Alcohol at Disney

[BJH dunmow]

How strict are they on serving alcohol to those who are under 18 in the Disney Restaurants / Orlando area?

I ask, as I come fom the UK we are very relaxed on this sort of thing, and I personally, am quite happy for my son who is under the age of 18, to have the odd glass of wine with a meal. But I have been told that this will not go down well in Disney or anywhere else in the USA for that matter.

I don't want to get in trouble when we visit, so without getting a morale lecture, I was hoping that someone could put ne straight on this.

Many thanks

 

[lunsusie]

The legal drinking age in Florida is 21 and is enforced. A server can be legally charged if they serve to an underage drinker. I have seen WDW servers ask for ID from folks who "look" to be underage.

 

[Kath2003]

At 20, nowhere in the USA would serve me any alcohol even with a meal.
The drinking age is 21 and HEAVILY enforced. No chance of your son getting an alcoholic drink.

 

[BraveMom3]

I believe it is strictly enforced at WDW. They even put "children's" drinks in different cups than "adult" beverages so security can tell the difference when they see an underage person drinking from a cup. For instance, smoothies could be mistaken for an alcoholic beverage, but they are served in a specific cup for that reason. A server at EPCOT once told me that security watches for this very closely, and if they even saw an adult offering a child a "taste" of their beverage, they would be arrested!

 

[Claire L]

As a UK person myself and having been to the US many times aged under the age of 21 and also over the age of 21, you will not get served with alcohol unless you can show that you are over 21 with ID such as a pasport or photocard driving licence. I have been 'carded' many times even last year when I was 31!!! Oh and the law is strictly enforced re an under 21 drinking, same goes for drinking in public places and also when carrying alcohol in the car, it has to be in the trunk.

Claire

 

[spaceacewannabe]

As a UK person myself and having been to the US many times aged under the age of 21 and also over the age of 21, you will not get served with alcohol unless you can show that you are over 21 with ID such as a pasport or photocard driving licence. I have been 'carded' many times even last year when I was 31!!! Oh and the law is strictly enforced re an under 21 drinking, same goes for drinking in public places and also when carrying alcohol in the car, it has to be in the trunk.

Claire

Doesn't have to be in the trunk, just can't be open...although I guess it may be different in Florida. In Texas, you can have an open beverage as long as it's not the driver (I hope...we're not even sure about that. Apparently they have drive-through beer stands?)

I'm guessing it must be different in Florida...I'd look up the state regulations. In Wisconsin, minors can drink in the presence (and with the permission) of their of-age parents and/or spouse.

Edited to say: I looked it up, and according to http://www.youthrights.org/dastatelist.shtml
Florida
- No one under the age of 21 is allowed to consume or posses alcohol. But interestingly you can taste (can't consume) an alcoholic beverage if it is required of a class in a postsecondary educational institution (college) but only if you're at least 18 years of age. It's illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a BAC of .02 or higher if under the age of 21. For anyone 21 years of age or older may not drive if they have a BAC of .08 or higher.

So, in Florida he can't drink.

 

[BJH dunmow]

Thanks for the replies, and I will take it as a 'NO' that he can't have a drink.

Its a good job we are close to France as it almost obligatory there. LOL

Bruce

 

[Sarnia]

I was asked for proof of age at the outside bar by Captain Jack's at Downtown Disney a couple of years ago when I was 34 . It made me feel great until she explained they ask almost everyone...bah.

We are going in April with my wife's family, including her sister, who will be 19. There's no chance that she will be able to drink alcohol in any of the bars or restaurants, and as said above, they take underage drinking very seriously, so it's not worth risking getting in trouble.

True on France hehe, there they offer drink to anyone who looks over 15 or so, and raise an eyebrow if they say no thanks

 

[digskat]

I'm 31 and was asked for ID this Fall @ Epcot. So I doubt you'd get a sip of wine for your son. The legal drinking age is 19 in Canada and I can remeber visiting FLA when I was 20 and could not get a drink.

 

[TDC Nala]

They are quite strict, and the drinking age is 21. The policies are different from the UK. Sorry about that, but your son will have to abstain while he's there.