Under age drinking ?

[ellie05]

I haven't read 4 pages but I want to say that establishments don't like to risk their liquor licenses for anyone so regardless how the CM feels about it it is something that it might be enforce strictly.

In my expirience it is usually a hit or miss how strict they are. I usually don't get carded when it is me and DH. If I am alone I get carded most of the time. We also had one instance that DH bought a drink and handed it to me and a CM came and ask for my ID. It wasn't a big deal as we both were over drinking age.

I have seen many exceptions made for members of the military. I can't tell you how many times when DH was younger they will serve him or even comp drinks when they knew he was underage. I remember this one club we went to the bouncer put the 21 over bracelet on him even though he was I think 19/20 at the time. DH went to say something and he just said thank you for your service.

When we are with family or parents it seems we maybe get carded only 5% of the time if that. I think most people assume that if you are with your family you are over 21 if you ask for a drink and that you are not going to get drunk and act like a fool. These people haven't meet my in laws .

 

[TSR6]

The UCs aren't there to prevent underage drinking and others aren't looking to ruin your vacation. Be smart about it and you'll be fine

Actually, they are... Again, It's been a while since I've worked at WDW, but when I was there, this one one of the tasks the UC's did. They would watch for the beer exchange and notify uniformed security to do an ID check.

Maybe things are different over at EPCOT... as I did work at Pleasure Island when it was still around, but I'm just a little surprised at the "nobody will care" attitude, because it was quite a bit different when I worked down there. Again... I can't speak for now, but I can at least share my experience.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I cannot believe the fear mongering on here!

In my response, specifically, I am pointing out that the OP has MUCH more to worry about being in the US on a visa than a regular american citizen parent handing off an alcoholic drink. If it was a citizen asking this question I wouldn't have even bothered to reply, but on the off chance that the OP gets "caught" and some overzealous police office/security guard decides to enforce THE LAW, this could have SERIOUS ramifications on not only this vacation, but any other time the OPs family plans to enter the US. That's not fear mongering, IMO.

 

[PSUGuy]

Our daughters are 20 months apart in age and when they were both in college and at WDW with us wifey and I would buy 2 drinks each in WS, that was the limit you could buy at one time back then, we'd pick up ours and stroll away and 'forget' the rest, our dear children always cleaned up after us.

Bill From PA

 

[AngiTN]

Fear mongering? The OP asked a question because she was worried about getting in trouble and Florida law. Several people (myself included) told her exactly what the Florida law is and what CAN happen. Most of these posts (mine included) stated it was not LIKELY to happen and to use her best judgement. People even offered personal experiences with this exact situation. If I'm in Florida, with my 19yr old (she's only 15 now so I'm speaking hypothetically) I too have no issue letting her try a sip of my margarita or Gray Goose slushy. Obviously, I'm not going to hand her her own drink in front of a cop but I would use my best judgement KNOWING exactly what the law is. What I'm not going to do is tell a foreign traveler who asks the question what my own interpretation of the law is or to not worry about it. That's up to her.

Edit to add: we don't stigmatize alcohol in my house either. My kids have both tried a sip of something I was drinking. They thought it was gross....excellent!

So agree with everything here.
OP asked for the rules/legal situation.
She was given the rules so she can make a well informed decision on what to do.
The fact that many provided the rules has no bearing at all on how they feel about the rules.
Or what they would do in the situation in regards to their own under age children or in their own homes.
What I would do has no bearing on what I would suggest to someone else. I actually wouldn't suggest anything. How I see it is to give them the info and let them make the choice
But giving them the facts is not "fear mongering" or anything else being suggested on the thread. It's just the fact. Like it or not.

 

[WiscMomof2]

We were at Epcot on Mother's Day and I let 18 year old DD have a few sips of my fiesta margarita. I'm having a flashback to catholic school confession days. Whew, I feel much better now!

 

[HM2012Butler]

Actually, they are... Again, It's been a while since I've worked at WDW, but when I was there, this one one of the tasks the UC's did. They would watch for the beer exchange and notify uniformed security to do an ID check.

Maybe things are different over at EPCOT... as I did work at Pleasure Island when it was still around, but I'm just a little surprised at the "nobody will care" attitude, because it was quite a bit different when I worked down there. Again... I can't speak for now, but I can at least share my experience.

