Drinking in Epcot - question

[Koroshiya-Ichi]

I hope this is the right board for this...

My mother and I will be leaving for WDW in 2 days, and I have a question that needs to be answered before then. In Epcot we're hoping to do a smaller scale version of drinking around the world (i.e. just a few countries). The only problem is, I'm 20. If she were to order an alcoholic drink that the two of us could share, would that be allowed? I'm not sure what the policy is on drinking in the presence of a legal guardian in Florida, much less in the parks.

Not hoping to get drunk or anything, it would just be nice to sample some of the drinks from a few of the countries.

 

[Robo]

I hope this is the right board for this...

My mother and I will be leaving for WDW in 2 days, and I have a question that needs to be answered before then. In Epcot we're hoping to do a smaller scale version of drinking around the world (i.e. just a few countries). The only problem is, I'm 20. If she were to order an alcoholic drink that the two of us could share, would that be allowed? I'm not sure what the policy is on drinking in the presence of a legal guardian in Florida, much less in the parks.

Not hoping to get drunk or anything, it would just be nice to sample some of the drinks from a few of the countries.

21 years of age is the minimum age to consume alcohol.

Its not legal to even ALLOW someone younger to consume it.

 

[Bill From PA]

I hope this is the right board for this...

My mother and I will be leaving for WDW in 2 days, and I have a question that needs to be answered before then. In Epcot we're hoping to do a smaller scale version of drinking around the world (i.e. just a few countries). The only problem is, I'm 20. If she were to order an alcoholic drink that the two of us could share, would that be allowed? I'm not sure what the policy is on drinking in the presence of a legal guardian in Florida, much less in the parks.

Not hoping to get drunk or anything, it would just be nice to sample some of the drinks from a few of the countries.

It's not allowed, but not unheard of either. Disney security is all over the place and they blend in with the rest of the paying patrons. There's a small but real chance you could get challenged if you get passed an adult beverage by your mom, especially if you look very young.

Bill From PA

 

[BrianD]

It's technically illegal. You could get away with sharing a drink. A lot of times when you go to buy a drink, they will want to see an ID for every drink that is purchased, so keep that in mind. If you choose to do this, be subtle about it.

And now, I will sit back and watch...

 

[goofy4tink]

It is still against the law in the US. You can not buy alcoholic beverages for an underage person. The person buying the beverage is taking a huge chance doing this. Is it worth being arrested for? I can just imagine all those teens, traveling with their older friends. The older buddies buy for the younger kids...now we have bunches of out of control drunken teens running around. And no, I am not saying you would be an out of control drunked kid. Just trying to explain the reason there are so many 'undercover' sercurity people in the parks. You may not see them, but they are going to see you.
Another point....a lot of places will not let one person purchase two drinks....it's a one drink, one person type thing. But, I'm sure that your mom could buy herself an alcoholic beverage and you could still get something non-alcoholic from that particular country that would be fun.

 

[Allison]

As others have said, that isn't allowed.

 

[Koroshiya-Ichi]

Another point....a lot of places will not let one person purchase two drinks....it's a one drink, one person type thing. But, I'm sure that your mom could buy herself an alcoholic beverage and you could still get something non-alcoholic from that particular country that would be fun.

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:

 

[Robo]

I had always heard that if you were with your legal guardian and they were the one allowing you to drink, it was legal.

In most places it is illegal for anyone of "drinking age" to provide alcohol to anyone under-aged. And the penalties are very strong for anyone who "provides" the drinks.

Some of the public info is:
“Parents Who Host, Lose the Most”

http://www.gdcada.org/coalitions/aloud/parhost.htm

 

[inaminute]

I had always heard that if you were with your legal guardian and they were the one allowing you to drink, it was legal.

I think you heard wrong. Having a legal guardian serving you alcohol doesn't make the law go away. The law in the entire U.S. is that one must be 21 years old to LEGALLY be served alcohol by anyone.

Also, I wonder if Disney would/could be held responsible if you and your mom are caught doing this?

Somehow I doubt very much you're going to have to wait for sake. I have a sneaking suspicion that you're going to be trying it very soon.

