from 18 to 20 years. From January 2019 the federal states of Austria decided to align their drinking and purchase ages. The states Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vienna therefore raised their age limits for alcohol beverages containing spirits to 18. Prior to 2019 these states had a general drinking and purchase age of 16 years. The sale and consumption of beer, wine and other fermented alcohol beverages is now prohibited to children and young people under the age of 16 years, and the sale and consumption of spirits to minors under the age of 18 years is prohibited throughout Austria. Oceania See also Amethyst Initiative Alcohol consumption by youth in the United States National Minimum Drinking Age Act Alcoholism National Youth Rights Association Shoulder tap (alcohol) Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility Choose Responsibility Mature minor doctrine Youth Youth suffrage Youth rights Age of candidacy Legal drinking age controversy (USA) Smoking age References External links Minimum legal age limits online table updated on a rolling basis, International Alliance for Responsible Drinking Alcohol law Drinking culture Juvenile law Drinking age Lists by country Drinking age