-premises licensees may not sell between 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. except as provided in the section. ^[2]

Sources

These rules are set at national level in the United States and apply here too, alongside the rules above. All national rules for the United States

Where and when alcohol is sold	Federal law does not itself ban the sale of alcohol to people under 21. Under 23 U.S.C. 158, a State loses 8 percent of certain federal highway funds if buying or publicly possessing alcohol is lawful there for a person under 21. (source: U.S. Government Publishing Office (U.S. Code))

State	Minimum age to buy beer and wine	Minimum age to buy spirits	Drinking by younger people with an adult	Drinking in public places	Where and when alcohol is sold
Delaware	21	21	Religious services; family in private home	⚠ Not yet verified	Off-premises: Sun 10-8, Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-1 a.m.
Maryland	21	21	Family in private home; religious; study	No on public property; $100 fine	None to under 21 or drunk; county rules vary
Pennsylvania	21	21	Religious wine only	⚠ Not yet verified	No sales/supply under 21; min. fine $1,000

CannabisPossession for personal use: Legal, 21+, within limits · Growing at home: No home growing
Car speed limitsBuilt-up areas: 25 mph business, 20-25 mph residential · Outside built-up areas (single carriageway): 50 mph (2-lane roads)
Minimum age for a car driving licenceMinimum age for a car licence: 17 (Class D after 12 months on a permit) · Earliest age to drive a car supervised: 16 (Level 1 learner's permit)
E-bikes and speed pedelecsLegal class: Class 1-3, bicycle rules · Minimum age: Class 3: 16
FireworksConsumers may buy and use category F2 fireworks: No (sparklers and similar excepted) · Minimum age to buy: 18 (sparklers and similar items)
Knives and pepper sprayFolding pocket knives: Closed pocketknife up to 3.75 in is not a deadly weapon · Locking or one-handed knives: Deadly weapon; separate offence repealed 2025
Statutory minimum wageNational statutory minimum wage: Yes · Current adult minimum wage (gross): $15.00 per hour
Using a mobile phone while drivingHolding a phone while driving banned: Banned · Hands-free use: Hands-free allowed
Seat belts and child seatsSeat belt compulsory in front seats: Yes, all seats (16+) · Seat belt compulsory in rear seats: Yes, all seats (16+)
Tobacco and nicotine age limitsMinimum age to buy tobacco: 21 · Minimum age to buy e-cigarettes: 21
Drink-driving limitsBlood alcohol limit for ordinary drivers: 0.08% · Lower limit for novice or young drivers: 0.02% (under 21)

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