My post was edited before you posted this. decided I needed to word it better "not there for the sole purpose of..." Current CM here

 

[smiths02]

In the US any adult caught giving anyone underage an alcoholic beverage is subject to prosecution.
Will you get caught? No one can answer that.
But it is illegal in the US

My DH (22) gave me (20) some champagne when we got married. I always wondered about it and looked it up recently and it was legal in out state because I was over 18 AND we were married.
I guess others have chimed in that FL does not allow exceptions, but many states do have exceptions if the person is over 18 and the person supplying the alcohol is a spouse or parent of the underage person.

 

[carmelhp]

I wouldn't risk it. Not worth getting kicked out of WDW and/or arrested for a sip of a drink.

I remember having the opposite situation on a Disney trip when I was 8. This was in the early 80s, back when states had their own drinking ages. In Pennsylvania, where we lived, the legal age was 21. In Florida, it was 18. I still remember my then-18-year-old sister ordering a drink at dinner, and my parents just looking at her

I lived in Pennsylvania when I was 18, but could go next door to New Jersey and drink legally. By the time I was 19, New Jersey had changed their law to 21 to get the federal highway funds extortion money. So, I was legal at 18, but illegal at 19.

 

[NYDisGuy]

So agree with everything here.
OP asked for the rules/legal situation.
She was given the rules so she can make a well informed decision on what to do.
The fact that many provided the rules has no bearing at all on how they feel about the rules.
Or what they would do in the situation in regards to their own under age children or in their own homes.
What I would do has no bearing on what I would suggest to someone else. I actually wouldn't suggest anything. How I see it is to give them the info and let them make the choice
But giving them the facts is not "fear mongering" or anything else being suggested on the thread. It's just the fact. Like it or not.

It's actually not fact. Google searching the Florida law and presenting OP with the most extreme circumstances without providing the other extreme is disingenuous. People are even going as far as describing extradition. The OP asked if they would get thrown off property, I didn't see them asking for legal advice or parenting skills like other people have been throwing out there. And the only experiences iv'e seen in this thread are people being carded at the stand or passing off in front of a CM, none of which the OP said they would do. You can't say it's fact when you have no precedence on how the law has been translated through case studies or what Disney has done in the past.

 

[nilla]

I lived in Pennsylvania when I was 18, but could go next door to New Jersey and drink legally. By the time I was 19, New Jersey had changed their law to 21 to get the federal highway funds extortion money. So, I was legal at 18, but illegal at 19.

I think my sister used to drive to Jersey as well

 

[carmelhp]

I hope I don't get in trouble for saying this, but I find it ridiculous that a sip of alcohol is illegal in FL, yet that same 18 year old could legally walk about with a hand gun (not a Disney of course).

You must be 21 to apply for a Florida carry license.

 

[AngiTN]

It's actually not fact. Google searching the Florida law and presenting OP with the most extreme circumstances without providing the other extreme is disingenuous. People are even going as far as describing extradition. The OP asked if they would get thrown off property, I didn't see them asking for legal advice or parenting skills like other people have been throwing out there. And the only experiences iv'e seen in this thread are people being carded at the stand or passing off in front of a CM, none of which the OP said they would do. You can't say it's fact when you have no precedence on how the law has been translated through case studies or what Disney has done in the past.

So it's not a fact that someone who is 19 can't drink at Disney (which last I checked was in Florida)? Ok. Whatever you say
I say OP was provided with the rule in Florida (where Disney, specifically Epcot is located) and is left to make their informed decision based on that. Didn't see anyone question their parenting choice
Was the worse case scenario given? Sure it was.
Call that disingenuous if you want

 

[AngiTN]

My DH (22) gave me (20) some champagne when we got married. I always wondered about it and looked it up recently and it was legal in out state because I was over 18 AND we were married.
I guess others have chimed in that FL does not allow exceptions, but many states do have exceptions if the person is over 18 and the person supplying the alcohol is a spouse or parent of the underage person.

