Drinking in Epcot - question

[amarberry]

um, the info being posted is not entirly true. I am not sure about Florida's exact law, but in Ohio a parent of age can give their underage child alcohol, and a spouce of age can give their underage spouce alcohol.

for ohio...

No one under the age of 21 is allowed to possess or consume any alcohol in any public or private place, unless the underage person is accompanied by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian. Also anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to possess or consume any low-alcohol beverage in any public or private place, unless accompanied by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian. The limit of intoxication to drive a vehicle for someone under 21 years of age is a concentration of at least two-hundredths of one gram but less than ten-hundredths of one gram by weight of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of the person's breath. For everyone 21 years of age or more it's concentration of ten-hundredths of one per cent or more but less than seventeen-hundredths of one per cent by weight of alcohol in the person's blood.


for florida...

a couple of quickie searchs come up with the same thing, no one under 21, no matter what.

A parent can order a drink for a minor in Wisconsin too (don't know about the spouse thing though). This topic seems to come up every so often and the OP (usually a parent) always gets jumped on because people don't realize that it is legal in some states for parents to purchase alcohol for their underage children.

 

[hezreck]

A parent can order a drink for a minor in Wisconsin too (don't know about the spouse thing though). This topic seems to come up every so often and the OP (usually a parent) always gets jumped on because people don't realize that it is legal in some states for parents to purchase alcohol for their underage children.

This is true. I live in Ohio and worked as a waitress in a restaurant for 5 years (about 10 years ago) At that time, a parent could order a drink for their underage child, but I could not serve the drink to the child. I had to place the drink in the parent's hand. They could then give it to the child.
Also, when I turned 19, I could serve the alcohol, but I could not make the drinks or open beers. I could not make or open beers in the restaurant until I turned 21. Before age 19 I could not serve the drinks at all. Someone 19 or older had to deliver the drinks to the table.

I don't know if this is still the case, but I haven't heard differently.

 

[disnut8]

I actually believe (not to be a completely anal) that the laws are actually state laws, not US laws. In other words, the US doesn't really have a drinking age as the individual states set that limit. I thought that was why Louisinana went back and forth a few times between 18 and 21 recently.

Also, some states allow exceptions for minors when in the company of a parent or in a private setting with a parent.

I don't know the Florida law, but I will just about guarantee that it's against the law to drink at all in public, even when being supervised. Possibly in private with the supervision of a parent, but even that may not be true in Florida.

Thank you for saying this wihout me having to go through the rest of the thread. As with a lot of the "US" laws, drinking ages can vary from state to state. I believe all 50 states have the same 21 years or old law to purchase alcohol. Obviously, this can change and vary. There is no national across the board age. Same thing with driver's licenses. The voting age is nationwide and is in the Constitution. (slug, you are not the only one being anal today!). From the responses here, states will vary about the CONSUMPTION of alcohol. Here in Georgia, a mother was arrested for supplying in her home alcohol for her high school son and his friends because she knew they would be imbibing anyway and wanted a "safe" place for them to do it.

Disney World is very strict with the enforcement of alcohol purchasing. It's one person, one drink and you should always have photo ID with you to prove your age. To me, without any knowledge of Florida law, I would take that as a sign that the drink was meant to be consumed by that person and that person only.

 

[slug]

Thank you for saying this wihout me having to go through the rest of the thread. As with a lot of the "US" laws, drinking ages can vary from state to state. I believe all 50 states have the same 21 years or old law to purchase alcohol. Obviously, this can change and vary. There is no national across the board age. Same thing with driver's licenses. The voting age is nationwide and is in the Constitution. (slug, you are not the only one being anal today!). From the responses here, states will vary about the CONSUMPTION of alcohol. Here in Georgia, a mother was arrested for supplying in her home alcohol for her high school son and his friends because she knew they would be imbibing anyway and wanted a "safe" place for them to do it.

Disney World is very strict with the enforcement of alcohol purchasing. It's one person, one drink and you should always have photo ID with you to prove your age. To me, without any knowledge of Florida law, I would take that as a sign that the drink was meant to be consumed by that person and that person only.

One way the US can provide "incentive" (Read: "force") for the states to have a particular age is to condition federal funds on compliance with a minimum requirement. Something like "we'll give states x dollars for highways so long as the drinking age is 21."

I thought Louisianna had a lower age a couple of years ago.

Re: the mother in Georgia - even if there were an exception there, I highly doubt it would extend to her children's friends - probably just for their own kids.

 

[northcapemaymom]

You're with your mom....just use discretion....and don't look guilty while you're doing it. Enjoy your trip whether "dry" or not. I think the whole 21 thing is overblown (compared to the cultures of other countries). I think the majority of Americans did not wait until they were 21 to enjoy their first drink - legality aside.

 

[wilde_oscar]

One way the US can provide "incentive" (Read: "force") for the states to have a particular age is to condition federal funds on compliance with a minimum requirement. Something like "we'll give states x dollars for highways so long as the drinking age is 21."

I thought Louisianna had a lower age a couple of years ago.

Re: the mother in Georgia - even if there were an exception there, I highly doubt it would extend to her children's friends - probably just for their own kids.

Yeah, that went to the Supreme Court and it was ruled unconstitutional to tie federal funds to a states drinking age.

