The short answer
The legal age to buy alcohol in Greece is 18. It is the same for visitors as for residents, and the same for beer, wine and spirits - there is no lower age for weaker drinks the way there is in some countries.
That is the fact people come here for. The rest of this page is what it means in practice, which is a slightly different question.
What the rule covers
In practice, and honestly
| Buying alcohol | 18 |
|---|---|
| Applies to visitors | Yes, identically |
| Beer, wine, spirits | Same age for all three |
| ID | Carry it. Checks have been tightened |
Greece has a Mediterranean drinking culture rather than a northern European one. Alcohol is part of eating: a carafe of wine on the table, an ouzo with mezedes in the afternoon, families with children in tavernas where drink is being served all evening. Public drunkenness is not admired, and you will see far less of it among Greeks than in the resort strips.
For a visitor, the practical picture is:
- Supermarkets and shops sell alcohol across ordinary opening hours, and there is no equivalent of a state monopoly or a licensing window in the British sense.
- ID checks have been tightened. Reporting around a 2025 change in the law describes stricter ID requirements at the point of sale and heavier penalties for businesses that sell to minors.
- Carry photo ID if you are anywhere near 18. A driving licence or a copy of your passport is enough. Staff who are being checked themselves have no discretion to be generous.
- Bars in resort areas apply their own door policies, which can be stricter than the law and can vary by venue and night.
Where the actual risk is, and it is not the age limit
The thing worth saying on a page like this is that almost nobody’s Greek holiday goes wrong because of the purchase age. It goes wrong in two other places.
Drinking and then getting on a scooter or quad. This is the single most common way a Greek holiday turns serious, and it is why we tell people to skip scooter and quad rentals in general - see getting around Greece. We are not going to print blood-alcohol limits or penalties here, because that is a legal question with real consequences and we are not a legal source. Assume any amount is too much before driving anything.
Drinking and then swimming. Greek beaches are largely unlifeguarded, the water gets deep quickly on a lot of coasts, and the afternoon wind can put a current where there was none at breakfast. What the sea is like covers how to read a bay.
What people are usually actually asking
A few adjacent questions come up so often they belong here.
Is there a minimum age to enter a bar or club? Venues set their own policies, and in nightlife-heavy places the practical entry age is often higher than 18. Do not plan a night around an assumption.
Can under-18s be in a taverna where alcohol is served? Yes, routinely - Greek family life happens in restaurants, and children are welcome in them late into the evening. That is a different thing from being served.
Is ouzo or raki stronger than it looks? Yes. Both are spirits, they are served in generous measures, and the raki or tsipouro that arrives free at the end of a meal is not a courtesy soft drink. Pace it.
What about duty-free and bringing alcohol home? Allowances depend on where you are going, not where you are, so check your own country’s customs limits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal drinking age in Greece?
18 to buy alcohol. It applies to visitors and residents alike, and to beer, wine and spirits equally.
Is the drinking age different for tourists in Greece?
No. The same age applies regardless of nationality or residence.
Do I need ID to buy alcohol in Greece?
Carry photo ID if you are anywhere near 18. Reporting around a 2025 change describes tightened ID checks at the point of sale and stiffer penalties for businesses selling to minors.
Can 16 or 17 year olds drink in Greece with their parents?
The purchase age is 18. Family and venue practice around a table is a separate matter from what a business may legally sell, and bars set their own door policies on top of the law.
Is there an age limit to get into bars and clubs in Greece?
Venues set their own policies, and in nightlife areas the practical age is often higher than 18. Do not assume.
Can children go into Greek tavernas in the evening?
Yes. Greek restaurants are family places and children are commonly there late. That is not the same as being served alcohol.
Next
Read Greek food and drink for what to order, Greek etiquette and customs for how meals work, or Greece nightlife if the trip is built around going out.