Can a 16 year old drink in The Bahamas?

When visiting the beautiful Bahamas there are many younger individuals that wonder, what’s the legal drinking age in the Bahamas?

The legal drinking age in the Bahamas is 18 years old. If you’re planning to go on bars or buy one at the stores, make sure that you bring an ID with you just in case.

Is the Bahamas strict on drinking age?

If you’re thinking about “trying-your-luck” and buy alcohol in Bahamas, then you might want to know that they normally are quite tough when it comes to checking the age of the person ordering something to drink if they think they are to young (under 18 in this case).

So, if you are planning a trip to the Bahamas and you’re under 18 years old. Then you need to decide on the following:

Is drinking important to you.

If it is then I suggest you to plan your trip elsewhere, and if it’s not, then WELCOME to the Bahamas.

If you decide to visit the Bahamas then I would really recommend you to check out our two guides listing what the 5 most popular drinks and the 10 most popular beers are in Bahamas (don’t forget to have fun and drink responsibly).

5 Most popular drinks in Bahamas

A tropical cocktail is really the cherry on top to make your Bahamas vacation a luxury.

But it’s not necessarily bank-breaking. The cost of an average mixed cocktail in Nassau, Bahamas is around $10.

With that said, here are the top 5 most popular mixed alcoholic drinks that you might want to try:

#1 – Bahama Mama

You can’t leave the Bahamas without even trying the iconic Bahama Mama.

It’s a rum cocktail with coffee liqueur, and Bahama’s local pineapple and orange juice.

This tropical cocktail has a lot of variations available. You can get it over ice or as an alcoholic slushie.

A perfect way to beat the heat

#2 – Rum Punch

Another rum cocktail, the Rum Punch is definitely one of the most popular drinks on the island.

It’s a blend of two to three types of rum, grenadine syrup, orange juice, lime juice, pineapple juice, and nutmeg.

#3 – Goombay Smash

There is a good reason why Goombay Smash is the national drink of the Bahamas.

For the authentic experience, you have to go to Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar on the Abaco Islands for their secret family recipe of Goombay Smash.

It’s impossible to find the real thing anywhere in the Bahamas.

Miss Emily’s cocktail contains the freshest tropical punch flavors of coconut and pineapple mixed with rum.

#4 – Piña Colada

You don’t need to get caught in the rain to like Piña Colada.

No tropical vacation is complete without this iconic pineapple and coconut drink with rom.

#5 – Rebellious Fish

This one-of-a-kind drink is served only on Norwegian Cruise Line ships visiting the Bahamas.

This cocktail combines punchy citrus flavors from orange juice, orange vodka, and orange liqueur finished off with sparkling wine and passion fruit.

Rebellious Fish is served in a fishbowl with fresh berries.

10 Most popular beers in Bahamas

If a fruit cocktail is not for you, you can’t get any better than a cold one on a sunny beach trip.

Your standard Bahamian pint beer only costs around $4.

Locals are absolutely serious about their Bahamian beers whether it is at a barbecue or a lazy afternoon at the beach.

Lucky for you, they love telling everyone how great their beers are, and, well, they are not wrong.

Here are the top 10 most popular beers in the Bahamas that both local and tourists can’t get enough of:

#1 – Kalik

Kalik is the island’s most popular lager-style beer.

This beer holds a cultural significance to the Bahamians so it’s not surprising that this is their top beer.

Kalik is actually a sound that cowbells make when its rung.

During the island’s celebration of Junkanoo, locals perform music day and night, and cowbells are a huge part of it.

So, it only makes sense that their famous beer is not only known for its taste but for its cultural branding.

Kalik also comes in different varieties (Gold, Light, Light Platinum, and Radler) depending on how strong you like it.

#2 – Bahamian Brewery SANDS

A contender to Kalik,  SANDS is a smoother, less flavor, and a lighter less filling beer.

This beer has a soft and pleasant texture which you’ll taste a nice note of bitterness.

The perfect beer for a light drink during a meal.

#3 – Pirate Republic Island Pirate Ale

Made from the only brewery that prides itself on being the only craft beer in the Bahamas, Island Pirate Ale is the first IPA brewed by Pirate Republic Brewing Co.

This beer has strong flavors of pine with hints of citrus and tropical fruit. Island Pirate Ale definitely sticks to the flavor palate of The Bahamas.

#4 – Bahamian Brewery Bush Crack

Compared to the previous beers, Bush Crack is on the lighter side but its high alcohol content rivals other beers.

