Drinking in Florida

[floridahippy]

Hi - looking for some advice but am not sure if I am putting it in the right place!!
We are going on a very special family holiday in January next year which I am really anxious will go well. It is the first time that we shall be together as a family on holiday for 10 years and so I want it to go well. Both my daughters aged 24 and 19 are used to nightclubs and pubs - ie they like a drink when they are relaxing in the evening!! I know that the 19 year old cant buy alchol but what are the laws about drinking it? Say in the resort bar - if the 24 year old brought the drinks but then they both drank them on the premises? What about smoking - how does it affect the 19 year old? I personally dont like smoking but want to keep all happy!! Hope that someone knows about these things. Thanks in advance
Fi

 

[squitty]

Hi

My 18 yo couldnt drink in the resort bar they have to be 21 or over. However we did let her have a the odd drink in the villa....

I cant help you out on the smoking as none of us smoke...

 

[Verity Chambers]

They are pretty strict about drinking over there. I'm 27 and still get asked for photographic ID. I'm not sure but I think you can't buy it or drink it, but I can't be 100% sure. I'm also sure the restaurants and bars are smoke free zones.

However, don't take my word for it!!!!!!!!

Hope this helps.xxx

 

[arieljasmine]

Hi Fi

My DH and I both smoke and are in our 20s and next to always get asked for ID when we buy cigarettes - ditto alcohol. The legal age for buying cigarettes in Florida is 18, so your daughter will be OK - she'll just need ID when she wants to buy them.

There are smoking areas in each of the parks and water parks, and you can usually smoke at outdoor bars. There is no smoking in restaurants and indoor bars, but she'll usually be OK just outside the door of these.

Hope this helps. Give us a shout if you ned any more info.

Arieljasmine

 

[Goofyish]

They are very strict on the alcohol laws in Florida. If you are under 21 you cannot even have alcohol in your possession. Some bars will not even serve you more than one drink at a time in case you are buying for someone under 21!
Also the blood alcohol limit for driving is lower if you are under 21.

Any alcohol carried in a car must be in the trunk (boot).

It's also ilegal to consume alcohol in a public place (that's why winos always have their bottles in brown paper bags!).

 

[angel659]

Hi

As people mentioned they are very strict out there.

I first went with my fiance - now husband at the age of 17 and my fiance 19. We didnt have a car, so we booked events. We went on the pirate cruise at clearwater beach and the tour operator said ' you look 21' - yeah you look 21. So he put a sticker on us even trough he knew we wernt. We also went to a evening show and again we managed to drink.

We tried to go to Pleasure Island, but because I was under 18 they would not let me in.

It seems as though it really depends where you go. Just dont let them see her drinking. Perhaps try and have it with coke or lemonade. They then never questioned it.

Some places are ok, but some places are not. The laws are so strick out there, You even have to 18 to smoke. Makesure she carry's i.d with her.

Good luck and have fun.

Regards
Michelle

 

[vernon]

For drinking, if you're all out at a restaurant and order a bottle of wine it's likely you'll be given 4 glasses, although you may get asked if you are all over 21 (DD1 having ID on her is likely to help). When I took DD (18) with me last year we were served drinks when we were out together. If the girls go out on their own clubbing/pubbing they may get more difficulties. With a lot of the clubs, there are going to be ways round it, DD1 may be doing a lot of running back and forth to the bar I think LOL.

 

[floridahippy]

Thank you all for your input and help. We were going to wait to go to Florida until the youngest was 21 but I am afraid that was too long for me to go without my florida fix!!!
I am hoping that with smoking that it will curb them a little (we dont smoke only the daughters!!) and although we like a drink it doesnt bother us but the girls seem to think its needed!!!
I think we shall probably play safe and just have something in our units and the rest of the time they can have coke or whatever!!
Thank you once again for all the help you have given.
Although this will be our eighth trip to florida I am sure I may have to come back and ask some more questions from the gurus!!!
Fi

 

[slinky101]

this isn't really about age but it might be useful to you. if you're out in the car and ANYONE is holding an "open container" of alcohol then the driver is deemed to be drink-driving!! Sounds bizzare i know but i've seen it on those highway patrol shows and they seem quite strict on it. maybe someone else could be more specific but i think thats it in a nutshell, Hope it 's helpful, Bryan

 

[floridahippy]

I asked the same question of tug and have just checked on answers there and am deeply upset and hurt by their attitude and answers and so I just want to thank you all so much for not being judgemental and for being friendly - maybe its the disney magic here that has helped!!!
Thanks once again for letting me keep faith in being able to ask questions somewhere without the feeling that I am a dismal failure at being a parent and that I will get helpful and nonjudgmental advice.
I think I am cross between a piglet and an eeyore!!
Thank you once again - youre a great healer

 

[Funky_dino]

when we went in June we stayed at the all star music resort i went up to one of the bars with my mother and father and went to buy us all a drink. I got asked for ID im 21 so its not a problem i handed over my drivers license the guy checked it over pointed to where it said i passed (sept 11th strangely enough) and said this was my dob which would have made me bout 3. i showed him my dob he walked off and i thought he was getting our drinks and then just served someone else! i kicked up a real fuss and went to th front desk. then we never saw him at the bar agin for the next 2weeks hehe! americans seem to have a real trouble understanding our drivers licenses, as the same problems have happened buying cigarettes, so u have all been warned!

 

[klahr]

First, an apology to the Mods if they find this post to be in conflict with the disboards rules. I am just trying to be candid and helpful. I can understand how a portion of this maybe censored (which is no problem)...

Being a college student, I can understand where your kids are coming from. Without advocating anything illegal, as long as they do not cause a disturbance there should be no problems with drinking. It may be tough for them to purchase and consume alcohol at PI; however, with a little planning it can be done.

In the state of texas minors can consume alcohol if it is purchased by their PARENTS and consumed only in the presence of their PARENTS. (Parents, not responsible adults, siblings or anyone else) If that is the case in FL:

You should consider purchasing liquor prior to arrival at WDW and decanting it (e.g. flask). It will be tons cheaper then buying in a bar, and you won't have to test fate with a minor trying to buy a drink.

I enjoyed many a jack-n-cokes waiting for spectromagic with no problems.

If you'd like some more "specific" ideas please contact me by PM.

 

[jjpenguin]

I'm over 40 and still get asked for an ID!!! As I never carry one, I've had a problem when going into Pleasure Island. I was with DH (who is younger than me!) and after a discussion I got a child's wristband. I didn't even want to drink!!

What I noticed on my last trip that is that it is one drink per person/ID and the person has to be there at the bar to get the drink, so no getting rounds in for everyone!

JJPenguin