Drinking age

[PSUPorsche]

I was 30 days away from turning 21 on Royal Carribean and we were going to Mexico and Grand Caymen from Florida and I was not allowed to purchase or drink alcohol on the cruise however on the islands, a 12 year old can purchase/drink alcohol.

[tallyho8]

You only have to be 18 to drink on Norwegian as long as they are out of US waters.

[cls624]

OMG! Let's not argue!:cool:

Drinking age was 18 at one time. It was for me in 1981!!:rolleyes:

If you purchase a drink or two on the ship, at least you can monitor how much they drink! I'm all for moderation!

My daughter will turn 21 in March, and we will cruise in April. She'll be legal everywhere. She is thrilled, but it's scary for me.

[Heirloom]

If your daughter is 19, she is FULLY aware of how to get a phony ID for drinking purposes.

 

My entire generation had them in NYC by age 16, when drinking age was 18 !

 

So have her pack what she may actually have already into your main luggage, and get ready to begin family partying at full blast !!!

[noblepa]

You better hope it doesn't. Not only would the government have to raise taxes to make up for what they would lose on liquor tax, but the cruise line would have to jack the rate up to make up for the money they wouldn't be making off of booze!

 

If it does, it would be alright with me. I'd start a speakeasy and run

molasses across the boarder, sounds like fun!

 

 

Are you kidding? The cruise lines' booze revenue would triple! Cruising would at least double! People would be going on cruises just for the booze (as if some don't already). They'd just have to wait until they're in international waters, just like they do for the casinos.

 

They would be able to charge more for the drinks, as well. They'd just have to buy their booze in a foreign port. They would lose out on the duty-free sales, since no one would be able to take any off the ship. We'd be having discussions here about the best way to smuggle booze OFF the ship, rathen than ONTO the ship.

[ehfl]

She can't drink on board...only in port.

[toddraz]

My daughter age 19 will be with me on our cruise. will she be legally allowed to purchase drinks while on board? How does that work?

 

Nope. Even if you were sailing in Europe where she would be legally allowed to drink ashore, the ship must abide by American law. She can't buy until she's 21. Many people had bought for their minor children and it's been allowed, but......

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[westview1]

You only have to be 18 to drink on Norwegian as long as they are out of US waters.

 

My BF's daughter was allowed to drink as long as my BF would approve it and I think he would have had to sign a waiver.

 

As far as knowing if you are the legal age, they will put a sticker on the card and I believe your age comes up whenever your card is scanned.

 

A month before I turned 18, NY changed the drinking age to 19. Then a month before I turned 21, they changed the drinking age to 21 and didn't grandfather anyone in! :mad: I couldn't legally drink for a month, my birthday is in January so the law was in effect on New Years. I really thought someone was out to get me!

[T. Advisor King]

It's not "underage drinking" for a 19 year old to drink in international waters or within the territorial limit of a country where the drinking age is 19 or lower.

 

I can't find anything that says it is contrary to Carnival policy for an adult under 21 to drink on board. Their only policy is that they will not sell/serve alcohol to anyone under 21. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this, but if you bring your own alcohol (in accordance with the "one bottle" policy) and serve it to your 19 year old outside US waters, I don't think you are breaking (a) the law, or (b) Carnival policy.

[Ken076]

It's not "underage drinking" for a 19 year old to drink in international waters or within the territorial limit of a country where the drinking age is 19 or lower.

 

I can't find anything that says it is contrary to Carnival policy for an adult under 21 to drink on board. Their only policy is that they will not sell/serve alcohol to anyone under 21. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this, but if you bring your own alcohol (in accordance with the "one bottle" policy) and serve it to your 19 year old outside US waters, I don't think you are breaking (a) the law, or (b) Carnival policy.

 

For what it's worth:

 

"Drinking Alcohol On Board:

The minimum age for the purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the bars, lounges and gift shops is 21 years of age. In the event that Bar/Restaurant/Gift Shop staff are in question that a guest is less than 21 years old, they shall request picture identification, prior to serving the drink or selling the bottle of liquor.

