Florida drinking laws

[StaceyA]

Originally posted by Rhonna
Whether we agree or not , just something to consider:

The real question for me would be the fact that it's against the law.

I don't know if Florida authorities are vigilant on this issue but in my state they carry out "stings" at times - especially at grocery stores. An undercover officer who could pass for young will go into a store at random and try to buy alcohol. If the clerk does not ask for their ID, the store will be fined and the clerk will lose their job. We've heard about it off and on but usually people think "oh, that probably rarely happens". However, I know of one local store in our small town where this just happened and the clerk will probably not be able to get another job at another grocery store anytime soon.
Rhonna

My sister lost her job at a Walmart here in CT for selling Cigarettes without asking for ID (you have to be 18 here) and no one would think that you would really get into trouble just for cigarettes!

 

[StaceyA]

Originally posted by Clotho
Our hard liquor is completely regulated by the government, with special liquor stores that have the worst hours (close at 6pm/8pm, closed on Sundays). And the list of laws and restrictions is a mile long.

LOL Here in CT NO liquor can be sold after 9pm or on Sundays, it was 8pm up until just a few months ago or so.

Growing up here in CT, I never realized that in other states you can buy liquor on Sundays and after 8pm....I still can't believe it...LOL

 

[tinkerbeth]

Just curious...is there a legal age for cigarettes in the US (or state by state) too? Here it's 19, the same as the drinking age. And they enforce it hard-core, let me tell you. Of course people under 19 still get cigarettes but it's been a big thing that they can fine the stores, and they hire underage people to try to buy cigarettes as well to catch the stores out.

I agree that that European way is much more civilized. I lived in Italy for 2 years and you just don't get drunk in public there like we do over here. It's rude to have more than one glass in front of you on the table. I also lived in the UK, in North Yorkshire, and my impression there was that there was more drinking to excess at younger ages...it seems that the "club" culture is younger there and "alco-pop" is big...coolers and that sort of thing.

I personally would rather my son have a glass of wine cut with water from a young age with dinner so he can learn a civilized responsible way to drink. Of course, that didn't stop me from a few crazy years at university either... still can't touch rye...

 

[StaceyA]

Originally posted by tinkerbeth
Just curious...is there a legal age for cigarettes in the US (or state by state) too? Here it's 19, the same as the drinking age. And they enforce it hard-core, let me tell you. Of course people under 19 still get cigarettes but it's been a big thing that they can fine the stores, and they hire underage people to try to buy cigarettes as well to catch the stores out.

Here in CT it is 18, I have been carding buying for my DH and im 29..lol

 

[DisneyDiver]

The UK age for buying cigarettes is 16, but nobody IDs anyone for them, I have friends who were buying from age 12 (not condoning it, just informing).

The drinking culture in the UK is terrible... full of adolescents getting off their face (drunk) on alcopops (beer strength soda-flavoured drinks) and cheap spirits. I'm only 18, but because of the way I dress (short sleeve shirts, jeans, skate shoes) when I head out, I alwasy get hassle from tanked up chavs (chavs being thick, school dropouts who generally get drunk and start trying to get in fights with people for no reason. Usually skinny little white kids, aged between 16-20, clad in cheap nylon tracksuits, carrying knives or sharpened screwdrivers to aid their cause) - I wish that the bars in this country weren't as lax with the carding as they are at the moment (how much of an old man do I sound!) but it really gets on my nerves when I want to go out for a drink with my mates and end up with the prospect of getting jumped by annoying little teenagers who are after my wallet.

It's got to the stage where I avoid Saturday nights in Edinburgh, and go on the friday or sunday instead, where it's a lot quieter, but still busy enough for an enjoyable night without the Chavs.

Is there an equivelent variety of person that could be catagorised as chavs in the US?

 

[Julia M]

Louisiana used to have a funny little exemption to the 21 year old drinking age. (This was in 1996....I believe it has changed since then, but I could be wrong)

Anyway, the law stated that you had to be 21 to DRINK alcohol, but you only had to be 18 to BUY alcohol!

I believe it changed because the Feds finally fixed that particular wording loophole in the highway funding statutes!

Julia

 

[MiraDawl]

In CT it is legal for an individual under 21 to posses alcohol if in the accompaniment of a parent, guardian, or spouse who is over the age of 21. I've been offered liquor when dining with my parents, and was surprised. The server told us that it was okay to serve individuals under 21 when they were with parents. The ultimate decision comes back to the bartender, they can decide to serve a minor, or refuse. Of course, it's been a few years since my 21st B-Day....

As for cigarettes, the legal age is 18. However, here's the irony there:

Someone age 16 cannot buy them, but if they are seen smoking, there is no true law being broken. A police officer cannot issue a ticket or fine or anything. So while a law had to be broken somewhere (someone bought for them, seller didn't check ID, etc.) there is not much you can do about it.

I still get carded for both, yippy! (Well, I don't smoke, but I've been carded when picking up a pack for someone while they pumped gas)

~Mira