Alcohol cannot legally be sold to anyone under 18 in China
Article 59 of China's Law on the Protection of Minors prohibits alcohol sales to minors and requires sellers to check identification when a buyer's age is unclear.
Carry identification for an age check, and check the separate rail or aviation limits before travelling with alcohol.
What the law says
The verified rules focus on protecting minors, seller duties and conduct in places where minors gather.
- Article 59 prohibits selling alcohol to minors. Sellers must display a no-sales-to-minors notice and request identification when age is difficult to determine.
- Article 123 provides for correction orders, warnings, confiscation of illegal income and a fine of up to RMB 50,000. Refusal to correct or serious circumstances can lead to a RMB 50,000–500,000 fine and revocation of the licence.
- Article 124 provides for a fine of up to RMB 500 for drinking in schools, kindergartens or other public places where minors gather; a venue manager who fails to stop it can be fined up to RMB 10,000.
- Article 17 says parents or other guardians must not permit or encourage a minor to drink alcohol.
Carrying alcohol on trains and flights
| Option | Carry-on | Checked or transported baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Train: sealed, clearly labelled alcohol at 24%–70% ABV | Up to 3,000 mL total per passenger | Check the current railway rules before travel |
| Train: alcohol over 70% ABV | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Flight: alcohol at 24% ABV or below | Liquid alcohol is not permitted in carry-on baggage | No quantity limit stated in the cited rule |
| Flight: alcohol over 24% and up to 70% ABV | Liquid alcohol is not permitted in carry-on baggage | Up to 5 litres per passenger |
| Flight: alcohol over 70% ABV | Prohibited | Prohibited |
Train: sealed, clearly labelled alcohol at 24%–70% ABV
- Carry-on
- Up to 3,000 mL total per passenger
- Checked or transported baggage
- Check the current railway rules before travel
Train: alcohol over 70% ABV
- Carry-on
- Prohibited
- Checked or transported baggage
- Prohibited
Flight: alcohol at 24% ABV or below
- Carry-on
- Liquid alcohol is not permitted in carry-on baggage
- Checked or transported baggage
- No quantity limit stated in the cited rule
Flight: alcohol over 24% and up to 70% ABV
- Carry-on
- Liquid alcohol is not permitted in carry-on baggage
- Checked or transported baggage
- Up to 5 litres per passenger
Flight: alcohol over 70% ABV
- Carry-on
- Prohibited
- Checked or transported baggage
- Prohibited
What the verified sources do not establish
No verified city-by-city ID-check rate
The source unit verifies the national seller duty, but it does not provide a reliable city-by-city measure of how often tourists are asked for identification.
No national open-container ban was identified
The source unit did not identify a nationwide rule that prohibits an adult from reasonably drinking in every street, park or square. Separate public-order rules can still apply to disruptive conduct.
Carrier rules are separate from the drinking-age rule
A bottle that is legal to buy may still be restricted by its alcohol percentage, packaging and volume when you take a train or flight.
Before buying or travelling with alcohol
Carry identification in case the seller asks for proof of age.
Keep rail alcohol sealed and clearly labelled.
Check the ABV and total volume before entering a railway station.
Pack permitted flight alcohol in checked baggage, not carry-on baggage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal drinking age in China?
Alcohol cannot legally be sold to anyone under 18. Article 59 of China's Law on the Protection of Minors also requires an identification check when the buyer's age is unclear.
What is the penalty for selling alcohol to a minor?
The cited source says authorities can order correction, issue a warning, confiscate illegal income and impose a fine of up to RMB 50,000. Refusal to correct or serious circumstances can lead to a RMB 50,000–500,000 fine and licence revocation.
Can I take alcohol on a high-speed train in China?
For sealed, clearly labelled alcohol from 24% to 70% ABV, the cited railway rule allows up to 3,000 mL total per passenger. Alcohol over 70% ABV is prohibited.
Can I take alcohol on a flight in China?
Liquid alcohol is not permitted in carry-on baggage. In checked baggage, alcohol over 24% and up to 70% ABV is limited to 5 litres per passenger; alcohol over 70% ABV is prohibited.
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