Plenty of us enjoy a drink when we're on holiday, whether that's a cold pint of beer while lying by the pool, an Aperol Spritz on the beach, or a glass of wine at sunset.

Naturally, we all know the standard rules around safe drinking. Don't drink and drive, don't drink until you've reached the legal age, and always stay safe.

But some countries may have alcohol-related laws you don't know about.

You need to exercise caution when travelling to a new place, particularly if you're not familiar with its drinking rules and etiquette. 

Rules are also often changing - for instance, this year, Thailand implemented new drinking laws.

And some countries have unconventional rules that you need to obey.

Here's our guide to the surprising drinking laws around the world that could catch you out on holiday...

Four countries in the EU - Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia - demand that you have zero alcohol in your system when getting behind the wheel.

This means you can't even have a single drink before driving.

If you're caught, you could face penalties such as fines, license suspension or even imprisonment. This applies to all drivers, including commercial and new drivers. 

Tourists have been warned about new drinking laws in Thailand - and the hefty fines they could face if they break the rules. New laws come into force on November 8, 2025.

A ban on alcohol sales between 2pm and 5pm, and again from midnight to 11am, will be enforced.

Buying or being served a drink during these hours – even at convenience stores – could lead to fines.

Anyone consuming alcohol outside of the permitted hours could receive a fine of up to THB 10,000 (around £230). 

Ireland is often thought of as a paradise for drink lovers, as the home of Guinness. But the country does prohibit drinking in some instances. Irish Rail prohibits drinking onboard trains.

Its website explains: 'Customers are advised that alcohol is not permitted on any Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail service until further notice.

'Non-alcoholic drinks, including "0 per cent" or "0.0 per cent" products, are permitted onboard.'

The only exception is the cross-border Belfast-Dublin service, where you are allowed to consume alcohol bought onboard only.

In Sweden, alcohol can generally only be bought in state-owned shops, or at licensed bars and restaurants.

Sweden allows beer up to 3.5 per cent to be sold in supermarkets or other stores. 

Strong alcohol above this limit is sold exclusively through the government-owned chain of stores Systembolaget, and customers must be at least 20 years old.

This could be an important rule to know - in Norway, drinking in public is forbidden and punishable by fines.

Police are known to hand out penalties on the spot - and some of those caught breaking the country's Alcohol Act have been fined more than £300. 

Bars and restaurants with outdoor tables are fine, but if you drink alcohol in public parks or on the street, you could face a hefty fine. 

Turkey also has drinking laws tourists must be aware of.

Alcohol consumption is legal in Turkey, however there are specific places and conditions where it is prohibited. 

For example, consuming alcohol is not allowed in mosques, schools, hospitals, on the street and in public areas such as parks and picnic areas.

This isn't surprising, given the country's Islamic roots, which you should be aware of when travelling in Turkey. 

This rather quirky rule is unlikely to get you into any trouble on your next holiday, but stands nonetheless. 

In some parts of Alaska, it is illegal to give alcohol to a moose. 

The bizarre law has its roots in a real-life issue in the 1970s, when a moose got drunk after consuming fermented fruit in Fairbanks. The intoxicated moose caused chaos in the town.

As such, it was established drunken moose could be dangerous - and so authorities in Fairbank made it illegal to give alcohol to a moose. 

Both Muslim countries, the UAE and Morocco have strict rules around drinking.

While you can buy and drink alcohol in both, it is illegal to be intoxicated in public in either place.

In both countries, alcohol consumption is permitted only within licensed venues or private residences.

In the UAE, violators can face severe penalties, including fines of up to AED 100,000 (around £21,840), imprisonment for up to six months, or deportation. 

In Morocco, fines can be around 500MAD (£40).

Australia isn't the place that springs to mine when considering alcohol restriction.

Indeed, the stereotype goes that Australians enjoy a pint as much as us Brits.

But regional officers have been known to ban alcohol on certain days of the year - particularly national holidays such as Australia Day.

The US has plenty of alternative drinking laws - for instance, their drinking age is 21, higher than in the UK.

Another restriction is the longstanding 'open container' law, which means carrying alcohol outside in public places risks an instant fine regardless of whether you were drinking it. 

The rules differ from state to state, so it's always worth checking before you travel.