The Drinking Age Laws

New Zealand has no minimum legal drinking age, rather we have a minimum legal purchase age - it is important to make this distinction.

The minimum legal purchase age in New Zealand is 18 years. If young people wish to purchase alcohol or get into licensed premises they need to provide photographic proof of age.

Young people in licensed premises

In New Zealand there are three possible designations licensed premises can have:
1. Restricted
2. Supervised
3. Undesignated.

These designations relate to the conditions which someone under the legal minimum purchase age can be on the premises. These are as follows:

Restricted: no-one under 18 may be on that part of the premises unless they are employed to prepare or serve a meal, clean or repair etc, remove or replace equipment, stocktake, check or remove cash.

Supervised: no-one under 18 may be on that part of the premises unless they are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian, or are employed as above or are employed for the sale and supply of alcohol.

Undesignated: anyone of any age can be on that part of the premises.