Neither hoppy or thick, it’s a good smooth beer if you’re trying beers for the first time.

#5 – Pirate Republic Yo Ho Ho

Another beer from the Pirate Republic, the Yo Ho Ho is a staple at every brewpub.

It has a nice malt base with a perfect blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and peppery spices.

But make no mistake, Pirate Republic’s Yo Ho Ho is not your average winter spice beers.

This still captures a perfect night out on the coasts of the Bahamas.

#6 – Pirate Republic Take No Quarter

Bahamians really do love their craft brews from Pirate Republic.

This beer has flavors of citrus, light fruits, and hints of bitter hops with a floral aroma.

Take No Quarter has a medium body with a moderate bitterness that is strong but not to the point that it is unpleasant.

#7 – Bahamian Brewery Strong Back Stout

This beer is noticeably smooth even with its high alcohol content.

Strong Back Stout is brewed with roasted barley and cold-filtered fermented yeast.

It’s rich in taste but leaves no bitterness in your tongue.

If you’re a dark malt drinker, then this beer is definitely for you.

#8 – Pirate Republic Gold & Haze of Piracy

Gold & Haze Piracy is known for its hazy appearance from the unfiltered and suspended yeast.

This refreshing and light beer has notes of cloves, spice, and orange peel which is absolutely perfect for a breezy afternoon on a community barbecue.

#9 – Pirate Republic Captain Kidd’s Kölsch

Kölsch is made from Columbus hops and sweet yeasts brewed with aromatic and caramel malts.

This beer is perfectly balanced with a touch of Munich that adds more to its flavor without sacrificing the satisfactory gulp.

#10 – Bahamian Brewery High Rock Lager

This complete full-bodied beer is brewed with malt, water, hops, and yeast.

A lager beer like this takes longer to make to give a wholesome flavor but surprisingly, even with its strong of a flavor, this beer goes down very smooth.

Now you have your list of must-try-alcohols, you need a perfect place to get that animal party in you going.

Sure, partaking in a casual drinking session on the coasts or on a cruise sounds amazing but what if you’re craving for the best Bahamian nightlife of your trip?

Popular Bars in the Bahamas

Here is a shortlist of the top bar and club contenders that not only will you have a great time partying at, but also have their top-notch drinks:

Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar

Located at Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas, this bar gave birth to the perfection of the Bahamas’ national drink Goombay Smash.

All thanks to Miss Emily when she made it back in 1960.

This popular bar screams tradition and history. Its interior is decorated full of notes and business cards of the visitors.

Their ceiling is even full of the tourists’ hats, t-shirts, and other belongings.

Definitely mark this location for your trip to leave some memorabilia of your own!

The Dune Bar

If you don’t want to escape the beautiful ocean but still want to party like no tomorrow, then The Dune Bar might be your spot.

Located in the Paradise Island Drive in The Ocean Club, this open-air bar offers a panoramic view of the ocean.

Don’t forget to order one of their signature dishes and drinks specially designed by their chef.

Bahama Boom Beach Club

This bar in Nassau hosts different themed parties every night that you might just need to spice things up.

Don’t miss their Thirsty Thursday where they offer huge discounts on their drinks.

A perfect locale for an evening beach party, Bahama Boom Beach Club is definitely one of the best nightclubs in the city.

These lists are only a taste of what the Bahamas can offer.

But what you can be sure about is that this island can be one of your perfect tropical getaways filled with vibrant surprises.

So go book your trip and quench your party-life thirst!

Related questions:

Can you drink in the Bahamas at 18 on a cruise?

No, you cannot drink on a cruise if you’re under the age of 21, and if you drink underage while in port you may be punished/sentenced by that country’s legal system and laws (Bahamas in this case).

Can you drink tap water in Bahamas?

When ask about if you can drink the water they normally talk about the tap water, and the tap water is drinkable in the Bahamas.

But, I would still recommend you to drink bottled water and that’s especially when visiting smaller restaurants, pubs etc. because you never know how their hygiene, waterpipes etc are.

When it comes to resorts they are more likely to have their tap water under control since they normally have installed filters and very often have a higher chlorinated tap water.

What is illegal in the Bahamas?

There are many things that are illegal in the Bahamas, just like many other countries and since we’ve earlier been talking about alcohol, I thought I would focus on other drugs.

When looking at marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine are all illegal drugs in the Bahamas and if you’re caught using or having it on you then you are subject to the laws of Bahamas.

Can you drink at 16 in The Bahamas?

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