Legal drinking age for Germany

During my semester in Germany, I was 17 yrs, but was placed in a class that was a year younger then me. On a class trip to Konstanz, I remember going to restraunts or bars where they were ordering beer and picking up little bottles of fancy liquor at the markets. The only problem we had was when some students got a little plastered and loud. Next thing, we see our teacher in night gown and curlers flying down the hall of the hostel in the middle of the night! Not a pretty sight. The drinking age is much younger in Germany and US. Though its been many many years ago, I am thinking like 16 to buy beer and 18 or 21 for the hard stuff. Most likely wrong, but Jo should be coming soon to correct me.

The drinking age was beer and wine at 16 and everything else at 18. If a child is with their parents, they can have whatever they want. Working in restaurants, I have seen parents order cocktails for their 13-14 year olds. They have just recently changed the drinking age to 18, but I don't think it is overly enforced very much.

So, enjoy the beer gardens with your daughter.

Thanks so much for your reply. We will both be able to enjoy a hearty beer! Now...any suggestions as to which beer, ale is a good one? :) Suz

They are ALL good, it is only a matter of taste.

Personally, I never liked Pils that much and preferred Export. Weizen beer is almost always a good choice, as it is full bodied, especially if you get the Hefe Weizen (hefe means yeast, weizen means wheat) There are also Kristall Weizen (clear) and Dunkel (dark). I am sure a few others will chime in with some favorite brand names.
Weizen beer is always served in a .5 liter glass. Other beers are served in various sizes, from .3 liter to 1 liter. These big glasses do tend to get warm unless you are speedy drinker. I do not advise drinking fast, as the alcohol content is higher than that in the states. Germany does not have anything like 3.2 beer. They do have a mixed beer though, where they mix cola and beer or sprite and beer. I know it sounds odd, but it is very popular and once you get the 1st or 2nd sip, it doesn't taste bad.

Sprite + Beer = Shandy (very popular in Britain and Australia and refreshing on a hot summer's day.)

Right, I did forget to tell you what the mixes are called. The sprite and beer is usually called a "Radler" and it can be that the cola and beer is a Frankfurt thing, but it is called "Dreckiges" or dirty beer.

In Franconia it's simply Cola Weizen. I do enjoy a radler, order them quite often.

My daughter likes the idea of the sprite and beer mixed together....thanks again for the suggestion!
Can't wait to go there.
:) Suz

Suzanne,

Where are you going in Germany? I had some "wheat Beer" when I was in Munich last May, and it was great! I always like a pint of Guiness when in the UK or Ireland, bu not sure if that's available in Germany?

Even if you don't stop for a drink, visiting the Hofbrauhaus in Munich is always interesting. Your daughter might want to try some of the excellent German wines also.

Happy travels!

Half lemondade half Weißbier (Wheatbeer, very similar to Gordon Biersch`s wheat beer) is called "Russn Halbe" (Russian half) in Bavaria. I suppose because only barbarians from the Eastern praries would drink anything that disgusting sounding ;-)... A "Radler" is half a Lager, half a lemonade (also referred to as "Alster" in Northern Germany). "Bananenweizen" is a wheat beer with some banana juice (yuk) and as mentioned above you can also get a lager with coke...

We will be visiting Hamburg and some nearby areas....and then travelling on to London. I like the "girlie" beers personally, but willing to try the many suggestions...some not so great sounding ;) but want to immerse ourselves.
Suz

Generally you have a choice between light beer (meaning color) and dark. Helles is light, dunkels is dark. There are also regional specialties like pils (pilsner), kolsh (in cologne), hefeweissen (wheat beer in Bavaria) etc.

Typically I ask for the local helles brew. It's the freshest and locals always like to see their favorite being appreciated by tourists.