 

ken

[toddraz]

Are you kidding? The cruise lines' booze revenue would triple! Cruising would at least double! People would be going on cruises just for the booze (as if some don't already). They'd just have to wait until they're in international waters, just like they do for the casinos.

 

They would be able to charge more for the drinks, as well. They'd just have to buy their booze in a foreign port. They would lose out on the duty-free sales, since no one would be able to take any off the ship. We'd be having discussions here about the best way to smuggle booze OFF the ship, rathen than ONTO the ship.

 

Good point. Where can I buy rum runners?

[meatloafsfan]

For what it's worth:

 

"Drinking Alcohol On Board:

The minimum age for the purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the bars, lounges and gift shops is 21 years of age. In the event that Bar/Restaurant/Gift Shop staff are in question that a guest is less than 21 years old, they shall request picture identification, prior to serving the drink or selling the bottle of liquor.

 

ken

 

So have your daughter drink in the room - and then go out to the bars, lounges and gift shops.

[velotaco]

How nice of your family to encourage underage drinking. :rolleyes:

 

What may be "underage" in your world is not always under age in everone else's world. The US is the only country that has a legal drinking age of twenty-one. Sixteen, especially with parental consent, is acceptable in many places/cultures. :rolleyes:

[TamLaiSang]

This country needs to decide when you are an adult... period.

 

I agree!

 

 

and 18 is WAY TOO YOUNG!

 

I think we should raise the legal age of adulthood to 25!:D

 

We could then grant an exception to legally emancipated minors, of which those serving in the military would certainly qualify.:)

 

Yeah...I know...

 

But as long as we are throwing personal opinions out there that have absolutely no relevance, I figured I would add mine too, lol.

[nancydee]

Why when you turn 21 (or 18 up here) you are magically mature and responsble enough to drink? I know some 16yr olds I would rather give a beer to then some 25 yr olds!

[disneyden]

How nice of your family to encourage underage drinking. :rolleyes:

 

Oh please! If you make it forbidden, your kids will run to it!! It's all about educating your kids to prepare them for the "adult" world. On special occasions, I would let them have a sip of my drink. When we were on our cruise a couple of years ago, I let them have an occasional DOD. Now that they are 18 and 21, they really have no interest in alcohol. My 21 year old doesn't hang out in the bars like alot of his friends. He drinks occasionally while watching ball games at the house, but knows that if he does, he will stay home and will NOT drive afterwards. Hmmm, I guess I did a terrible job with my kids by "encouraging their underage drinking"!! ;)

[Name Of The Game]

That's not true for everyone. I wasn't allowed to drink until I was 21 and it didn't make me go hog wild. There's only a couple of drinks I can stomach and even then I'll only drink half of one.

[T. Advisor King]

For what it's worth:

 

"Drinking Alcohol On Board:

The minimum age for the purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the bars, lounges and gift shops is 21 years of age. In the event that Bar/Restaurant/Gift Shop staff are in question that a guest is less than 21 years old, they shall request picture identification, prior to serving the drink or selling the bottle of liquor.

 

ken

 

I stand corrected. Providing alcohol to an adult under 21 on board would violate Carnival's policy. Seems odd to me, particularly if the ship is within the waters (or even docked) in a jurisdiction where the drinking age is lower. But that's Carnival's prerogative.

[papilliontraveler]

Oh please! If you make it forbidden, your kids will run to it!! It's all about educating your kids to prepare them for the "adult" world. On special occasions, I would let them have a sip of my drink. When we were on our cruise a couple of years ago, I let them have an occasional DOD. Now that they are 18 and 21, they really have no interest in alcohol. My 21 year old doesn't hang out in the bars like alot of his friends. He drinks occasionally while watching ball games at the house, but knows that if he does, he will stay home and will NOT drive afterwards. Hmmm, I guess I did a terrible job with my kids by "encouraging their underage drinking"!! ;)

 

How about it is wrong because it is ILLEGAL.

