Drinking Age in Costa Rica: What People Need to Know

Drinking Age in Costa Rica (2026): Legal & Cultural Guide for Tourists and Expats

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It’s golden hour in Tamarindo. The Pacific breeze, the relaxed atmosphere, and the sound of music spilling from open-air restaurants welcome visitors from all over the world. A group of travelers stops before ordering drinks, asking a question nearly every foreigner wonders: “What’s the actual legal drinking age in Costa Rica — and can we drink on the beach?”

Whether you’re visiting, studying abroad, or planning a long-term move, understanding Costa Rica’s drinking age and alcohol laws helps keep the trip enjoyable and out of trouble. Immigration attorney Sergio Monge put together this 2026 guide combining the legal detail with the practical, on-the-ground reality tourists and expats actually run into.

AG Legal is listed among recommended attorneys by the U.S. Embassy in San José and the UK FCDO’s Find a Lawyer directory for Costa Rica. Listing does not constitute an endorsement by either government.

Legal Drinking Age in Costa Rica

The legal drinking age in Costa Rica is 18. This applies to purchasing alcohol, consuming it in legal locations, and entering bars, casinos, and nightclubs. Businesses that serve minors risk heavy fines, closure, and loss of their alcohol permit — so age checks tend to be taken seriously, not just for show.

International Comparison

Here’s how Costa Rica compares to other popular tourist countries of origin:

Country	Drinking Age	Notes
Costa Rica	18	Public drinking banned by law, with specific exceptions.
United States	21	Strict enforcement.
Canada	18–19	Depends on the province.
UK / EU	18	Similar to Costa Rica.

ID Requirements

Establishments are expected to request identification from anyone who appears under 25. Accepted forms of ID include a passport, a foreign driver’s license, or a residency DIMEX card.

Public Drinking Laws in Costa Rica (The Legal Reality)

Costa Rica’s alcohol regulations are set out in the Law for the Regulation and Commercialization of Alcoholic Beverages (Law N° 9047). Under Article 9, subsection f, the law is direct on this point (see the official record of Law 9047 in Costa Rica’s legal database):

In practice, that means:

• You cannot legally drink alcohol on streets, sidewalks, beaches, parks, or other public places.
• Police are empowered to confiscate alcohol or issue warnings if the law is violated.
• Municipalities may authorize exceptions for festivals and public events.

The Practical Reality for Tourists

Although the law prohibits public consumption, enforcement in tourist destinations — Tamarindo, Jacó, Puerto Viejo, Manuel Antonio, Santa Teresa — tends to be more flexible in practice. Authorities typically tolerate public drinking as long as there’s no disorderly conduct, no excessive noise or disturbance, no dangerous behavior, and no minors involved.

But it’s worth being clear-eyed about this: tolerance isn’t permission. Enforcement is always at police discretion, and it can change depending on the town, the season, or simply who’s on duty that night. Alcohol isn’t the only area where this “tolerated in practice, not actually legal” gap comes up for visitors — our guide to marijuana laws in Costa Rica covers the same kind of practical distinction for cannabis.

Bars & Nightlife Regulations

Bars and clubs are required to verify age (18+), operate within their licensed hours, avoid serving visibly intoxicated patrons, and comply with municipal noise regulations.

Alcohol Sales in Stores

Supermarkets, convenience stores, and liquor shops may sell alcohol if licensed to do so. Typical sales hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., though this can vary slightly by municipality.

DUI Laws

Costa Rica’s DUI laws are strictly enforced, with checkpoints that are common rather than rare. Blood alcohol level (BAL) penalties break down as follows:

Driver Type	BAL	Penalty
General drivers	0.20–0.75 g/L	High fine plus penalty points.
General drivers	≥ 0.75 g/L	“Estado absoluto de ebriedad” under Article 143 of the Ley de Tránsito — license suspension, vehicle impoundment, and referral to the Fiscalía (public prosecutor) for a criminal case.
Novice drivers (first license, ≤ 3 years; excludes professional drivers)	≥ 0.50 g/L	Same “estado absoluto de ebriedad” bracket as above, but reached at a lower BAL — referral to the Fiscalía plus immediate loss of driving privileges for one year.

Costa Rica’s traffic law defines a “novice driver” as anyone who obtained their license for the first time and has held it for no more than three years — professional drivers are excluded from this category.

