Greece and other Greek Island Discussion Forum

Discussions regarding holidays in Greece and other Greek Islands.
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unless they have an age limit then getting in will probably be ok, However partaking of alcoholic beverages will be a different thing, min age to purchase and consume is the the same as the uk 18 yrs

yasus
wizard
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ok thanks, i have heard that it isnt the same as the uk and that they dont care over there
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i've worked in Faliraki for the last decade,have been to Zante a few times and have mates that work/have worked there,you'll have no problem,as far as the bar staff are concerned if you're paying,they're selling,end of story,the only times you'll see anyone get ID'd is if you go to a greek club,with greek teenagers in a place that doesnt have tourists,but the chances of even seeing anything like that on holiday,especially on a small island like zante) is extremely rare,in the tourist resorts like laganas,faliraki,malia etc,if you're old enough to be on holiday with your mates then you're old enough to drink.

You'll be fine mate just don't be an idiot and you'll have the time of your life :tup
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cheers for the reply mate i appreciate it, we're going to celebrate my mates birthday because he'll be 18 and its right in the middle of summer so i was sorta worried about getting into bars and stuff, and i went into the travel agents yesterday and they said you need to be 17 when you go on a club 18-30 holiday, which sort of made me think obviously i might get sold if there gonna let 17 year olds go on a party holiday where the resort has only got bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels
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My daughters mates went to Greece this June and there were some 17 year olds in the group and they booked the year before when some were only 16.

Olympic Holidays are one of the few package tour companys that take bookings from age 16 rather than 18 so it might be worth googling them and looking at their site to see what's available.

They were definatly drinking, I've seen the pictures :yikes You will have a great time.

Hope I don't sound like a patronising old fool, but remember to get holiday insurance, it's something that can get forgotten and you just never know if you might need it. If you cant be arised to organise it yourself, whatever travel company/agent you end up booking through will do it as an add on. Might be dearer than shopping around but it's better than not having it.
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yeah, the travel agents said they add it on, and i have applied for my new ehic card so im sorted :D
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gregorrfc wrote:
hi, me and my friends might be going to zante next year on holiday, id be 17 when we were going and i do look a year younger than my actual age (16), does anyone think i would get into clubs/sold alcohol ?


Hi gregorrfc.. :wave:

The Old Laws and the New.

The Greeks have resisted changes to the laws regarding the Age Of Consumption And Purchase Of Alcohol because it affects the way Greeks socialise and enjoy the freedoms of the Greek way of life. If you live in a small village or on an island as many Greeks do, then everyone knows everybody and being drunk is frowned upon in Greece and you would lose the respect of all your neighbours and friends. More or less it was policed by respect..

The old law was that you needed to be an adult or with a responsible adult to consume alcohol. If you got drunk and got hurt or indeed hurt anyone else through your actions then the responsibility or any problems you caused fell upon the responsible adult you were with. Buying alcohol was different and I believe the age was 15, but Granny could send you to the local shop and the shop owner would serve you anyway regardless of age.

December 2008. The adoption of new laws and it is now 18.. The restriction states you have to be 18 or over to enter, spend time in or work in a club or bar.

"Minors are prohibited from entering or spending time, or being employed in any way whatsoever at clubs and purely bars as well as from consuming alcoholic drinks in any entertainment clubs. This prohibition does not apply for private events"

Στην Ελλάδα ο νόμος ποÏ! ψηφίσθηκε το Δεκέμβριο τοÏ! 2008 προβλέπει «Î'παγορεύεται σε ανηλίκοÏ!Ï‚ η είσοδος και παραμονή, καθώς και η οποιασδήποτε μορφής απασχόληση σε κέντρα διασκεδάσεως και αμιγή μπαρ, καθώς και η κατανάλωση αλκοολούχων ποτών σε όλα τα δημόσια κέντρα, εξαιροÏ!μένων των περιπτώσεων ιδιωτικών εκδηλώσεων

http://www.efrainein.gr/gr/enjoy-one.htm


How it works.. The new laws are law but they still work to the old system more or less. You get served in Tavernas and restaurants when eating and in the bars and clubs. If you're drunk and order another drink then it's your fault if you don't get change from that €20 note you gave the barman (that's not a reflection on the whole island just a few rogue barmen in the clubs I've seen). Too drunk and they throw you out on the street and maybe call the tourist police. They'll just say you came here in that state and caused a problem when they wouldn't let you in.

Over here in the UK the laws are here to protect you, not stop you from drinking.
In Greece you are responsible for your own actions.. you get drunk and fall down then nobody forced that alcohol down your throat.

Best rule to follow out in Greece is politeness. Efharistó = Thankyou & Yassou = Hello
You get so much more back with just a few little words.

Links
2002. http://www.geocities.jp/m_kato_clinic/mini-age-alcohol-eng-1.html
2010. http://www.icap.org/Table/MinimumAgeLimitsWorldwide
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When you are 18 you can make up for it and do a Bar Flair School course and work in Laganas =) I did it last year, was epic.

As for this year, go along to the beach for the Flair Comp.
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As the OP posted in September 2011, he will now be at least 20 or even 21 and I would suspect he has long made up for it!
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