beautifulblueii:

This coming from the person who say it's okay for their 15 yo and HER FRIENDS to drink as long as it's at home! That is the what educated people call a hypocrite!

Actually, blue, "drinking at home" is perfectly legal for minors in most states.

 

Most people don't realize that, and many believe that if I gave a half glass of wine to my children at txtgvg dinner that it's "shild abuse" or some melodramatic catastrophe like that ...

 

It's not.

 

It's called parental rights.  A parent in most states can provide alcohol to his own children in private -- I'm unsure about in public, like a restaurant.

 

What you cannot do is provide someone else's children alcohol -- even with permission from those other children's parents.  And this is why the graduation "drinking parties" are busted.

 

Even in some states there are "religious and private club" exemptions to the 1984 Minimum Drinking Age Act.  Which means that if a 19 y.o. joins the Lions Club or the Kiwanis Club and they have a beer bash, it's legal.  A Jewish or Cathoic minor can drink ceremonial wine at church or synagogue.  Etc.

 

Children will retain the drinking patterns they establish early on.  If a child is taught -- and practices -- moderation as a teen then he will very likely practice moderation as an adult ... even if he overindulges in college.  He'll go back to moderation.

 

Children who learn no drinking pattern as a teen but are suddenly hit with alcohol on their 21st birthday are far more likely to become binge drinkers ... which is pre-addictive behavior.  This is the pattern they will almost certainly practice as an adult.

I'm 24, but I look like I'm 15.

The whole time I was on the ship, I never got carded. I guess your age is on the Sail and Sign card though, so I wouldn't try it. I did have them ask me at one of the bars if I was old enough, and I'm like yes, and then they scanned my card (guessing they then saw I was old enough) and made the drink.

Now... when I went to the Bahamas and ordered a drink... I got carded even though the drinking age there is 18. Guess they didn't wanna take any chances.

But even if you're 20 you can still order drinks when you're in the port so it's not like you can't drink at all. Plus, when they carry drinks around on the Lido Deck, they write down your sail and sign information so I don't know if they can tell by a number or something on your card or if they have to actually scan the card to tell.

I know, in Louisiana, it is technically legal for an 18 y/o to drink in public establishments if they are with a parent or legal guardian, but most places won't allow it.  The establishments have decided to have an overall age of 21 so they don't have to determine who's a parent or legal guardian.

I also know a couple from Europe was arrested for allowing their 9 year old to have a small amount of beer (which is common in Europe) with his dinner.  They were not charged with contributing.  They were charged with the more serious offense of child endangerment.  A lot of Americans would be shocked, seriously shocked, if they ever went to Europe.  Not only with the laws on drinking, but other things as well.  Let's just say the Janet Jackson episode and adult only sunbathing decks would not even be an issue.

Carnival is a business and has the right to make their own rules as long as those rules meet the requirements of the law.  Carnival decided 21 was the magic number.  So 21 it is.  They could have made it 25 if they wished.  I'm sure their decision was based on past experience and risk management concerns.