The fines and license suspension above are the baseline consequence — they’re not the worst-case scenario. If a DUI leads to a car accident with injuries, that can escalate into a criminal case, and criminal proceedings in Costa Rica can come with a court-ordered exit ban preventing the driver from leaving the country until the case is resolved. Our guide to car accidents and departure bans in Costa Rica covers how that process works and what it means for someone trying to get home.

For official traffic-safety information and enforcement policy, see COSEVI’s traffic regulations page (Consejo de Seguridad Vial, the government body overseeing road safety and enforcement).

What Happens During a DUI Stop

Checkpoints are common, not rare, especially on weekends and around holidays. If you’re stopped and asked to take a breathalyzer, here’s roughly what to expect:

• An initial breath test, followed by a second confirmatory test if the first one is positive.
• At the higher BAL bracket, officers typically detain the vehicle, and the driver can be taken into custody rather than simply issued a ticket.
• Refusing the test is treated as its own violation under Costa Rican traffic law — it isn’t a way to sidestep the underlying charge.
• If the stop follows a collision with injuries rather than a routine checkpoint, the matter moves from a traffic infraction into potential criminal territory — which is where an exit ban, discussed above, can come into play.

Car Rentals, Insurance, and Alcohol

A detail a lot of tourists miss until it’s too late: most rental car insurance policies in Costa Rica, like in most countries, exclude coverage for accidents where the driver was under the influence. That can leave you personally responsible for vehicle damage and third-party injury costs, on top of whatever traffic or criminal penalties apply. It’s worth reading your rental agreement’s alcohol clause before you sign, not after an accident.

Alcohol Sales During Holidays & Elections

The former national “dry law” restrictions on alcohol sales during Holy Week and election days have been removed. Individual municipalities may still impose their own localized restrictions, so it’s worth checking locally if you’re traveling during either period.

Cultural Context

Costa Ricans generally enjoy alcohol socially and in moderation. Visible public intoxication is frowned upon and can attract police attention, especially in smaller, family-oriented towns — a useful thing to keep in mind even where enforcement is otherwise relaxed.

Travel Safety Tips

• Use authorized taxis or ride-hailing apps at night.
• Keep your drink in sight at bars and events.
• Respect local communities and posted noise rules.
• Don’t drink in public unless you’re clearly inside a permitted event area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you drink on the beach in Costa Rica?

Not legally. Public drinking is prohibited under Law 9047 unless the area is part of a municipally authorized event. In tourist zones, enforcement may be more tolerant, but it’s never a legal right.

What is the legal drinking age in Costa Rica?

18 years old, for both residents and foreign visitors.

Can police confiscate alcohol in public?

Yes. Police are authorized to confiscate alcohol or issue warnings for public drinking under Law 9047.

Is public intoxication illegal?

It becomes a legal issue if it causes disorder or risk to others — police may intervene at that point, even where casual public drinking is otherwise tolerated.

Can tourists buy alcohol at 18?

Yes. The legal drinking age applies equally to Costa Rican citizens and foreign visitors.

Is alcohol allowed during public festivals?

Only within areas officially designated and marked by the municipality for that event — not throughout the surrounding streets or beach.

What ID should tourists carry?

A passport is the safest and most universally accepted form of ID for buying alcohol or entering bars and clubs.

Do bars check ID?

Yes, especially in tourist areas, given the fines and permit risk businesses face for serving minors.

What time can you buy alcohol?

Generally between 8:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., though hours can vary slightly by municipality.

Is drunk driving strictly punished?

Yes. Costa Rica enforces strict DUI laws with frequent checkpoints, and penalties scale quickly from fines to license suspension and vehicle impoundment.

Does the DUI limit apply the same way to new drivers?

No. Costa Rican law defines a “novice driver” as anyone within the first three years of holding a license for the first time (professional drivers are excluded from this category). Novice drivers hit the criminal-referral threshold at a lower level — 0.50 g/L in a breath test instead of 0.75 g/L for general drivers — and typically lose their license immediately for one year if caught over that limit.

What happens if I refuse a breathalyzer test?

Refusing the test is treated as its own violation under Costa Rican traffic law — it isn’t a way to avoid the underlying DUI charge.

Does rental car insurance cover an accident if the driver had been drinking?

Generally no. Most rental agreements in Costa Rica exclude coverage for alcohol-related accidents, which can leave the driver personally liable for vehicle damage and injury costs.

Further Reading

• Marijuana Laws in Costa Rica
• Car Accidents and Departure Bans in Costa Rica

This content is general information only and does not constitute legal advice for a specific case. Please confirm your situation with a qualified attorney.