I’m Kayla. I spent two weeks in Paris with my little cousin, Liam. He’s 19. I’m… older. Let’s just say I’ve got a few cafe loyalty cards. We learned a lot about how the drinking age works there—by living it, not just reading signs. If you’re looking for the minute-by-minute version, my full Paris drinking-age field report lives here.
The big number
It’s 18. That’s the rule in France. If you’re 18 or older, you can buy and drink alcohol in public places. All types. Beer, wine, cocktails—yep.
For the official government rundown on the laws around smoking, drinking alcohol, and even drug use, you can skim the summary here.
People think it’s 16 for wine. It used to be different years ago, but not now. It’s 18 across the board. If you want a clear, tourist-friendly rundown of France’s current alcohol laws, check out this concise guide on Just France.
Do they card? Yes. Also no.
Here’s the thing. Servers don’t walk around checking every face. Many look at you and decide. But staff can and will ask if you look young.
- Day 2, Le Marais: We stopped at a tiny cafe. I had a glass of house red. Liam got a blonde beer. No one asked for ID. We were chill. We looked, I guess, obviously legal.
- Night 4, Monoprix near République: I grabbed a bottle of rosé at 9:30 pm. Cashier looked at me, looked at Liam, and said, “Pièce d’identité, s’il vous plaît.” I showed my U.S. driver’s license. She frowned. “Passport?” I had it in my bag (rare win). Sale approved. My cheeks were still warm.
- Night 6, Franprix by Montmartre: Tried to buy a six-pack at 11:05 pm. The clerk pointed to a sign. No take-away alcohol after 10 pm. That’s a common rule in Paris. We walked out with chips and sparkling water. Not the vibe I planned, but it was fair.
So, yes—be ready for ID checks. And plan ahead if you want a bottle for later.
What ID actually worked for me
- Passport: Always good. It’s the gold standard.
- U.S. driver’s license: Sometimes fine, sometimes not. One cashier waved it through. Another asked for my passport. No hard feelings—store policy is store policy.
- Digital photos: Didn’t help. They want a real document.
- For locals, a national ID card is perfect. For us visitors, a passport keeps things simple.
You know what? I kept my passport in a little neck pouch by night. Not cute, but it saved time at checkout.
Public drinking: relaxed, not wild
People sip wine along the Seine. You’ll see groups with baguettes, cheese, and a happy bottle. We joined once at sunset near Île Saint-Louis. It felt soft and friendly, with bikes ringing past. That mellow picnic contrasted sharply with the structured tastings I later did on a dedicated wine tour elsewhere in France.
A police pair strolled by. No drama. They glanced. We ate. We cleaned up. A group down the steps got loud, and an officer asked them to keep it calm. The message was simple: enjoy, but be decent.
Some parks and areas have signs with rules. If you see one, follow it. The rules shift by spot and season. It’s not a free-for-all, but it’s not stiff either.
Also, no drinking on the Metro. A guard asked a man to close his beer can near Châtelet. He sighed, then did it. That was that.
Bars, clubs, and that one bouncer
Most bars are 18+. Many won’t check at the table, but door staff might at night. Clubs love IDs. They also love a line (bring patience).
- Saturday in Pigalle: A club had a clear “18+” at the door. The bouncer scanned IDs. Two teens in sneakers got turned away fast. I heard “Pas 18.” Liam got in, of course. So did I, sneakers and all. I danced like an aunt. No regrets.
One thing Liam noticed is that meeting new people in Paris nightlife often starts online these days. If you’d like to line up a friendly chat—or maybe spark something more—before you even order that first apéro, take a look at FirstMet; the overview breaks down who’s on the app, how its matching system works, and tips for using it safely while you’re exploring the city’s bar scene.
If your travels later swing over to the UK and you’d prefer a more curated, one-on-one evening instead of trying your luck on dating apps, take a minute to browse One Night Affair’s trans escort listing for Newport—the page details verified companions, outlines respectful booking etiquette, and helps you set up a safe, inclusive night out from the moment you land.
Happy hour is common, 5–8 pm. Pints get cheaper. Terraces fill. Smoke does drift on those terraces—just a heads-up if you’re sensitive.
How service felt
Staff were firm but kind. We saw a waiter refuse a drink to a very tipsy tourist and switch him to water. He did it with care, not shame. Honestly, that’s good service.
At a bistro in the 11th, the server explained a young boy at the next table couldn’t taste the wine. “C’est la loi,” she said. She smiled, then brought the boy a hot chocolate. It turned into a sweet moment.
Little things that surprised me
- Take-away alcohol after 10 pm is a no-go at many stores. Plan your picnic early. We learned fast.
- Wine shops like Nicolas have clear signs: no alcohol sold to minors. Staff will ask for ID if needed. It isn’t personal—it’s the rule.
- Prices at cafes vary a lot. One terrace charged 7 euros for a glass of wine. Another charged 4. It’s Paris. The view adds a euro.
- House wine is almost always good. Simple, fresh, and made to pair with food. Bread helps. Bread always helps. If you gravitate toward whites, I lined up a flight of French bottles and recorded every honest sip here.
PS: Still torn between Cab Franc and Cab Sauv? I put them head-to-head in a real-world glass-in-hand showdown you can peek at right here.
Safety check (because I’m still me)
Don’t drink and drive. France has a stricter blood alcohol limit than the U.S. If you like stats, the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addiction’s alcohol overview lays out the numbers in one place. Cops do roadside checks, even on quiet nights. We took the Metro, walked, or grabbed a taxi. The city is made for that.
What worked for me
- Carry a passport at night, just in case.
- Buy bottles before 10 pm.
- Keep it calm in public spaces. Be neat. Pick up your trash.
- Ask if you’re unsure; Parisians will tell you the rule.
- For clubs, bring a real ID and wear shoes you can dance in (trust me).
What tripped me up
- That late-night beer run. The 10 pm cut-off beat me.
- One cashier wouldn’t take my U.S. license. I had to show my passport.
- We got a gentle warning by the river for being a bit too loud. Oops. We toned it down. The night went smooth after that.
Final take
The drinking age in Paris is 18. The vibe is grown-up and calm. It’s strict where it matters, but it’s not tense. If you act like an adult, you get treated like one. Simple as that.
And yes, the rosé at sunset tastes better than it should. Maybe it’s the light. Maybe it’s Paris. Probably both. If rosé is your jam, my playful first-person experiment with a French bottle is right over here.