South Africa’s legal drinking age remains 18, despite growing public debate and renewed calls to raise the minimum age for alcohol consumption. Claims circulating on social media that the legal drinking age has already been increased to 21 are incorrect, and no changes to the law have been formally enacted.
In recent weeks, renewed pressure has been placed on government by civil society organisations and health advocates who argue that alcohol abuse continues to contribute significantly to road fatalities, violent crime and long-term health problems. Some groups have proposed increasing the legal drinking age to between 21 and 23 as part of a broader strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm, particularly among young people.
Government has previously considered similar proposals. Earlier drafts of the Liquor Amendment Bill included provisions that would raise the minimum drinking age to 21, but the bill has not yet been passed into law. The proposal remains under discussion and has not progressed through Parliament.
For now, the law remains unchanged, and the legal age for purchasing and consuming alcohol in South Africa is still 18. While debate around stricter alcohol regulations is likely to continue, any change to the legal drinking age would first need to go through a full legislative process before coming into effect.