Under 21 and Alcohol

[wayneg]

So here it is.....Drinking under 21 is not allowed either in public or private and should not be allowed.

A bit different to our laws, where it is illegal to give alcohol to under 5's in our own homes. 5 years 1 day they are fine with a double G&T

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/alcohol/alcohol_law2.shtml

 

[DjdBrit]

Whether you agree with the laws in FLA or not it doesn't matter. If you want to drink and are not 21 I suggest you you pick a different place to vacation. Comparing laws to different places won't change the laws here.

Good luck with your trip and Happy Planning.

 

[Howellsy]

Wow, didn't mean to start a drinking age debate, I was just curious as to the law on drinking in private really so thanks for the links everyone

 

[wayneg]

Wow, didn't mean to start a drinking age debate, I was just curious as to the law on drinking in private really so thanks for the links everyone

Nothing wrong with a good debate. I think this is one we all agree on though, right or wrong the law says no.

 

[wishspirit]

When I went to Las Vegas I bought some Pimms in the Duty Free in the UK (at age 19 as a present for my boyfriend), then my parents took it through US immigration (to be honest we didn't even think about it!), I could of drunk it in the states I guess, but I really wouldn't want to get hurt/ sick and my insurance be void for breaking the law.

I know it sounds really wrong to us, with drinking being a big part of the culture in the UK unlike the states, but maybe just take a few weeks off the booze and immerse yourself in American culture and just drink soda!

It's a pain, but I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[wicket2005]

Wow, didn't mean to start a drinking age debate, I was just curious as to the law on drinking in private really so thanks for the links everyone

I am actually pleased you brought it up because my lads are 18 and 20 and I could have easily let them had a can in their room. I knew it was illegal in the bars/restaurants but didn't know it was also in private and there is no way I would break the law.

 

[dc1964]

to be honest i would not stop my son, age 20, getting himself a beer from the fridge in our villa, it maybe against the law but i think i am willing to risk it, common sense has to apply of course.
if he did drugs, possessed a knife, carried a gun then we would be having words.

 

[wicket2005]

I know what you mean but what made me think is if he does have an accident or need medical help, you would find that you would be in trouble for giving him alcohol and also the insurance company would probably not help with medical expenses, judging by a comment in this thread. When you weigh that up, a drink does not seem worth it at all.

 

[dc1964]

I know what you mean but what made me think is if he does have an accident or need medical help, you would find that you would be in trouble for giving him alcohol and also the insurance company would probably not help with medical expenses, judging by a comment in this thread. When you weigh that up, a drink does not seem worth it at all.

you could be correct, i am of course not encouraging drunkeness, just a sociable drink over a meal as a family. But i am sure you are correct in the possible difficulties.

 

[Morgstar]

Love a good debate

In this case i think it comes down to personal choice. The fact of the matter is you would be breaking the law. Just like you break the law when you go 1mph over the speed limit or when you bring back a carton of cigarettes for your dad then one for the next door neighbour and one for the guy in work...'oops im over my limit!' or when you dont fully stop at a stop sign (lets be honest we've all done one of these).

My personal choice would be that it is OK. In your particular case the worst that could happen to you is a custom offical takes the bottle off you, you sell some story about how you didnt know it was a crime and thats the end of that.

If a minor of 18,19,20 in my company went to the fridge and got a cold one out in our villa/hotel i wouldn't bat a eyelid however if the same minor asked me to buy them alcohol while we were out i wouldnt dare since knowing how strict they are and i would see that as a risk to me.

Having said all that in your case Howellsy im not really sure there is much point bothering. If you are going to take a bottle of wine just one glass on a few evenings before you go out to eat i dont really think its worth it. You are not going to get to enjoy your wine with a nice meal or sat in a bar relaxing and having a good time with your friends so im not sure id bother. Just make sure you go back when you are old enough to do so!

What ever you decide have a great time.

 

[paulh]

if they want to have a drink send them on an 18-30 holiday in ibiza
But valid points have been raised
1 its against the law why break it
2 if there is an accident and blood alcohol found there could be repercusions with insurance being invalid
I like to drink but is it worth ruinning a holiday and a life to let them have one?
Thats up to you but i know where my resonce ablities lie.i mean its ilegal to drink and drive in usa is it ok to go over a little just because i can?
Paulh

 

[dc1964]

if they want to have a drink send them on an 18-30 holiday in ibiza
But valid points have been raised
1 its against the law why break it
2 if there is an accident and blood alcohol found there could be repercusions with insurance being invalid
I like to drink but is it worth ruinning a holiday and a life to let them have one?
Thats up to you but i know where my resonce ablities lie.i mean its ilegal to drink and drive in usa is it ok to go over a little just because i can?
Paulh

i think that is over cooking the arguement a little, of course drink driving is ridiculous and not to be condoned, but speeding kills more than drink driving so it is not really fair link the point to this discussion.
I believe, illegally of course, that my adult son or daughter can enjoy a glass of wine or beer in private with me, i will take the risk.

