The Legal Drinking Age in Taiwan Explained

Consistently named as one of the best places to live for expats and one of the most underrated travel destinations, Taiwan is a vibrant, convenient, culturally rich, and downright fun island that should definitely be on your radar. Contributing to its unique eclectic soul and draw is a burgeoning (and now thriving) alcohol and nightlife scene that is not only affordable but domestically and internationally driven. 

You’ll find everything from quirky craft beer and whiskey bars nestled in back alleys of popular university areas to bass-thumping nightclubs and upscale rooftop lounges, all the way to lively stir-fry restaurants (rechao – 熱炒) with dedicated ‘beer girls’, all-you-can-drink whiskey-green tea karaoke lounges, LGBTQ+ friendly bars (in Ximending), and British pubs for weekly quizzes, pool leagues, and more.

I first took a dawgz trip to Taiwan when I was 21 years old (while living in Hong Kong) and wasn’t sure of what the alcohol restrictions were or if I should even worry at all. It is still one of the most memorable (from what I can remember) trips of my life. I then moved to Taiwan for three-plus years in 2015. Three formative years – rife with love, bian dangs (Taiwanese homestyle food on the go), post-work night market strolls, and of course, booze (of all types, brands, and sizes).  

If you’re traveling (or considering moving) to Taiwan and don’t want to miss out on any of it, you may be wondering, “What is the legal drinking age?” 

Below, I’ll dive into Taiwan’s legal drinking age along with important drinking laws and tips that you should know before traveling to the island known as ‘Formosa’ (Taiwan’s main island).

Legal Drinking Age in Taiwan

Drinking all the Taiwan Beers (brand) and throwing some darts.

The legal drinking age in Taiwan is 18 years old. This applies to both the purchase of alcohol and the consumption of alcohol across the whole island.

While Taiwan’s minimum drinking age is officially 18, the reality of identification checks and enforcement of alcohol-related laws, especially in the context of underage drinking, has left a great deal to be desired. This especially rings true in most rural areas and non-major cities in Taiwan.

One 2021 study by the Centers for Disease Control examining “youth risk behavior” in Taiwan estimated that nearly 50% of Taiwanese junior high students and just under 75% of vocational high-school students have drunk alcohol. Further, an estimated 15% of Taiwanese found to “engage in alcohol abuse” are individuals under 18 years old. 

A 2022 Health Promotion Administration report classified Taiwanese adolescent alcohol use as “extremely high,” and nearly double that of adolescent use in the United States. 

Do They Check Your ID When Buying Alcohol in Taiwan?

Taiwan has made significant strides over the years towards combating underage drinking and alcohol abuse. One of the key steps to crack down on underage drinking in Taiwan is a more concerted effort towards checking IDs when purchasing alcohol, entering clubs, and going to bars. A general rule of thumb for drinking in Taiwan is that if you are going to any sort of Western establishment, nightclub, cocktail lounge, and/or bar, it is recommended to bring a valid form of identification (with your age on it). 

Of all the cities and/or countries I’ve lived in Asia, Taipei is the one where my ARC (Taiwan resident card) needed to be readily available when entering bars and clubs. This was primarily in Taipei’s ‘ATT 4 Fun’ entertainment and shopping district, where a high percentage of nightclubs are concentrated. Many bars and clubs across Taiwan have a strict ‘No ID, no entry’ policy due to the hefty fines they can face if they are caught serving minors.  

Police raids are not uncommon at all when it comes to cracking down on underage drinking, mafia activity, and other unlawful behavior (such as drug consumption and abuse). So, even if you make it into a bar, club, or cocktail lounge without being ID’d, there is always a possibility of police raiding a club.

Personally, I’ve been in several clubs that were raided in Taipei, which from my understanding were primarily due to suspected drug abuse. I had to wait roughly 30 minutes while the police went around checking everyone’s IDs and asking basic questions/sussing out the scene. 

What ID is Acceptable When Drinking in Taiwan?

For those traveling or moving to Taiwan who do not want to bring their passport out with them, I recommend either (a) bringing your license from your home country, or (b) making several photocopies of your passport. Both of these should more than suffice. 

I even know of friends who have simply brought a school ID from back home that has their age on it which was sufficient to gain entry into some bars and clubs.

Can You Get Into Clubs if You’re Under 18 in Taiwan?

A very dark picture of one of my best friends and I triple-fisting wine, jagerbombs, and beer at ‘B Line by A Train‘ in Taipei. I had a flight to Hong Kong at 7 AM the next day.