Yes, many have. I'm sorry I was trying to help the OP who asked about Disney, which is in FL.
I will be sure to be much more specific in the future to not cause the nit pickers to come out in droves to point out the error.
I really thought the FL law was the only one in play here so I left that to be assumed. My mistake.
I am sorry

 

[NYDisGuy]

So it's not a fact that someone who is 19 can't drink at Disney (which last I checked was in Florida)? Ok. Whatever you say
I say OP was provided with the rule in Florida (where Disney, specifically Epcot is located) and is left to make their informed decision based on that. Didn't see anyone question their parenting choice
Was the worse case scenario given? Sure it was.
Call that disingenuous if you want

No need to put words in my mouth. The OP knew that rule hence the "I know it's 21 to drink". Pretty sure they were looking for anyone with experience, not legal counsel but i'll digress and move on.

 

[TSR6]

My post was edited before you posted this. decided I needed to word it better "not there for the sole purpose of..." Current CM here

I see your edit.

Yeah, on the whole CP thing, maybe things have lightened up... but when I was down there, my place of work was the #1 reason for CP departures.

On the busier Cast Member nights, it wasn't unheard of to have a handful of CP's get caught underage. Maybe it was just easier for us with having stamps and wristbands, but, I know for a fact they watched for drink hand offs and 21+'s buying for underage and handing it off. Security especially, but even we were trained to watch for this in the role I worked in.

 

[HM2012Butler]

I see your edit.

Yeah, on the whole CP thing, maybe things have lightened up... but when I was down there, my place of work was the #1 reason for CP departures.

On the busier Cast Member nights, it wasn't unheard of to have a handful of CP's get caught underage. Maybe it was just easier for us with having stamps and wristbands, but, I know for a fact they watched for drink hand offs and 21+'s buying for underage and handing it off. Security especially, but even we were trained to watch for this in the role I worked in.

Yeah, sorry for the confusion. I'm not sure what it is now, I've been here for over 4 years and never had an issue. Maybe we just are smart enough about it and not obnoxious

 

[smiths02]

Yes, many have. I'm sorry I was trying to help the OP who asked about Disney, which is in FL.
I will be sure to be much more specific in the future to not cause the nit pickers to come out in droves to point out the error.
I really thought the FL law was the only one in play here so I left that to be assumed. My mistake.
I am sorry

I have not read the entire thread, so I wasn't trying to single you out really, just remembering another thread coming up about parents having a house party. I had to look up my situation because I have always wondered all these years if my DH was breaking the law...apparently he wasn't.

But now seeing the FL law, I would say that it would be totally not worth the risk. And OP does need to know the risks...whether or not enforcement is likely

 

[BusyP76]

It's actually not fact. Google searching the Florida law and presenting OP with the most extreme circumstances without providing the other extreme is disingenuous. People are even going as far as describing extradition. The OP asked if they would get thrown off property, I didn't see them asking for legal advice or parenting skills like other people have been throwing out there. And the only experiences iv'e seen in this thread are people being carded at the stand or passing off in front of a CM, none of which the OP said they would do. You can't say it's fact when you have no precedence on how the law has been translated through case studies or what Disney has done in the past.

What other extreme? That you can provide alcohol to your underage son and nothing will happen to you? Pretty sure that other side was presented several times. Most people commenting also have indicated that they would do so without a second thought (me included) so I'm not sure where judgement of parenting skills has taken over this thread. Not giving a clear answer of what the law actually is since it varies from state to state and what the worst case senario would be (especially to a foreign visitor) is what would be disingenuous. No one provided "legal advice". Facts were given to clear up inconsistencies within this thread but I saw no legal services being offered...unless I missed a post. And every personal story that was provided was the very definition of "what Disney has done in the past" and according to some commenting on here it DID result in people being asked to leave and according to others nothing happened at all. This thread is going off the rails with all the drama...it was a simple question and the OP was provided with a complete answer of everything that COULD happen and also that it won't LIKELY happen. No one is attacking her parenting skills or tring to scare her with extradition.

If I'm traveling to Europe and I ask about the legality of something (insinuating I am in fact concerned enough to ask), I would like the answer, not just what the locals do or don't do because they interpret the law in their own way in their own country.

 

[Goofyuk]

Whether we like it or not. Unfortunately WDW is in America so American/Floridian laws apply when there. We can no more make a 20 year old drinking a beer legal than we can make a 20 year old buying and carrying a gun illegal.