college kids and alcohol

Jen said something to Drew the other day about how her housemates are all turning 21 in the next weeks and months, and how they're going to be able to legally buy beer for their house parties.

And Drew told her "You're 20 years old, you're not allowed to drink."

There's a huge difference between underage drinking at 14 and underage drinking at 20. 

The reality is, she's been going to college parties since...well, since she started college.  I remember her telling me about one party, when she was a freshman, where she got doused with beer because "some guy at the party was drunk and rowdy but the people whose house it was couldn't throw him out..."

She's 20 years old, in most countries around the world she could go into a bar or liquor store and make a purchase without having to bring fake ID.

When I was her age, I could legally buy alcoholic beverages in the State of New York.

I think I'm more concerned with whether she's being sensible about drinking....as in, "don't drink to excess", as in, "don't drink and drive", as in, "take the keys away from a friend who's been drinking" and "don't let the party get out of control."  You know, all the "drink responsibly" messages....

I'm not there to see what she does.  She's got a good head on her shoulders.  All I can do is to hope she uses it.

cross posted at <a href="../../songbirdscrazyworld.blogspot.com">Songbird's Crazy World</a>

Comments

[Z]

Is it illegal to drink, though? Over here in Britain, it's illegal to buy alcohol until you're 18, but there isn't a legal minimum age to drink at home, as such. It used to be legal to drink wine or beer in a restaurant with a meal from the age of 14 (you'd have to be with adults, obviously, because the 14-year-old couldn't buy it) and I've never heard that's changed, though I haven't checked.

[songbird]

In The US, if you're under 21 you're not allowed to purchase, possess or consume alcoholic beverages...with the exception, in some states, that a parent may allow a minor child to drink in the parent's home under the parent's supervision. So if I open a bottle of wine at dinner I can share it with my daughters, but I cannot do so in a restaurant. Law vs. reality -- colege kids are able to obtain liquor even if they're under 21, which is why most colleges have very strict rules about drinking on campus -- everyone in the room must be over 21 if alcoholic beverages are being served. Jen lives off campus, though, so if her housemates can legally buy beer, there will be beer in her house.