Wondering what the drinking age is in the Caribbean? You’re in the right place.
The drinking age for nearly all Caribbean countries is 18, with the exception of a few countries.
Compared to the United States where the drinking age is 21 years old, the drinking laws in the Caribbean are relatively mild.
So, where is the drinking age 16 years old? And can 18 year olds drink on a cruise?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about the drinking age in the Caribbean and Caribbean cruise lines!
Drinking Age In The Caribbean Countries
Below is a list of the drinking age in all of the Caribbean territories, and Caribbean cruise lines. Please get in touch with us if you have a Caribbean drinking age question yet to be answered!
Keep in mind that the drinking age can change based on new laws and vary based on location. Always check local laws and regulations for the most up to date guidance.
The legal drinking age in Antigua and Barbuda is 16, and there is no age limit for alcohol purchased at liquor stores.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Cuba is 16, but the required age to purchase alcohol and cigarettes is 18 years old.
The legal drinking age in Dominica is 16 years old.
The legal drinking age in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is 16 years old, and the legal gambling age is 18.
The legal drinking age in Trinidad and Tobago is 18.
The legal drinking age in The Bahamas is 18. However, the legal drinking for Bahamas cruises is 21 years old. Additionally, alcohol sales are prohibited on Sunday in stores. This means that tourists can only buy alcohol from restaurants, bars, and hotels on Sundays.
The legal drinking age in Barbados is 18 years old, which was recently raised from 16 years old based on the Liquor License Bill in 2021.
The legal drinking and gambling age in the Dominican Republic is 18.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Grenada is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Haiti is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Jamaica is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in St Kitts and Nevis is 18.
The legal drinking and gambling age in St Lucia is 18, but is not as strictly enforced as other Caribbean countries.
Drinking Age In Countries with Caribbean Coastlines
The legal drinking and gambling age in Aruba is 18 years old.
The legal drinking age in Bonaire is 18 years old, and the minimum age to enter casinos is 21.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Curacao is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Mexico is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Anguilla is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Guadeloupe is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Costa Rica is 18 years old.
The legal drinking age and gambling age in Puerto Rico is 18 years old. According to a recent law, certain businesses in the capital San Juan have restrictions on alcohol sales throughout the week.
The legal drinking age in the US Virgin Islands (St Thomas, St Croix, St John) is 18 years old, and the gambling age is 21.
The legal drinking age in the British Virgin Islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke) is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in the Cayman Islands is 18 years old. On Sundays, alcohol sales are limited from 1pm to 7pm in stores. However, tourists can still buy alcohol from hotels, restaurants, and bars.
The legal drinking age and gambling age in Martinique is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Sint Eustatius, Saba, and Sint Maarten (SSS Islands) is 18 years old. The drinking age in the SSS islands is not as rigorously enforced as other Caribbean territories.
The legal drinking and gambling age in St. Barts is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Turks and Caicos is 18 years old. Alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays, so visitors can only buy alcohol from hotels, restaurants, and bars.
The legal drinking age in Montserrat is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Panama is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Venezuela is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in French Guiana is 18 years old.
The legal drinking and gambling age in Colombia is 18 years old.
Drinking Age On Caribbean Cruises
Below is the legal drinking age for cruise lines that travel to Caribbean. All cruise lines require guests to present a valid ID to consume or purchase alcohol on board.
The drinking age may also vary based on destination, so always check with your cruise company for up to date information.
Royal Caribbean
The legal drinking age on Royal Caribbean cruises originating from North America, the Caribbean, and all private destinations is 21 years old.
For cruises originating from Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand are 18 years old.
Carnival Cruises
The legal drinking age on Carnival cruises departing from the United States is 21 years old, and the age to enter casinos is 18 years old.
Norwegian Cruises
The legal drinking age on Norwegian cruises is 21 years old. However, 18 to 20 year olds can purchase beer or wine on international waters or 3 miles outside of US territorial waters.
This age modification does not apply for cruises leaving from Hawaii and Alaska, in which the minimum drinking age remains 21.
Disney Cruises
The legal drinking age for Disney cruises is 21 years old.
For cruises departing from Europe where the drinking age is 18, parents may sign a Beverage Consent Form to allow children (18 to 20 year olds) consume alcohol with parental supervision.
Celebrity Cruises
The legal drinking age on Celebrity Cruises is 21 years old.
For cruises leaving from countries with a drinking age under 21 (South America, Europe, Australia), parents may sign a waiver to allow children (18 to 20 year olds) to drink with parental supervision.
Virgin Voyages
The legal drinking age on Virgin Voyages is 21 years old at US ports, and 18 years old for international waters.
Windstar Cruises
The minimum drinking age on all Windstar cruises is 21 years old.
Silver Sea Cruises
The legal drinking age on Silver Sea cruises originating from North America is 21 years old. For cruises originating from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the drinking age is 18.
Starclippers Cruises
The legal drinking age on all Starclippers cruises is 18 years old.
Caribbean Drinking Age FAQs
Which Caribbean countries have the strictest drinking laws?
Compared to the United States where the drinking age is 21, and countries under Muslim rule with bans on alcohol, the drinking laws in the Caribbean are relatively mild. However, certain countries restrict alcohol sales on Sunday.
The Bahamas, Bermuda, and Turks and Caicos all prohibit alcohol sales on Sunday. This means that alcohol is not sold in stores on Sundays, but it can be purchased from hotels and restaurants.
Additionally, the Cayman Islands limits the hours for alcohol sales on Sundays fro 1pm to 7pm.
Where is the legal drinking age under 18 in the Caribbean?
The legal drinking age is 16 in Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, St. Vincent & The Grenadines.
Although people under 18 may enter clubs and bars, the minimum age to enter casinos is 18.
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