Buying Alcohol in Netherlands
The Dutch Alcohol Act (formerly called Drank- en Horecawet) regulates all aspects of alcoholic beverages in Netherlands including minimum age required to purchase or consume alcohol, licensing for sellers and more…
PURCHASE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL
A person needs to be a minimum of 18 years of age to purchase alcoholic beverages in Holland. This same minimum age applies to possession and consumption of alcohol in public spaces (including streets, parks, shopping malls, festival and event areas, camp grounds and sports fields) in the Netherlands.
The minimum age requirement applies to both regular alcoholic beverages with alcohol content under 15% (such as beer, wine and Champagne) and high alcoholic beverages (over 15%) such as liquor and spirits.
Sellers are required to see proof-of-age for customers who look younger than 25 years old.
Read more about alcoholic beverages restrictions in the Alcohol Act.
FINES FOR UNDER-AGE POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL
Minors under age 18 who are in possession of alcoholic beverages in public spaces can be fined if caught by police. The current fine is €50 for minors age 12-15 years and €100 for minors age 16-17 years.
CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IN PRIVATE HOMES
Dutch law does not regulate the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors in private homes.
STORES THAT SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN HOLLAND
Dutch supermarkets are the biggest sellers of beer and wine, with most dedicating a minimum of one aisle to the category. They are not required to have a special license.
Liquor stores (slijterijen) are the retailers of high-alcohol content beverages (such as vodka, whiskey, gin and tequila) for off-premises consumption. These shops must be in possession of a valid selling license issued by the local municipality.
Two of the largest liquor store chains in Netherlands are Gall & Gall (a division of Ahold Corporation, the parent company of the largest Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn) and DirckIII (owned by the same company that owns Dirk and DekaMarkt supermarkets).
Further information about Dutch regulations of alcohol sales.
LOW-ALCOHOL CONTENT BEVERAGES
Minors under the age of 18 years are allowed to consume alcohol-free and non-alcoholic (alcohol content between 0.1 – 0.5%) beverages.
Over the past several years, many brewing companies have developed alcohol-free and non-alcoholic beer products. In the Netherlands, the following beverages are produced by Dutch brewers Amstel Radler Citroen 0.0%, Heineken 0.0% Bier, Bavaria 0.0% Premium Witbier, Grolsch 0.0% Radler Limoen and Jillz Original 0.0% cider.
The alcohol content of most beers available in Holland can be checked on the website AboutAlcohol.com by entering the name or choosing from the drop down menu.
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