Do your under age kids drink w/you at home?

[Rev2010]

Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have 18 as the minimum drinking age. They are subject to federal law. This settles the federal drinking age law debate even for those who can't comprehend the wikipedia page.

And just in case you plan to keeping failing at arguing this:

U.S. history of alcohol minimum purchase age by state - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Out of all the listed US states/territories only 3 are lower than 21. And for Puerto Rico it says, "Kept at 18
despite 10% highway funding
penalty under Drinking Age Act."

LOL.

Rev.

 

[BasementBrewmistress]

I'm a member of a family of police officers, and I can state emphatically that I'm glad I don't live in your town! None of the leo's in my family would EVER consider citing a motorist for going 5 over under any circumstances. First of all, the clerk magistrates would throw all the citations for 5 over out if the motorist contested them, and give an ear full to the officer for wasting his time and resources!

Second of all, an officer citing a motorist for 5 over is simply being a power hungry d!ck head, and that moving violations are issued for public safety, NOT REVENUE GENERATION! Your chief and city manager need to be fired and run out of town on a rail for the practice of citing motorists for revenue generation!

None of the officers in my family would even issue a citation for 20 over if the motorist was a town resident. A verbal or written warning yes, but not a fine! That's counterproductive to police/citizen relations, considering the residents pay your damn salary! If resident relations don't concern you then perhaps you don't have the temperament to be a leo and should find another profession, like maybe a prison guard!

Can you move to Virginia? I need someone to restore my faith in law enforcement.

That said, this has been a highly educational thread.

 

[doctorRobert]

You're an idiot. LOL.


Rev.

I suggest you look into the mirror and say that. You clearly can't comprehend this website United States Virgin Islands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

US Virgin Island is a US territory. Hence the US part.

 

[Rebekah]

For those who choose which laws they will abide by, I fear for you when one day martial law is declared, civilians are held in military tribunals, and a complete totalitarian government is in place. You can bet these things are not far behind, and I'm starting to welcome such notions with open arms.

Wow. There is zero gray area in your life. I got a brother like you, thinks all black and white. I didn't have a problem with your letter of the law thing...whatever, that's your thing. But you shouldn't make the judgement that just because the rest of us don't follow your letter of the law that somehow that makes us irresponsible parents.

 

[user 4295]

As I said the air force has a zero tolerance policy for alcohol related incidents which means any incident law enforcement responds to where an open container is in plain view whether it has been consumed or not is an alcohol related incodent.

That certainly wasn't the case when I served in the USAF in the 80's, or else we'd have had an alcohol related incident every hour of the day 7 days a week! Most of them would have involved LE's and SP's too, at least the ones I knew LOL!

 

[Rebekah]

This has been a fun read but it's time to tear myself away and go brew some beer! Trying a vanilla stout. (Should I mention that my 3 year old helps measure out the grains...or is that irresponsible?)

 

[Rev2010]

"Mr. Wordsworth, you are OBSOLETE!!!!". Can't get that out of my head after the last few posts. If anyone doesn't know what that's from, it's from an episode of the Twilight Zone with Burgess Meredith.

@Squirrelly - may I ask what state/city you live in? I just want to be sure never ever to visit there. Thanks.


Rev.

 

[BruBrus]

For those who choose which laws they will abide by, I fear for you when one day martial law is declared, civilians are held in military tribunals, and a complete totalitarian government is in place. You can bet these things are not far behind, and I'm starting to welcome such notions with open arms.

Your compassion for humanity really shines through when you "fear" for me. Thank you.

 

[Special Hops]

For those who choose which laws they will abide by, I fear for you when one day martial law is declared, civilians are held in military tribunals, and a complete totalitarian government is in place. You can bet these things are not far behind, and I'm starting to welcome such notions with open arms.

wow - really? I am glad you are not my parent.

I hear N. Korea may be looking for a new leader. You should send in your resume.

 

[Yooper]

Please stay on topic and no personal attacks. That behavior will not be tolerated.

