Have you ever wondered what the rules are regarding non-alcoholic beer and what age you need to be to purchase?
I mean, it’s a non-alcoholic beer; why would you need to be over a certain age to buy something advertised as having no alcohol?
The answers seem simple, but as you can imagine, there are some grey areas, and there’s much more to this topic to uncover to give you a detailed explanation.
Can minors buy non-alcoholic beer? Generally, no. You must be at least 18 years of age in certain states to purchase non-alcoholic beer.
In most states, you must be age 21 or over to purchase non-alcoholic beer, so be prepared to show ID if asked, but as with most questions of this nature, there are some exceptions, and I’ll cover everything you need to know.
If you purchase a recommended product after clicking one of the links in this post, I may earn a commission, but you pay nothing more.
Why Do You Need To Be 21 to Buy Non-Alcoholic Beer?
In 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act (NMDA) required states to prohibit persons under 21 years of age from purchasing or publicly possessing alcoholic beverages as a condition of receiving State highway funds.
The definition of an alcoholic beverage, according to NMDA, is any beer, distilled spirits, and wine containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume.
Most non-alcoholic beer is not alcohol-free and contains trace amounts up to 0.5% ABV, and the FDA still considers that “non-alcoholic.” However, because it does have trace amounts of alcohol, you’ll still need to be over 21 years of age to purchase for states to stay compliant with NMDA, dissimilar to drinks like kombucha, for example.
Do You Need ID For Non-Alcoholic Beer?
Yes. You should always have an ID to prove that you’re over 21 to purchase non-alcoholic beer.
Even though some states have laws to separate regular beer from non-alcoholic beer, most retail locations like grocery stores, gas stations, and liquor stores use a blanket approach. They will ask for an ID regardless if you’re purchasing non-alcoholic beer.
Can I Buy Heineken 0.0 If I’m Under 21?
Probably not. Even though it’s “alcohol-free,” there are still trace amounts of alcohol ranging from 0.01 to 0.03% ABV, and, according to Heineken, 0.0 is for consumers of legal drinking age. Be prepared to show ID when purchasing in person or when buying from an online retailer.
Similar rules also apply to other brands with zero alcohol and require you to produce an ID to make a purchase.
In What States Can You Buy Non-Alcoholic Beer Under 21?
As I mentioned earlier, there are always exceptions, especially in a country as large as the U.S. Since 1984, some states have drafted laws regarding purchasing and consuming non-alcoholic beer.
Here are the states where buyers under the age of 21 years are allowed to both buy and consume non-alcoholic beer:
- Minnesota
- Texas
- New Jersey
- Wisconsin
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Hawaii
- Alaska
Can you drink zero-alcohol beer under 18?
Most states will allow you to drink zero-alcohol and non-alcoholic beer as long as your parents made the purchase and they are present while you drink it.
You will not be able to go to a retail store or bar to purchase non-alcoholic or zero-alcohol beer; you will still need to produce an ID to prove your age.
You can’t drink non-alcoholic beer at a bar, club, or pub even if your parents are with you, but you guessed it, this varies from state to state.
Can you drink non-alcoholic beer when driving?
No. You definitely should not do this, and most states will view non-alcoholic beers the same as regular beers. Authorities cannot differentiate a non-alcoholic beer from a regular one, and you will still be subject to open container laws.
Wrapping It Up
Can minors buy non-alcoholic beer? In most states, the answer is no, but some states allow for purchasing non-alcoholic beer under 21, so it’s not entirely out of the question.
You will need ID to purchase non-alcoholic and zero-alcohol beer, including popular ones like Heineken 0.0, and you will generally need to be at least 21 years of age.
Parents can allow minors under 18 in most states to consume non-alcoholic beer under their supervision as long as they have made the purchase.
Consuming non-alcoholic beers while driving, even if they are alcohol-free, is not recommended and will most likely result in getting cited for having an open container.
Cheers!