Can Minors Buy Non Alcoholic Beer Without Legal Issues? 

Can minors buy non alcoholic beer is a question that guardians or individuals under 21 ask when they want to drink beer without breaking the law. Non alcoholic brews are similar to your standard beer except that it does not contain alcohol.

It is a good alternative for those that don’t want to consume alcohol, but can minors buy non alcoholic beer and drink it? We will answer this question and explain the related laws in the detailed article below, so keep on reading!

Are Minors Allowed To Buy Non Alcoholic Beer? 

No, minors are not allowed to buy non alcoholic drinks or beer. The National Minimum Drinking Age (NMDA) Act was passed in 1984 and stated that only those who are 21 years old and above could purchase beverages containing alcohol, regardless of the ABV.

Different states have their own laws, but generally, minors are disallowed from purchasing non alcoholic brews. Non alcoholic brews usually have an ABV of 0.05 percent, which still qualifies as drinking alcohol. Even if you are drinking a Budweiser Zero, which has an ABV of 0.0 percent, it is still illegal to consume it. Keep in mind that the states have different laws pertaining to the purchase of non alcoholic brews. 

– States That Allow Minors To Buy Non-alcoholic Beer

If you are under the age of 21 in certain states, you are allowed to buy beer. Keep in mind that regardless of the state laws, some supermarkets and liquor stores have their policies. They can refuse to allow you to purchase these beverages after seeing your ID.

Here are the states that allow buyers under 21 to buy non alcoholic beverages:

• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Texas
• Wisconsin
• Illinois
• Alaska

Can You Drink Nonalcoholic Beer if You Are Under 21? 

You can drink non alcoholic brews if you are under 21 with adult supervision, but you cannot buy them. Although this seems complicated, the law states that minors cannot buy alcoholic brews, but they can drink it. Individuals yet to turn 21 can drink nonalcoholic drinks with their parents’ supervision.

When minors under 21 want to drink nonalcoholic brews at a gathering or party, they need to be accompanied by parents or guardians. Also, the parent or guardian has to be the one to buy the nonalcoholic brews. So, if the adult approves it, the minor can drink it without any legal repercussions. 

Can Individuals Under 18 Drink Non-Alcoholic Beer? 

Individuals under 18 can drink non alcoholic beer with adult supervision. If you are a minor, you cannot purchase non alcoholic brews. Just like with individuals under 21, minors under 18 need their parents’ permission to drink non alcoholic brews, and the parents have to be there. 

If a minor goes to a bar or retail shop to buy non alcoholic brews, they must go with an adult and provide proof of age. The adult will purchase it, and they will drink it at their residence or private property. Minors cannot drink alcoholic brews at a club, bar, or pub, even with adult supervision. 

Can a 14-Year-old Drink Nonalcoholic Beer?

No, 14-year-olds cannot drink non alcoholic beers except if they are under the supervision of an adult family member.

The law has stated that only those who have reached 21 years old can purchase and drink alcoholic brews. Despite this, non alcoholic brews might not be healthy for a 14-year-old. 

Why Alcohol-free Beer Is Disallowed for Minors?

Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol-free beer because of the law, even with a very low or 0.0 percent alcohol content. The law does not allow minors to drink beer, and it does not make any provisions for NA beer. 

– Situations When Minors Can Consume Alcohol

Under-18 persons are allowed to drink alcohol on some special occasions. These include:

• Educational Purposes: Minors that are taking part in culinary courses have permission from adults to drink non alcoholic brews during their studies.
• During Religious Settings: For instance, if a religious gathering is taking communion, under-18 persons can take alcoholic drinks. 
• For Medication: Some medications have traces of alcohol, so minors can consume them to treat their medical condition. 
• For sting operations: If minors are working with the authority for an undercover operation, they usually get permission from the authorities. 
• For work: If a minor is working in the food or beverage sector, they are allowed to purchase non alcoholic brews, but they cannot consume it. 

Does Non-Alcoholic Beer Have a Legal Age? 

Non alcoholic beer has a legal age, which is 18 or 21, depending on the state you are in. Some states require that only buyers of legal age can purchase non alcoholic brews because it still contains alcohol. Only a few states will sell nonalcoholic brews to drinkers under 21. 

Keep in mind that the national age for drinking based on the NMDA is 21. So, it is against the law to sell low-alcohol beer to those under 21 in some states, except if they are with an adult. Even when it’s allowed, stores have their policies for selling their non alcoholic beverages. If a minor wants to drink an alcoholic beverage, it’s best to ask their parent or guardian for permission first. 

Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Completely Free From Alcohol?

Non alcoholic beer is not completely free from alcohol. Keep in mind that while there are many non alcoholic brews, you might not find a lot of alcohol-free beer. The name might be misleading because nonalcoholic beverages are actually low-alcohol beers. 

Most of these beers contain alcohol up to 0.5 percent, which means that the alcohol content is very low. So, to answer this question, non alcoholic brews is not fully alcohol-free. Despite this, the beer will not cause intoxication when drunk in moderation. 

Keep in mind that some breweries have made alcohol-free beer. The Budweiser Zero contains 0.0 percent of alcohol, so it is completely free from alcohol. Another option is the Hairless Dog, which also has 0.0 percent ABV. 

Can You Consume Non Alcoholic Beer While Driving? 

No, you cannot consume non alcoholic beer while driving. There is no law that prohibits drinking non-alcoholic beer while driving, but it is generally frowned upon and considered illegal by the authorities in some states, especially if the driver is a minor.

The alcohol in NA beers is less than 0.5 percent, but there is still a very low chance of getting drunk even after taking two or more bottles. The authorities in many states see non-alcoholic brews as alcoholic, so if you are found drinking them while driving, you may get a penalty. There is also the open container law which states that when an officer sees you with a can or bottle open in your car, you will get in trouble. 

Non alcoholic brews won’t get you drunk but can distract you, especially if you’re drinking them while driving, and this can cause an accident. Because of this, it’s important to avoid drinking non alcoholic beverages while driving.

As for minors, individuals that are under 21 years old are not allowed to have a blood alcohol level of 0.02 percent or higher when they are driving, whether with an adult or not. The blood alcohol level for adults is 0.08 percent. 

Frequently Asked Question

1. Can Minors Drink Kombucha?

Minors cannot drink kombucha because it contains alcohol. It has low amounts of sugar, unlike the standard fruit juice and soda. It also has B vitamins and probiotics, but keep in mind that kombucha is a nonalcoholic beverage because it contains less than 0.5 percent ABV.

You should wait until your child is 16 before allowing them to drink under adult supervision.

Conclusion 

Now that you know the answer to the question “can minors buy non-alcoholic beer,” you can obey the laws by purchasing the beer with an adult.

We have covered all you need to know in this article, but here is a brief rundown before you go:

• Minors cannot buy non alcoholic beer based on the national law, but some states allow it.
• Individuals under 21 and under 18 cannot consume beer, depending on the state, unless they are with an adult family member.
• Non alcoholic brews are not completely free from alcohol but have an ABV of 0.05 percent or less.
• The legal age for non alcoholic brews is 21.
• Minors are not allowed to have a blood alcohol level of 0.02 percent and more when driving.

With our detailed article, you can safely purchase non alcoholic brews once you are of age. If you are a minor, you should avoid purchasing this beer except if you have the permission of a parent or guardian.