In the past, wine was regularly consumed in moderate amounts at both lunch and dinner, Gallus said. Younger people may be drifting away from a Mediterranean dietary pattern and way of drinking, he suggested. Another reason Italians may be drinking less is the spread of nonalcoholic or low-alcohol drinks, Gallus said.
Marketing factors, public health policies, the evolution of prices and taxation, European Union agricultural policies, a growing awareness of public opinion about the toxicity of alcohol and competition from non-alcoholic drinks are all factors that may partially explain these observed changes.
Overall alcohol consumption in Italy has been slowly increasing each year since 2016, and in 2025 will probably amount to almost eight liters of pure alcohol per capita. The share of alcohol consumers among males is almost 80 percent, while almost 60 percent of females over 11 years of age consume alcohol.
According to the World Health Organization, US has the lowest rate of alcohol dependence with only 1.93 per cent.
Alcohol dependence in Italy
Scafato and colleagues estimated the prevalence of AD in Italy to be 0.9% for women and 3.1% for men. This prevalence estimate corresponds to 165,000 women and 612,000 men aged 15 to 64 years of age.
Eating and drinking are not just pastimes for Italians, they are ingrained in every part of the day. From the first espresso to the final digestivo, the Italian day is infused with intricate rules around how, when, why, and with whom you share meals and imbibe with on fine wine.
The general legal limit of alcohol in the blood of drivers is 0.5 g/l (0.05%). A special limit of 0.00% applies for newly licensed drivers having held their driving licence for less than 3 years, young drivers up to 21, as well as for professional drivers.
Wine has been the dominant drink of choice for a long time, but beer has been growing in popularity as well. Consumption of alcoholic beverages centers around meals and more commonly takes place at home, but there is ample opportunity to enjoy a carafe or bottle of wine out at a restaurant. It's Happy Hour Somewhere!
If you are planning a family trip to il Bel Paese—especially if your teenage children or grandchildren are part of the brood—you may be wondering about the legal drinking age in Italy and local drinking customs. The legal drinking age in Italy is currently 18 years old.
Looking at the amount of alcohol consumed per person aged 15 years or older, the Seychelles is in first place with around 20.5 litres of alcohol drunk per person per year, according to Our World in Data; studies show that young male peer groups primarily drink high amounts of alcohol in the Seychelles.
It is said that Italians drink at least a glass of wine per day, and we're sure that's true. While the rest of the world may consider drinking 'wine' as a luxury, in Italy, it is treated as an everyday custom. Lunch, dinner or dessert – Italians love to pair their meals with a hearty glass of vino.
Luxembourg, where residents pound down 15.5 liters of alcohol in a year, on average, ranks first.
The youngest legal drinking age in the world is 15, with both Mali and the Central African Republic allowing folks to drink at that time. Seven countries do not have a government-mandated drinking age, while 11 countries ban the consumption of booze entirely.
The alcohol age limit in Italy is 18 years old. That means, it is illegal to sell alcohol to minors in either shops, restaurants or bars. That's a little bit more generous than the legal age limit in the USA. In general, ID should be requested in any establishment selling alcohol if there is any doubt over your age.
The Drinking Age in Italy if You are with Parents
In Italy, minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to purchase or consume alcohol in public places.
On average, every Italian drinks about 42 liters of wine annually. This is the equivalent of about 56 bottles of wine per person. But, of course, there are some Italians who drink more wine than others.
It should come as no surprise that wine is one of the most popular Italian drinks. Both the production and consumption of wine play an important role in Italian history and culture.
Both men and women should have at least two alcohol-free days per week. Italy: Men can have up to two standard drinks per day; women should have no more than one.
Italy also ranks second in the world (behind France) for personal wine consumption, with each Italian consuming 13.6 gallons a year. Compare that to America, which ranks 42nd in wine consumption, with the average American drinking 3.6 gallons a year. And yet, wine consumption in Italy is dwindling.
Counting wine consumption per capita, the three most enthusiastic wine drinkers are: Portugal, 51.9 litres of wine per year. Italy, 46.6 litres.
Liters of Pure Alcohol Per Person: 11.90 L
Slovenia ranks among the countries that consume the most alcohol. Slovenia is home to many famous alcoholic beverages, including the world-renowned Slovenian wine. Slovenia's wine region is one of the oldest in the world and produces some of the finest wines in the world.
Laws that apply anywhere in Australia
Legal drinking age – you must be 18 or older to buy alcohol or to drink alcohol in a licensed venue. Selling alcohol – it's illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 or to someone who is already drunk.
In Japan, the legal adult age is 20. Japanese law prohibits individuals under the age of 20 to drink alcohol or smoke. Regardless of age, you must not force anyone to drink or smoke as it may cause serious health and social consequences.
The lowest age of consent is in Nigeria (11) followed by the Philippines and Angola (12). The age of consent is 13 in three countries – Niger, Comoros and Burkina Faso.