If you are under 18, you will not be able to get into clubs in Taiwan. As mentioned above, nightclubs and other drinking establishments frequently check IDs at the door and have a “No ID, no entry” policy. 

If you are 18 or older and a student, I recommend bringing along your student ID as well and you may receive a student discount on the cover charge or drinks. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: I’m not sure if this is a funny or sad story but one New Year’s Eve in Taipei, when my then-girlfriend was out of town for the weekend, I ordered McDonald’s and picked up several tallboy cans of Asahi. I excitedly drank a few cans, thinking that I would be going out with some friends later that night. But when they canceled, it sent me into a deep slumber. I was only awoken when I heard the pop-pop of midnight fireworks and watched the Taipei 101 fireworks display in the reflection of a building across from me while I finished off several cold double cheeseburgers and warm cans of Japanese beer.

Penalty For Underage Drinking in Taiwan

For anyone under 18 years old that is caught consuming alcohol, they may face an administrative fine of no less than NT$3,000 (USD 100) and a maximum of NT$30,000 (USD 1,000). Minors who complete a course in parental education and guidance may be exempted from paying the fine. 

To be honest, this was a bit difficult to find so I would just emphasize that this should be taken with a grain of salt. I looked at ‘The Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act’ and the most fitting provision, which from my understanding extends to alcohol-related violations, was Article 47. 

Article 47 of Taiwan’s Youth Welfare Act specifically reads, “Children and youth may not access hotels, special coffee/tea stores, adult products retailers, X-rated electronic games and other sites that involve gambling, sex and violence, etc…”’ 

Article 102 then codifies the punishment for this, noting those whoe violate the regulations described in Article 47 may face the aforementioned fine. 

Taiwan Alcohol Laws You Should Know

A favorite picture of mine when several of my best friends came to visit for the weekend and we rode bikes out to Dan Shui – Ruff Ryders Anthem-style.

To best ensure a safe drinking experience in Taiwan, here are several alcohol laws you should know.

Drunk Driving in Taiwan

Starting in the mid-2000s, the Taiwanese government has strengthened the severity of alcohol policies across the island in an effort to reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents. Persons caught drunk driving in Taiwan shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a maximum of three years and fined no more than NT$300,000 (USD 10,000). Taiwan defines drunk driving as a breath alcohol content of 0.25mg per liter or more and a blood alcohol content of 0.05% or more.

Further, if the offense causes death to another individual, they may face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of no more than NT$2,000,000 (USD 64,000). 

Between 2006 and 2014, the Taiwanese government increased penalties for drunk driving on three separate occasions. Ultimately, this saw a 40% drop in drinking-related injuries and more than an 80% reduction in alcohol-related driving deaths. 

My Thoughts on Drunk & Reckless Driving in Taiwan

While penalties for drunk driving may seem severe (3 years imprisonment) and Taiwanese officials have done a great deal to combat drunk driving-related accidents and fatalities, drunk (and reckless) driving is still very much a real concern in the country – especially with the abundance of scooters as the primary mode of transportation for most residents. Taiwan is actually referred to as the ‘Scooter Capital’ of the world. 

Reckless driving is ubiquitous and while I felt completely safe in every other aspect of living in Taiwan, I always made sure to wear my seatbelt and look both ways before crossing a street and merging and/or turning into traffic (via both bicycle and scooter). 

Supplying Alcohol to Someone Under 18

Under Taiwan’s ‘Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act’, no one shall sell, provide, or supply anyone under 18 with alcohol. The fines for doing so range between no less than NT$10,000 (USD 320) and no more than NT$100,000. 

Even parents, guardians, and other caretakers of individuals under 18 years old are prohibited from supplying them with alcohol, otherwise, they may risk fines ranging between NT$10,000 to 50,000 (USD 3,200). 

What Time Does Taiwan Stop Selling Alcohol?

You may be surprised to learn that the sale of alcohol in Taiwan never stops. Bars and clubs are not subject to mandatory closure periods, meaning that alcohol may be sold 24/7. 

In line with this is Taiwan’s ‘7-11’ and ‘Family Mart’ drinking culture, where hundreds (sometimes thousands) of partygoers purchase alcohol inside the nearest convenience store and drink outside into the early morning. 

Living in Taipei, I found that most clubs and bars wrapped up and closed up shop around 2 to 3 AM. There are more than a handful of late-night spots that remain open until 5 or 6 AM as well for those who don’t want the party to ever end. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: If you need some caffeine to wake you up after a long night of partying in Taipei, make sure to check out my comprehensive guide to the best cafes in Taipei (specifically for digital nomads and freelancers).

