drinking age in fiji

My 18 year old son is going to Beachcomber in November. I read somewhere the legal drinking age in Fiji is 21 but at 18 you can purchase duty free alcohol. What is the legal age? Will he be refused if he tries to buy alcohol on Beachcomber? Should I be advising him to expect a 'dry' holiday?

As far as I know (we were having this argument the other night) the drinking age is officially 21 but you are allowed to be in a pub when you are 18. That said I have never heard of anyone checking ID at any bars in Fiji, and I have personally seen kids of about 13-14 having a quiet beer at our local!

Your son won't have any trouble finding a drink at beachcomber, If he takes his own bottle of spirits he can always just pull up under the nearest palm tree if things get desperate.

I am 20 years old and I recently spent 5 months in Fiji. I never saw the supposed 21+ law enforced in any bar, restaurant, or resort. Your son won't have any problems getting served at Beachcomber. I don't think there is any such thing as a "dry holiday" on that island. However, I would advise him to pick up something at duty free as spirits tend to be somewhat expensive in Fiji as they are almost all imported.

Local stuff is pretty reasonable, a 750ml bottle of 58% Bounty rum is about $37 FJD, vodka is about $40, whiskey $45.

On the flip side, I have seen a 700ml bottle of Malibu on sale for $125.