 

[estherhead]

um, the info being posted is not entirly true. I am not sure about Florida's exact law, but in Ohio a parent of age can give their underage child alcohol, and a spouce of age can give their underage spouce alcohol.

for ohio...

No one under the age of 21 is allowed to possess or consume any alcohol in any public or private place, unless the underage person is accompanied by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian. Also anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to possess or consume any low-alcohol beverage in any public or private place, unless accompanied by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian. The limit of intoxication to drive a vehicle for someone under 21 years of age is a concentration of at least two-hundredths of one gram but less than ten-hundredths of one gram by weight of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of the person's breath. For everyone 21 years of age or more it's concentration of ten-hundredths of one per cent or more but less than seventeen-hundredths of one per cent by weight of alcohol in the person's blood.


for florida...

a couple of quickie searchs come up with the same thing, no one under 21, no matter what.

Hmmm, I'm from Ohio & I always under stood here that if I was at dinner at my own house & my own dad wanted to let me have a bit of wine at our dinner table he was allowed but he was not allowed to let me have a sip of his wine if we were out to dinner at a restaurant. I think that is what this is basically saying.

Which makes it illegal at Epcot since you are basically at a restaurant. I can't imagine a 20 year old looking young enough, though, for security to come up & ask. But as others have mentioned, it sured would be a bummer to get penalized or arrested at Disney

 

[slug]

Yeah, that went to the Supreme Court and it was ruled unconstitutional to tie federal funds to a states drinking age.

Yeah but i believe by the time it was challenged, most states that had an age limit of 18 had already switched to 21.

I thought the feds could condition funds to states on certain things as long as there was some sort of relationship between the withholding and the law? I can't remember first year of law school anymore.

 

[slug]

Yeah, that went to the Supreme Court and it was ruled unconstitutional to tie federal funds to a states drinking age.

Actually, I just did a quick search. Apparently South Dakota sued claiming the law was unconstitutional. The supreme court UPHELD the law, finding there was a relationship between the law and highway funds. At the time, South Dakota had a 19 year old age and switched to 21 thereafter. Justice O'Conner dissented.

 

[TinkerFairy]

My brother and his wife (then girlfriend) had the same problem at CBR. They had brought money down to the pool and when they tried to get a drink were refused without ID. And they were 28 and 29 at the time. The bartender refused. They argued with him saying that they were both lawyers. A patron sitting by them at the bar asked if they were in law school, and my brother was like "NO - I graduated from law school 5 years ago. I work for a law firm in DC." After that patron left, the bartender quietly told my brother and his wife that the guy was a "plant" - checking to make sure he (the bartender) didn't sell alcohol to anyone without ID and that he could have lost his job to sell it to them, even if they were in fact 29! He said they didn't always know who was checking up on them, but he was certain that that particular "guest" was. So don't blame the bartenders!

Not Disney, but I get re I.D'd all the time at the casino's in downtown Detroit.
You have to be 21 to enter, but I still get checked at the bar, I'm a young looking 24, look more like 16 .

The bartenders told me state police send people in a lot to check them out and make sure they aren't providing to minors.
Which I'll never understand, if you have to be 21 to get in, they'd have a bigger issue than just underage drinking on their hands.

 

[GreyStr0ke]

Not Disney, but I get re I.D'd all the time at the casino's in downtown Detroit.
You have to be 21 to enter, but I still get checked at the bar, I'm a young looking 24, look more like 16 .

The bartenders told me state police send people in a lot to check them out and make sure they aren't providing to minors.
Which I'll never understand, if you have to be 21 to get in, they'd have a bigger issue than just underage drinking on their hands.

I was at abar last week where they were scanning ID's at the door to make sure each one was legit. I then went inside to the bar and ordered a drink and the carded me again.

 

[perd]

I meant that she could order one drink, and we would share it. I had always heard that if you were with your legal guardian and they were the one allowing you to drink, it was legal. Perhaps that's just in my state, or only in certain places.

Looks like I'll have to wait to have sake. D:

I thought that was only in your own home that it was legal for a parent to give their child a drink.

 

[AdamsPrincess]

A parent can order a drink for a minor in Wisconsin too (don't know about the spouse thing though). This topic seems to come up every so often and the OP (usually a parent) always gets jumped on because people don't realize that it is legal in some states for parents to purchase alcohol for their underage children.

Actually that is not true anymore! Sorry.

 

[amarberry]

Actually that is not true anymore! Sorry.

When did they change it? It's been a few years since I was a cheesehead (college, post college).

 

[Princess_Belle]

here is the info form wikipedia I found

all states have a minimum purchase age of 21. Unlike the states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam have a minimum purchase age of 18.

Wisconsin permits the consumption of alcohol by minors, provided they are being supervised by parents/guardians.

here's the link if you don't believe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_laws_of_the_United_States_by_state

 

[Hixski]

I was at abar last week where they were scanning ID's at the door to make sure each one was legit. I then went inside to the bar and ordered a drink and the carded me again.

How would you feel if you were 47 and still getting carded. I may look young for my age but I don't even remotely look anywhere near 21.
I think they are getting ridiculous carding everyone. We were at a St. Louis Cardinals game last week. DH went to get a beer for me and him while he went potty. He got carded and he is 48. They would only let him have the one beer because they could not see who he was giving the other one to. I understand that but he had my ID and showed them that this is who it is for. Still NO. And to think we used to be able to drink legally at 18. I get carded more now than I did when I was 21.