Believe it or not, drinking under the age of 21 is legal in most states, with certain exceptions. Minors with parental consent, minors without parental consent on private property, in church communion, and so on. Here is a brief synopsis: http://drinkingage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002591#chart2

Everyone should know the law before they accuse others of breaking the law. But we can discuss the law without personal attacks and namecalling.

 

[Rebekah]

No, squirelly, I'm not implying that being black and white is bad. It's fine. It's how you are living you life and apparently it's working for you. I think that's great. I just don't get how you jump to saying that people who don't observe the laws as you do are irresponsible parents. Seems to me this thread is full of parents sharing their experiences and thoughtfully walking the line between what is responsible and what would be irresponsible to share with their children. I think that is commendable.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

wow - really? I am glad you are not my parent.

I hear N. Korea may be looking for a new leader. You should send in your resume.

ZING!

But back on topic: we're all adults who can decided whether or not we want to abide by certain laws. However we need to be able to deal with the consequences. In my opinion there really aren't any severe consequences to deal with by letting your kid have a sip of beer at home.... it takes away the mysticism. There was never alcohol in my house growing up and I have to admit I started my drinking career heavy. I backed off after undergrad (natch) and am now very responsible about my drinking.

Though when my nephew gets older he'll get sips of beer here and there.... and of course I'm going to teach him gun safety and usage.

Same applies to my kids when I have them.



EDIT: Also worth mentioning is that in Nevada underage individuals aren't "drinking underage" unless their BAC is over 0.04

 

[Bernie Brewer]

in WI, I could even drink at a bar as long as my parents were there. That law might have changed, but it was legal when I was 18.

Actually it wasn't. Once you turn 18 your parents are no longer your guardians and cannot give you permission to drink. You are on your own, and the law says you can't make the decision on your own until you are 21. Stupid, huh?

As far as that goes:

"That which is not just is not law"-John Brown

 

[rico567]

No government I recognize is going to tell me whether or not I can give my child a swig of beer in my own house.

If anybody wants to enforce that, in the words of one Tory ca. 1777: "This province has raised up a thousand riflemen, the worst of which will place a bullet into a man's head at 200 yards. Therefore instruct your men to put their affairs in order before departing England."

 

[JonM]

While each state may allow parents to be irresponsible, the federal government says the drinking age is 21. No state law supersedes federal law.

.

Nope, the Feds give states money for highways in exchange for the states making their laws 21+. Not a federal law.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Nope, the Feds give states money for highways in exchange for the states making their laws 21+. Not a federal law.

Yeah, I thought that was common knowledge.

 

[petey_c]

Sooo, back on the original topic... I have given my kids a taste of beer when they asked (which wasn't often) My son, if he's going to be drinking, stays overnight. I'm also from a family of Irish Catho-holics who grew up in the city. We're a little more free with our attitudes about the drink. I've never really shared a beer with my son, because he's only 20. I wanted him to understand that no matter how you feel about a law, it's still a law.
I'm doing my best best to not put in my 2 cents in on this whole LEO thing.... Opinions are like butt holes. Everyone has one and they all stink.

 

[MalFet]

Sooo, back on the original topic... I have given my kids a taste of beer when they asked (which wasn't often) My son, if he's going to be drinking, stays overnight. I'm also from a family of Irish Catho-holics who grew up in the city. We're a little more free with our attitudes about the drink. I've never really shared a beer with my son, because he's only 20. I wanted him to understand that no matter how you feel about a law, it's still a law.
I'm doing my best best to not put in my 2 cents in on this whole LEO thing.... Opinions are like butt holes. Everyone has one and they all stink.

I don't have any quibbles your decision to share a beer with your 20 year-old son or not, but — if you live in New York like your tag suggests — it would not be illegal in any sense for you to do so.

 

[motobrewer]

Actually it wasn't. Once you turn 18 your parents are no longer your guardians and cannot give you permission to drink. You are on your own, and the law says you can't make the decision on your own until you are 21. Stupid, huh?