Taiwan’s Alcohol Landscape

While beer is at the forefront of consumption when it comes to alcoholic beverages in Taiwan, there are still other alcohol gems out there that are only increasing in quality and pervasiveness over the years.

Beer in Taiwan

Taiwan’s beer scene strikes me as one of the most promising of anywhere I’ve lived in Asia. Maybe this is because it was controlled by a monopoly of beer and tobacco products until the early 200s. So there really is only room for improvement and expansion. 

By the end of my three years living there, more than a handful of craft beer breweries popped up and awareness was rapidly spreading amongst locals. I’d rank it only third, behind Vietnam and Japan, out of the countries that I’ve lived in, when it comes to the depth (and growth) of beer selections, breweries, and bars. I even think it takes the cake over Hong Kong. 

Some people may knock it but I wholeheartedly love drinking the number one domestic brand of beer on the island, ‘Taiwan Beer’ – especially their ‘Weissbier’ (wheat beer) that they rolled out in 2013. You can find Taiwan Beer primarily at Taiwanese and Japanese restaurants – especially at rechao.

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Having lived in Taipei for over three years, I developed a regular circuit of bars, izakayas, and late-night booze haunts. Some of my favorites include Draft Land (which is also in Hong Kong), Taihu Brewing, FRANK Taipei, ON TAP, Zhangmen Craft beer, WET Bar (at the ‘W Taipei’), and Carnegie’s. If you are an occasional degenerate then I would also recommend Brass Monkey.

Wine in Taiwan

Do you remember how I mentioned there previously being a complete monopoly exercised over beer production in Taiwan? This also extended to wine. Independent wine-making was prohibited in Taiwan until 2002. This is not nearly anywhere close to the wine market or industry you’ll find in European countries but it is doing its best. 

The good news is that Taiwan (unlike Vietnam) is able to grow and cultivate grapes domestically, and has earned somewhat of a coveted reputation due to its rarity and quality – even earning top honors at the 25th and 26th Vinalies Internationales in France.

Two of the most popular wineries in Taiwan are Domaine Shu Sheng and Weightstone Vineyard Estate & Winery. 

Gaoliang

Buckle up for this one because gaoliang is going to be a drink that you always remember. I can’t say if this is a good or bad thing but I would imagine for most tourists passing through Taiwan, it’s very much the latter.

Gaoliang, also known as ‘Kaoliang’, is a liquor made from sorghum – a flowering plant and grain that is commonly used for cereals. It can reach up to 60% alcohol (by volume) and is somewhat of a Taiwanese pride. Some describe it as tasting like paint remover, some describe it as a lighter ‘Baijiu’ (Chinese rice liquor) with a sweet, subtle aftertaste. Depending on how many shots of it I’ve consumed, I alternate back and forth between the two.  

If you travel to Taiwan and want to get a taste of gaoliang, you’ll most likely encounter ‘Kinmen’ – the most popular gaoliang brand in Taiwan, named after the group of islands where it’s produced (just off the coast of Xiamen in Mainland China).

Pale Ale Travel Tip: For couples traveling or moving to Taiwan, make sure to check out my post breaking down my favorite date ideas in Taipei.

Final Thoughts on Drinking in Taiwan

I’m overall very optimistic about the trajectory of Taiwan’s nightlife and alcohol (both beer and wine) scene and think you might just be pleasantly surprised after arriving in Taiwan just how many little nooks and crannies there are to eat, drink, and live well at. 

Remember, the legal drinking age in Taiwan is 18. If you are under 18 and traveling or moving to Taiwan, I recommend understanding the consequences of underage drinking and the potential legal consequences and risks you may face should you get caught. 

One of my most ridiculous but favorite memories of living in Taipei was ordering a beer bong (I was 27 at the time) and bringing it to the rooftop of my apartment which overlooked Taipei 101. A couple of friends and I spent a Saturday afternoon, into the early evening (as the sun set), funneling beers like animalistic frat bros (I was once one) with the former world’s tallest building in the background. I’m still debating or not whether to put this picture in the article (comment if you’d like to see it!).

If you have any memorable stories about traveling to or drinking in Taiwan, I’d love to hear from you via email (info@palealetravel.com) or in the comments! Additionally, if you have any questions about living in or traveling to Taipei (somewhere I spent over three years), I’m more than happy to answer them! 

Drink well (and responsibly), 

Big Body