Cheers, good debate

 

[wicket2005]

, i am of course not encouraging drunkeness,QUOTE]

I know you are not, we have similar age 'kids' so can totally understand where (we) are coming from, I was just so shocked to realise how strict it was and the penalties for breaking it.

 

[dc1964]

i know it is a bizarre country, but fantastic, maybe we need to be stricter in the Uk.
Can u imagine though what it would be like as an 18 year old american returning from Iraq or Afghanistan and not been able to chill out with a beer with his family. Strange.
Mind you imagine our soldiers returning home from Afghanistan to Luton and finding an angry mob calling them murderers...that could never happen....we live in a strange worlld!

 

[Hilary]

Whether you agree with the laws in FLA or not it doesn't matter. If you want to drink and are not 21 I suggest you you pick a different place to vacation.

I absolutely agree!
We choose to go to Florida and accept that, whilst there, we need to accept and respect their laws, whether we agree with them or not

 

[wicket2005]

You have to respect the laws of the country you are in. Look at the news this morning a young Afghanistan reporter sentenced to 25 years in prison because he downloaded info on women's rights. We would expect people coming in this country to adhere to our laws.

 

[wishspirit]

i know it is a bizarre country, but fantastic, maybe we need to be stricter in the Uk.
Can u imagine though what it would be like as an 18 year old american returning from Iraq or Afghanistan and not been able to chill out with a beer with his family. Strange.
Mind you imagine our soldiers returning home from Afghanistan to Luton and finding an angry mob calling them murderers...that could never happen....we live in a strange worlld!

I am going to respectfully disagree on the idea that we need to be stricter in the UK. If you can legally get married, drive a car, have a family and kids, own a house, tried in a court of law as an adult, rent the most violent and explicit films at 18 yet not have a drink? I think we have something wrong with the whole drinking culture in the UK, but its about people under 18 drinking, and those who can drink, not drinking in moderation. With the law possibly changing in Scotland, it is something that I feel passionately about. This government is criminalising its youth for no good reason, all it is doing is driving the behaviour underground, not stopping it!

Sorry, you can go back to the real debate now!

 

[dc1964]

I am going to respectfully disagree on the idea that we need to be stricter in the UK. If you can legally get married, drive a car, have a family and kids, own a house, tried in a court of law as an adult, rent the most violent and explicit films at 18 yet not have a drink? I think we have something wrong with the whole drinking culture in the UK, but its about people under 18 drinking, and those who can drink, not drinking in moderation. With the law possibly changing in Scotland, it is something that I feel passionately about. This government is criminalising its youth for no good reason, all it is doing is driving the behaviour underground, not stopping it!

Sorry, you can go back to the real debate now!

You are not disagreeing with me i was been a touch sarcastic, i agree with u i think some people are been a little overboard.

Example:

You have to respect the laws of the country you are in. Look at the news this morning a young Afghanistan reporter sentenced to 25 years in prison because he downloaded info on women's rights. We would expect people coming in this country to adhere to our laws.

are u been serious, using this as an example, a law that is clearly wrong,that law is a clear breach of Human rights and should be broken by everyone, a law has to be fair and proportionate, i seriously think people are over reacting to a the idea of a person age between 18 and 20 having a sociable family drink, bringing up the potential for accidents around a pool, blood alcohol level tests at hospitals, invalid insurances, respect laws of course but lets talk about common sense.
good debate though

 

[wicket2005]

You are not disagreeing with me i was been a touch sarcastic, i agree with u i think some people are been a little overboard.

Example:



are u been serious, using this as an example, a law that is clearly wrong,that law is a clear breach of Human rights and should be broken by everyone, a law has to be fair and proportionate, i seriously think people are over reacting to a the idea of a person age between 18 and 20 having a sociable family drink, bringing up the potential for accidents around a pool, blood alcohol level tests at hospitals, invalid insurances, respect laws of course but lets talk about common sense.
good debate though

You totally misinterpretated me here, all I was trying to say was different countries have some crazy laws. So I wouldn't go in that country and download women's rights on the internet because of the penalty, however, stupid I think their law is.

I am not over reacting at all, my problem with letting my lads drink over there is primarily if they did have an accident I may not be able to get the care they needed which as a Mum I have got to ensure their safety. Fortunately, my lads can go a fortnight without the need for alcohol so this isn't really an issue for us.

 

[dc1964]

now i understand, sometimes the written word is not as clear as it should be, must be the alcohol ( irony).