An alcoholic beverage is a drink that contains ethanol (commonly called alcohol). Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. Alcoholic beverages are consumed in almost every nation and at the same time the majority of them have laws in which they regulate the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

In particular, laws specify the minimum age at which a person may legally buy them or drink them. This minimum age can be as low as 16 years in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Most countries, however, set their minimum age at 18 years.[citation needed] In Germany, 14-year-old persons may drink low-alcohol beverages if their parents are present.

Alcoholic beverages are a part of most European cultures, and children in these cultures may occasionally drink alcohol during meals with their family. The production and consumption of alcohol occurs in most cultures of the world, from hunter-gatherer peoples to nation-states. Alcoholic beverages may be an important part of social events in these cultures.

In many cultures, drinking plays a significant role in social interaction—mainly because of alcohol’s neurological effects.

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