NEWS
JAPAN’S LEGAL DRINKING AGE STAYS AT 20 DESPITE NEW AGE OF ADULTHOOD AT 18
By Susan Lewis
1-4-2022
Credit: Sorasak/Unsplash
Japan will lower its citizens’ age of adulthood from 20 to 18 this month, but legal drinking age will remain at 20 along with smoking and gambling.
With an aim to encourage more active social participation by young people, the move marks the first time in over 140 years that Japan change the legal definition of an adult.
The government is expected to revise its Civil Code this month, it will open up new freedoms and responsibilities for 18 and 19-year olds.
As adults, 18 and 19-year olds will be allowed to enter into consumer contracts independently under the revised Civil Code.
However, the change will not apply to drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling. Those under 20 years of age will still be prohibited from doing these activities.
To keep up with the amendment in the age, numerous laws including those on passports, national licenses and jury duty will also be revised.
The revision will see an expansion on the range of crimes where they can be referred to prosecutors from family courts and tried as adults.
The revised Civil Code will also allow media to reveal the full names and faces of 18 and 19-year-old offenders.
Elsewhere in Asia, most markets which do not limit alcohol consumption for religious reasons have legal drinking at 18, these include China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. But in South Korea, legal drinking age is the same as Japan at 20.
In countries like Malaysia, Thailand and India where religion complicates alcohol consumption, legal drinking age tends to be set higher if not banned altogether.
Malaysia’s legal drinking age is 21, Thailand’s is 20, while India has different legal drinking age for different states ranging from 18 to 25 in states where alcohol consumption is not banned.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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