In Switzerland, the legal drinking age is generally 16 for beer, wine, and other fermented drinks, and 18 for spirits and stronger distilled alcohol.

Basic rule

  • Age 16+ : Allowed to buy and drink beer, wine, cider, and other fermented beverages up to about 15% alcohol by volume.
  • Age 18+ : Required for spirits and distilled drinks (vodka, rum, whisky, strong liqueurs, alcopops that count as spirits, etc.).

Canton and store differences

  • Federal law sets the minimums (16 / 18), but some cantons choose stricter rules, especially for beer and wine.
  • Certain supermarket chains or venues may apply their own higher age limit policies (for example, only selling any alcohol from 18), even if the law would allow beer or wine at 16.

Public drinking and enforcement

  • Public drinking (like having a beer in a park or on the street) is generally legal and socially common, though specific cities or events can have local restrictions.
  • Selling or supplying harmful quantities of alcohol to minors under 16 can lead to fines or even imprisonment for the adult or business involved.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.