Can i buy alcohol in costa rica?

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CostaRicaBlogger.com

Chris,

Many people, especially younger visitors to Costa Rica wonder what the legal age is for drinking alcohol, buying cigarettes, etc.

Here's a short list of the "Legal Ages" here in Costa Rica:

* Legal age to rent a car = 25
* Legal age to vote = 18
* Legal age to purchase or consume alcohol = 18
* Legal age to purchase or consume cigarettes = 18
* Legal age to obtain a drivers license & drive = 18 (maturing past 18 is not required, adolescent driving is the norm in Costa Rica ;o)
* Legal age of consent with another adult = 18
* Legal age to join the military = none (Costa Rica has no military!)
* Legal age to enter into a legal contract = 18
* Legal age to view Rated "R" movie = 18
* Legal age to obtain credit (ie: consumer purchase on credit) = 16
* Legal age to scan groceries = 16 (Must be 18 to scan a customer's purchase of alcohol)
* Legal age to give blood = 16
* Legal age to marry without permission = 16
* Legal age to marry with parental permission = 15
* Legal age to view Rated "PG-13" movie =15
* Legal age for employment = 15 (restrictions on types, hours per day/week, etc.)
* Compulsory age of education = 15
* Legal age of consent between minors = 15
* Legal age to be dispensed birth control pills = 14
* Legal age to view Rated "PG" movie = 12
* Legal age to view nudity & "X" rated television = no minimum age
* Legal age to view Rated "G" movie = no minimum age
* Legal age to pick coffee = no minimum age (not verified)

As you can see, age restrictions in Costa Rica can be even more strict than elsewhere.

Enjoy your visit, be safe and stay legal in a foreign country!

british_cutie

Legal age to purchase or consume alcohol = 18

mora

Don't be stupid, at 14 you should be playing with your friends or something... your liver is going to be ruined by the time you are 30 if you start drinking so young....

dytica

come on chris. ur only 14. you might look mature, but u certainly wont be acting mature.
but u've heard that. r u going on vacay w/ ur parents or what is the situation? do u know any kids down there? esp private school kids they have partiesss
especially dont buy it urself.
watch it okayy

Ð´Ù¯Ð´Ò“×¤Ø¹

It is illegal to buy and/or drink alcohol in Costa Rica before you are 18.

Regards...

fran

you cant buy alcohol

you are so young, but tell someone to buy it for you.....

Tica

The legal drinking age in Costa Rica is 18. It is pretty strictly enforced by bars and liquor stores.

Max B

You'll be fine. Just be confident and cool. If you act like you are supposed to be doing it, no one will question you. Costa Rica is a super laid back country. Just give them the money at the counter and say pura vida mae!

Pura vida mae,

Max Bitterman
Marketing Director
MaxB@SolPropertyGroup.com
www.solpropertygroup.com

FRaNN Strummer (Wise Monkey)

mmm you can try but if you get caught (by the way... 99.9% probabilities that's gonna happen) all they are going to do is refuse to sell you the alcohol and maybe make you put the bottle back were it was LOL which is embarrassing! (trust me... happened to me one time LOL) but as I said... you can try....or you can be smart and tell someone else to buy it for you!....

HAVE A GOOD TRIP! ;-)

Teenage Costa Rican Girl

panthercw

I lived in Costa Rica for a year. Technically the drinking age is 16. If you go into a bar alone and they have an idea, they probably will card you. But if you go into a bar with a group of people and they are all older, doubt if they will card you. You won't be able to get into a club though so don't even try. Weird thing is, if you go with your parents to a bar, it's ok for you to be able to drink legally at 14. Strange huh??

Andy

No. Yes. Yes. I've lived in Costa Rica for many years.

likeluis

im 16, im 5'8'' so i can buy alcohol. (illegal)

haha im kidding!!

i dont like to buy alcohol and ur so young

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