Drinking age in Montana (2026)

Last reviewed: 29 October 2026

In short: The minimum age for alcohol is 21 under state law, with the family exceptions listed here. Local rules may differ.

Rule	What applies
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	Nobody may sell or provide alcohol to a person under 21, except a nonintoxicating quantity provided by a parent or guardian, a physician or dentist or pharmacist for medicinal purposes, or an ordained minister or priest in connection with a religious observance. A parent or guardian may not knowingly provide an intoxicating quantity (above 0.05 alcohol concentration or causing visible impairment). ^[1]
Drinking in public placesBuying and drinking alcohol	⚠ Not yet verified
Where and when alcohol is soldBuying and drinking alcohol	Licensed establishments selling alcohol at retail must be closed each day between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., and nobody except the licensee and employees may stay on the premises. A city or town may restrict hours further by ordinance. A hotel, restaurant, grocery store or similar business need not close its other business. ^[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
Montana	21 (sales/provision banned)	21 (sales/provision banned)	Parent: small amount only; religious use	⚠ Not yet verified	Closed 2-8 a.m.; cities may restrict further
North Dakota	21	21	On premises with parent/guardian, with limits	Open container ban in vehicles on highways	No sales 2-8 a.m.; Christmas rules
South Dakota	21+ (purchase, possess, consume)	21+ (purchase, possess, consume)	With parent, guardian or spouse; religious use	No spirits in public places	No sales 2-7am; locals may bar Sundays
Wyoming	21	21	Allowed with parent/spouse/guardian, religious, medical	⚠ Not yet verified	No statewide hours; set locally

CannabisPossession for personal use: Legal for adults 21+, within limits · Growing at home: Yes: 2 mature plants, 2 seedlings
Car speed limitsBuilt-up areas: 25 mph · Outside built-up areas (single carriageway): 70 mph day / 65 night
Minimum age for a car driving licenceMinimum age for a car licence: 15 (after 6 months on a learner licence) · Earliest age to drive a car supervised: 14.5 with a traffic education course
E-bikes and speed pedelecsLegal class: Bicycle (one class)
FireworksConsumers may buy and use category F2 fireworks: Yes (permissible fireworks)
Knives and pepper sprayFolding pocket knives: Carry offence covers firearms only · Locking or one-handed knives: No section on automatic knives listed
Statutory minimum wageNational statutory minimum wage: Yes · Current adult minimum wage (gross): $10.85 per hour
Seat belts and child seatsSeat belt compulsory in front seats: Yes, every designated seat · Seat belt compulsory in rear seats: Yes, every designated seat
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.