Legal Purchase Age & Acceptable ID

A PRINT-AND-PIN REFERENCE FOR LICENSED VENUES · 14 COUNTRIES

Brought to you byHospitality Managerhospitalityservicenz.netlify.app

Pin this by the till. It's a quick on-shift reminder of the minimum legal purchase age and the ID your staff can accept. When the number is close, always check ID — and when in doubt, don't serve.

Minimum legal purchase age — tap a country

Country	Age	Notes
New Zealand	18	Off- and on-licence.
Australia	18	Nationwide.
United Kingdom	18	16–17s may have beer/wine/cider with a table meal if bought by an adult.
Canada	18 / 19	18 in Alberta, Manitoba & Quebec; 19 in all other provinces & territories.
United States	21	Nationwide — the highest; ID rigorously.
South Africa	18	Nationwide.
Spain	18	Nationwide.
Mexico	18	Nationwide.
Argentina	18	Nationwide.
Colombia	18	Nationwide.
Chile	18	Nationwide.
Peru	18	Nationwide.
Brazil	18	Nationwide.
Portugal	18	Nationwide (EU).

Refuse the sale if: the person can't show valid ID, appears intoxicated, or you suspect a proxy purchase (buying for an underage person). Serving in these cases is an offence in every country listed.

ID your staff can accept

Usually accepted anywhere

In New ZealandAge 18

• Current passport
• Photo driver licence
• Government-issued national/photo ID card

Check the photo, the date of birth and the expiry. Expired ID is not valid ID.

Let the app do the maths. Hospitality Manager sets the right age for your country and flags anyone too young at a glance — plus ban register, till counts and a one-tap shift report. Free to use.

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General guidance only, current as at 2026 — not legal advice. Laws and acceptable-ID lists change and can vary by state/province and licence type; always confirm the current rules with your local licensing authority. Canada and the USA vary by jurisdiction as noted. © 2026 Hospitality Services NZ.