By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
In many countries, the legal drinking age is 18. However, there are a few places where individuals under 18 are legally allowed to purchase or consume alcohol.
Here is a list of these countries and their minimum drinking age:
1. Burkina Faso – 13 years
In Burkina Faso, teenagers as young as 13 can legally buy alcohol. In this African country, there is no national age restriction for off-premise alcohol sales which means teenagers can legally buy at just 13.
But then, this has had consequences on Burkina Faso as it ranks high in years of life lost due to alcohol-related causes
2. Central African Republic – 15 years
In the Central African Republic, anyone 15 or older can legally buy alcohol from shops. The most popular alcohol sold in this country include locally brewed beer, palm wine, banana wine.
3. Barbados – 16 years
Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island. It is also part of an independent British commonwealth nation. This country currently does not have a legal drinking age but by law, it’s illegal to sell or serve any alcoholic beverage to a person younger than 16.
It is said that the president is trying to increase it to 18.
4. Austria, Belgium, Cuba, Denmark, Dominica, Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Panama, Serbia, Switzerland – 16 years
While all of these countries have their minimum legal drinking age at 16, Germany stands out as teenagers as young as 14 can drink beer and wine publicly with a guardian. Also, drinking of spirits starts from age 18.
5. Malta – 17 years
In Malta, you can start buying alcohol legally from the age of 17. It is said to be a rare case where the limit sits between the more common 16 and 18 thresholds.