 

[sunkissed4]

48 days til my 21st birthday!! I'm in the same boat, we're leaving for Disney on Friday and it's sooo close to my birthday that it just seems unfair to think that I can't enjoy a delicious margarita.

But, yep, it's the law. No sharing, no parents giving you drinks. I always wanted them to lower the drinking age, but now that I'm so close to being 21and after 3 years in college, I understand why they didn't want us crazy 18 year old fools drinking (legally!)

Don't they sell virgin drinks? Just settle for one of those.

 

[wilde_oscar]

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.

 

[Robo]

Also, I wonder if Disney would/could be held responsible if you and your mom are caught doing this?

Yes!

The "establishment" (or bar, WDW in this case) is always held responsible for "allowing" underage drinking on its premeses.

When liquor licenses are at stake (and they always are) the holder of the license is very cautious about making sure anyone below the age is not given alcohol.

 

[GreyStr0ke]

This is one of those questions that you shouldn't ask on here cause your not going to hear the answer you want to.

 

[Magickndm]

I found this info from the web:

Furnishing of Alcohol to Minors

Furnishing is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):

• one or more specified religious, educational, or medical purposes



Maybe you could get by saying it was for educational purposes?
​

 

[DarthDuck]

Just a FYI, alcohol laws are technically controlled by the State Government, however, the Federal Government got all of the states to conform for the most part my denying Federal money for transportation (roads, etc.) to those states who would not conform so basically forcing their hand....

 

[AmyBWV99]

I agree it is illegal and, when I was 22, I tried to buy a beer at BB and was denied because I didn't have my id with me. A friend of ours bought me a beer and within about 2 seconds of taking the beer, I was approached by security and told that if I continued to try and break the rules I'd be ejected from BB. All of that and I was 22!

That said, if you were at Epcot, your mom bought the drink, you left the area and took a couple of sips, I seriously doubt that you'd get in trouble. First off, unless you look really young, who'd know? I buy beer and my husband and I share it; and vice-versa. Even at 21 (he looks young) we were NEVER questioned. I'm betting the worst thing that would happen on a first offense is a warning. Just be smart about it and I'm sure a couple of sips won't cause any problems.

Not that I would ever advocate underage drinking...

 

[slug]

It is still against the law in the US. You can not buy alcoholic beverages for an underage person. The person buying the beverage is taking a huge chance doing this. Is it worth being arrested for? I can just imagine all those teens, traveling with their older friends. The older buddies buy for the younger kids...now we have bunches of out of control drunken teens running around. And no, I am not saying you would be an out of control drunked kid. Just trying to explain the reason there are so many 'undercover' sercurity people in the parks. You may not see them, but they are going to see you.
Another point....a lot of places will not let one person purchase two drinks....it's a one drink, one person type thing. But, I'm sure that your mom could buy herself an alcoholic beverage and you could still get something non-alcoholic from that particular country that would be fun.

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.

 

[maelstrom]

My dad and I shared a fiesta margarita in Epcot a few years back (I was 19) and we didn't have a problem, and I look about 12 years old. I reckon that I'll have more of an issue this year as since I'm now 21, I'll be drinking a lot more, and I still look like a 12 year old, and people seem to not believe my ID.

So, is it technically allowed? No. Can you do it and not get "caught"? Yes. You and your parent are both adults and you can make this decision for yourselves, knowing what possible though unlikely consequences there are.

 

[marciemi]

That said, if you were at Epcot, your mom bought the drink, you left the area and took a couple of sips, I seriously doubt that you'd get in trouble. First off, unless you look really young, who'd know? I buy beer and my husband and I share it; and vice-versa. Even at 21 (he looks young) we were NEVER questioned. I'm betting the worst thing that would happen on a first offense is a warning. Just be smart about it and I'm sure a couple of sips won't cause any problems.

Not that I would ever advocate underage drinking...

EXACTLY what I was going to say! Common sense - bravo!

 

[marciemi]

I agree it is illegal and, when I was 22, I tried to buy a beer at BB and was denied because I didn't have my id with me. A friend of ours bought me a beer and within about 2 seconds of taking the beer, I was approached by security and told that if I continued to try and break the rules I'd be ejected from BB. All of that and I was 22!

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!