Alcohol under 21

[duchy]

Years ago my cousin was nannying in Pacific Pallisades in California, the only place that didn't card her was the British pub in Santa Monica. Even back then the American and British attitude to drinking under age was quite different.
I have come across Brits getting quite stroppy that in Vegas their "adult" children can't drink or hang out in the casinos and even trying to sneak them drinks. I can see similar issues with the DDP once alcohol is included. If drinking is that important to a teenager then maybe between the ages of 18 and 20 America loses some of its appeal and it's not a great choice for a family holiday though.
Luckily my son decided he doesn't like the taste of alcohol so we never had to experience getting sulked at for enjoying a drink on holiday, but I'm sure it does happen, tongue in cheek or otherwise especially as older teens are far more likely to be holidaying with parents nowadays as moreare still in full time education so less likely to have the money for non family funded holidays.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by duchy

Years ago my cousin was nannying in Pacific Pallisades in California, the only place that didn't card her was the British pub in Santa Monica. Even back then the American and British attitude to drinking under age was quite different.
I have come across Brits getting quite stroppy that in Vegas their "adult" children can't drink or hang out in the casinos and even trying to sneak them drinks. I can see similar issues with the DDP once alcohol is included. If drinking is that important to a teenager then maybe between the ages of 18 and 20 America loses some of its appeal and it's not a great choice for a family holiday though.
Luckily my son decided he doesn't like the taste of alcohol so we never had to experience getting sulked at for enjoying a drink on holiday, but I'm sure it does happen, tongue in cheek or otherwise especially as older teens are far more likely to be holidaying with parents nowadays as moreare still in full time education so less likely to have the money for non family funded holidays.

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I agree some UK teenagers, who are old enough to drink in the UK, could be sulky over not being able to drink in the US. It could make the US a less favourable choice for some during the ages of 18-21. Laws of any country you travel in have to be adhered to though, and the drinking age is exactly that, so it has to be obeyed.

My DD will be celebrating her 18th birthday in Disney next year but even if she was in the UK she wouldn't have alcohol to celebrate. She, like your son, just doesn't like the taste. Both DH and I drink alcohol, so does her older brothers, but she doesn't think she will ever drink. Of course, she may change as she gets older (uni years 😀 ). However, I do think there are quite a lot of UK teens who are now realising the 'drinking culture' in the UK isn't a sensible, healthy thing to do and are deciding not to drink.

[Kat11]

He can’t buy a beer but he can buy a gun. Now there’s a real debate! Better off sticking by the rules of the country you are in I say, not worth the hassle or stress of getting caught having an alcoholic drink.

Kat

[barryp1]

Originally Posted by Kat11

He can’t buy a beer but he can buy a gun. Now there’s a real debate! Better off sticking by the rules of the country you are in I say, not worth the hassle or stress of getting caught having an alcoholic drink.

Kat

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He can't buy a gun if he's not a US citizen.

[YorkshireT]

Go to places like some of the counties around the Smokies, or Utah. You can't even get beer outside a liquor store some places. This year I was in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Giant supermarket had recently been given a beer license. The selection was phenomenal, 20 yards of craft ale. To buy I had to purchase from a 'restaurant'. This 'restaurant' was a counter with a girl on a till next to the beer isle with a bar stool infront. She carded me (first time in 15 years) we both started laughing. Then I had to pay her for my beer, and she puts a sticker on so I didn't have to pay at the main checkout.
This is the problem with some of these ridiculous laws, you encounter ludicrous situations like this to 'get around ' the fact a supermarket couldn't just sell beer.
I also went in a liquor store near Cape Cod this year (he didn't card me even though it said they card everyone) and that had a 'Board of Shame' with all the fake IDs they'd confiscated pinned on it. Quite amusing, many a photo of a spotty youth, there were tons of them on there.

[YorkshireT]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaffodil

I agree some UK teenagers, who are old enough to drink in the UK, could be sulky over not being able to drink in the US. It could make the US a less favourable choice for some during the ages of 18-21. Laws of any country you travel in have to be adhered to though, and the drinking age is exactly that, so it has to be obeyed.

My DD will be celebrating her 18th birthday in Disney next year but even if she was in the UK she wouldn't have alcohol to celebrate. She, like your son, just doesn't like the taste. Both DH and I drink alcohol, so does her older brothers, but she doesn't think she will ever drink. Of course, she may change as she gets older (uni years 😀 ). However, I do think there are quite a lot of UK teens who are now realising the 'drinking culture' in the UK isn't a sensible, healthy thing to do and are deciding not to drink.

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Time has certainly changed! Is your daughter off to university? That was like a alcoholic stupor a lot of the time. Even doing A levels Monday nights were 10 pence a pint night, and every Saturday was a big night out.
I only drink about 4 to 6 pints a week now though. Can't take a lot of drinking now I'm 46.

[angelbabe]

Originally Posted by barryp1

He can't buy a gun if he's not a US citizen.

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We are not US citizens and neither are our neighbours who visit for 6 months of the year. We all have various firearms and enjoy the shooting ranges. We are not allowed a concealed weapon permit, you do have to be a US citizen for that.

As far as drinking under the age of 21 though, it's an absolute no. Especially here in the South, for some reason they are a little more lenient in the North (ie NY).

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

Time has certainly changed! Is your daughter off to university? That was like a alcoholic stupor a lot of the time. Even doing A levels Monday nights were 10 pence a pint night, and every Saturday was a big night out.
I only drink about 4 to 6 pints a week now though. Can't take a lot of drinking now I'm 46.

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I know how you feel, not so easy as we get older 😀. My daughter is 17 at the moment, studying A levels. I agree she may change when she goes to uni but she seems certain she won't. Many of her friends drink now at parties in their homes but my daughter doesn't like the taste so doesn't join in, she doesn't drink fizzy drinks either as she doesn't like the taste.

She isn't the only one in her friendship group like this. Many of them feel alcohol is unnecessary for enjoying themselves and don't want to get drunk. She does love a good coffee shop though ☺ and often go to Costa to socialise instead of a pub as I used to at her age.

[Kat11]

[QUOTE=barryp1;12983029]He can't buy a gun if he's not a US citizen.[/

Aww... well that’s alright then. Panic over 😉

Kat

[YorkshireT]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaffodil

I know how you feel, not so easy as we get older 😀. My daughter is 17 at the moment, studying A levels. I agree she may change when she goes to uni but she seems certain she won't. Many of her friends drink now at parties in their homes but my daughter doesn't like the taste so doesn't join in, she doesn't drink fizzy drinks either as she doesn't like the taste.

She isn't the only one in her friendship group like this. Many of them feel alcohol is unnecessary for enjoying themselves and don't want to get drunk. She does love a good coffee shop though ☺ and often go to Costa to socialise instead of a pub as I used to at her age.

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I have a near 14 year old girl. Likes the smoothies at Starbucks (a pint of beer is cheaper). She hasn't shown an interest in drinking. However she just asked to go to a sleepover and party this weekend, where she said they'll have alcohol! Apparently the mother of the girl holding it has said this is OK. I've said she's not going. Too young for that mallarky. I was 16 before I hit the pubs.