As far as that goes:

"That which is not just is not law"-John Brown

i don't think that's accurate.

every bar I went to with my parents, we ensured the legality. they always carded me and my parents, and they always gave the drink to my parents. they (and I) are under the impression that even if I'm 18-20, it's legal.

 

[doctorRobert]

i don't think that's accurate.

every bar I went to with my parents, we ensured the legality. they always carded me and my parents, and they always gave the drink to my parents. they (and I) are under the impression that even if I'm 18-20, it's legal.

That could be legal. Since they didn't serve you, your parents did. If I were bar owner, I wouldn't take that chance.

 

[motobrewer]

well i'd assume they knew exactly what the law was.

 

[Misfit]

this is perhaps my favorite thread ever!

 

[Airborneguy]

Technically, he's right about writing someone for 5+ the speed limit. While I've never done less than 10 (and even that rarely), I can certainly see reasons why I'd do it (not worth getting into here, I'm not looking to defend this guy anyway).

Big city policing requires a certain amount of negotiation, both verbally with people face to face, and in the laws one chooses to enforce. Training has taught me that discretion is one of the most important tools a police officer has and more importantly, my experience has proven that to be true. I'd venture that Squirrelly is a small town police officer.

 

[user 4295]

Technically, he's right about writing someone for 5+ the speed limit.

Of course he's technically right for citing someone for 5 over. But that doesn't make the clerk magistrates around here any less indignant toward the officers who do it when the motorists contest the citation! I've honestly never seen a citation for 5 over stick around here. No officers I know would even consider it.

 

[eastoak]

some people have legalism and nothing more in their lives, makes for a bitter life.

 

[sonex]

some communities use the police for local revenue, which is one reason in Pa local police are not permitted to use radar to enforce speed laws. only state police can use radar. I have been pulled over 8 times in my 36 years of driving 3 times by state troopers and always given a warning. I have been pulled over by locals 5 times all cited a violation. No wonder when people see local police officers ones instinct is to grab onto there wallet b/c the legal pirates are about to rob ya. Police wonder why there is mistrust and lack of respect for them, their behavior and decisions have a lot to do with the peoples perception of them.

 

[user 4295]

No wonder when people see local police officers ones instinct is to grab onto there wallet b/c the legal pirates are about to rob ya. Police wonder why there is mistrust and lack of respect for them, their behavior and decisions have a lot to do with the peoples perception of them.

That's precisely why the police around here have an unwritten rule to not ticket residents of their town unless they are doing something really egregious.

 

[Airborneguy]

Of course he's technically right for citing someone for 5 over. But that doesn't make the clerk magistrates around here any less indignant toward the officers who do it when the motorists contest the citation! I've honestly never seen a citation for 5 over stick around here. No officers I know would even consider it.

Maybe where you are, but if I make my case and the judge doesn't think I was lying or my estimate and equipment were off, then the summons stands. I don't want to sound like I'm defending Squirelly's attitude on policing, but I am a cop, and have had to testify to hundreds of summonses in court, I don't just come from a family of police officers.

The only reason I mentioned that at all is because a poster in this thread advocated making complaints against cops if they write a 5mph+ summons. Nice attitude. Break the law, then try to make the cop look bad. I consider myself a level headed cop and an almost flawless record to back that up. I'd love to take a BS complaint like that so I can smile when it is summarily dismissed. We answer complaints like that on job time, no skin off my back.

 

[danorocks17]

I don't have children yet, but when I was growing up I never drank in front of my parents. I have a feeling that looking back if I asked my parents it probably would not have had a problem. they aren't big drinkers to begin with so I didn't want to put them in a weird position or anything. As for when I have children, I guess I'll have to see how I feel when the time comes lol

 

[Airborneguy]

That's precisely why the police around here have an unwritten rule to not ticket residents of their town unless they are doing something really egregious.

Your family members might not be too happy to know that you're putting this out there by the way. That would be an awesome lawsuit for an out of town resident to hit your PD/town with.