Can You Buy Alcohol With a Passport?

There is no ‘yes or no’ answer to this question. In some countries and regions, a passport can act as valid identification to prove your age, but in others, it cannot. If you are planning a trip abroad or to another U.S. state and are unsure if you can purchase alcoholic beverages using your passport, it is better to check it beforehand since photo ID requirements vary around the world and even within the U.S.

You may need to present another identification card to prove your age and identity, or you could be refused an alcoholic beverage in a bar, restaurant, or liquor store.

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Legal drinking age around the world

The legal drinking age is always determined by the law of a given country and indicates the minimum age at which a person can legally buy alcohol and consume alcoholic beverages in public places.

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Drinking Habits and Legal Drinking Ages Around the World

The legal drinking age is always determined by the law of a given country and indicates the minimum age at which a person can legally buy alcohol and consume alcoholic beverages in public places.

There are various drinking ages established individually by each country. For example in Cuba, Luxembourg, or The British Virgin Islands, the minimum age required to purchase alcohol is 16 years old, whereas in the United States of America or in Samoa it’s 21 years old, and in Canada it’s 19.

In some countries (like Algeria) there is no national legislation prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors and in others such as Qatar – it does not depend on the age but the practiced religion – there, only non-Muslims can consume alcohol, whereas Muslims are allowed to purchase alcohol but not consume it.

In Germany, a 14-year old has the legal right to consume some alcoholic beverages if they are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.

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Using a passport as proof of age

If you are a young person or you just happen to look young, you might be asked by a store clerk or a bartender to present your identity document before they sell alcohol to you.

So, can you use a passport to buy alcohol? In most states in the U.S., you can.

Keep in mind though that the final decision as to whether you can purchase alcoholic beverages using a passport may be determined by individual establishments. So just to be safe, it’s recommended that you carry a government-issued photo ID with you such as a driver’s license.

Since 2010, a passport or a military ID card doesn’t need to have a physical description of its holder in order to be considered a valid form of identification. This means that a passport or military ID card must include the person’s photo and date of birth, but not necessarily a physical description such as height, weight, hair color, eye color.

That is, if the particular liquor store, bar, or restaurant where you’re trying to purchase alcoholic beverages accepts passports as proof of age. 

In most other countries, a passport is also treated as an ID card and is sufficient to prove your identity and age. But again, it’s highly recommended that you bring other forms of ID with you as well, in case a passport is not recognized.

If you want to know more information regarding passports, and gain access to a professional U.S. passport photo tool, we invite you to take a look at our website – Passport Photo Online.

Can you buy alcohol with a passport: FAQ

In this section, we will answer your most frequently asked questions regarding buying alcohol using a passport.

Can you buy alcohol with a passport? – conclusion

The matter of using a passport as proof of age to buy alcohol is somewhat ambiguous.

Most states in the U.S. recognize passports as a valid form of identification when purchasing alcoholic beverages, whether at a bar, club, or restaurant.

However, some places, liquor stores especially, may have their own established photo ID requirements and may strictly accept only state-issued IDs and driver’s licenses when selling alcohol.

Sources

• [1] https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/publications/
• [2] https://www.tabc.texas.gov/public-safety/age-verification/

Karolina Młodzka

Karolina’s passion for law, technology and photography led her to PhotoAiD S.A., where for the past 3 years she has been an expert in the implementation of passport photo compliance procedures in +80 countries around the world.