I suppose it is ok for underage kids to smoke too, so they don't want to do it when they get older.

I mean a cigarette or two on special occasions should be ok too, huh?

[MrCo9]

From the cruise contract that you agree to by paying the cruise fare.

 

"

(f) Except as noted below, Guests are prohibited from bringing alcohol on Carnival's vessels for on board consumption. However, at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day, guests 21 years and older may bring on board, only in their carry-on luggage, one bottle, per person, of wine or champagne, 750ml or less. A $10 corkage fee per bottle will be charged should guests wish to consume this wine/champagne in the dining room, or a $14 corkage fee per bottle if consumed in the steakhouse. All alcohol, additional quantities of wine/champagne and excessive non-alcoholic beverages will be confiscated and discarded without compensation. Alcoholic beverages purchased in the vessel's gift shops or at a port of call will be retained by Carnival until the end of the voyage. Carnival reserves the right to refuse to serve alcohol to any passenger. Guest acknowledges that the minimum age permitted for the purchase, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages aboard Carnival's vessels is twenty-one (21). Guest agrees to supervise all persons under age twenty-one (21) under Guest's charge to insure that they do not violate this, or any other, shipboard regulation. Guests who attempt to purchase alcohol by using false identification or the Sail & Sign card of a Guest who is twenty-one or older will be deemed in violation of this policy."

 

Here's the IMPORTANT part.

 

"Any Guest twenty-one or older who attempts to or purchases alcohol for any guest under twenty-one will also be deemed in violation of this policy. Guest agrees that Carnival has the right to disembark any guest who violates this policy and as well as any adults traveling with minors who violate this policy or any other shipboard regulation."

 

Be careful.

[disneyden]

How about it is wrong because it is ILLEGAL.

I suppose it is ok for underage kids to smoke too, so they don't want to do it when they get older.

I mean a cigarette or two on special occasions should be ok too, huh?

 

No, smarty pants! I don't think that would be ok. All I can go by is how my kids turned out. I didn't shove alcohol down their throats, but I didn't make it seem like it was a cardinal sin to have a sip of it occasionally. My 18 year old doesn't even like the taste of it and my 21 year old could care less about it. I have friends that made it seem like it was a forbidden fruit and their kids drink every chance they get!

Also, I agree with a previous poster when they said that it isn't right that someone can go to war and die for this country at 18, but can't have alcohol until they are 21 because it is illegal. I do NOT think that the drinking age should be lowered, but I do feel the laws are a bit backwards.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. :)

[nrdsb4]

How about it is wrong because it is ILLEGAL.

I suppose it is ok for underage kids to smoke too, so they don't want to do it when they get older.

I mean a cigarette or two on special occasions should be ok too, huh?

 

In many states it is absolutely NOT illegal (therefore not wrong?) for an under 21 to have a drink with the permission of and in the presence of his parent/legal guardian.

 

Of course, that is not the case on Carnival ships as it is against the RULES.;)

[papilliontraveler]

Also, I agree with a previous poster when they said that it isn't right that someone can go to war and die for this country at 18, but can't have alcohol until they are 21 because it is illegal. I do NOT think that the drinking age should be lowered, but I do feel the laws are a bit backwards.

 

Fair enough and I will definitely agree on this point with you. ^^^^^^^

[elcuchio24]

How about it is wrong because it is ILLEGAL.

I suppose it is ok for underage kids to smoke too, so they don't want to do it when they get older.

I mean a cigarette or two on special occasions should be ok too, huh?

 

If you think your kid will not ever drink til 21, you are fooling yourself. I just read a report where 80 percent of HIGHSCHOOL Juniors had said they had drank in the past and drank at least on occation. So illegal or not, don't bury your head in the sand.

[papilliontraveler]

I never said anything about my kids not drinking before 21. For the record, my youngest is 24, so it isn't an issue for me anymore. Find out the facts before you accuse me of having my "head in the sand".

Also, I could care less what your "reports" say. I can find 10 articles that say "A" for every 10 that say "B", so that proves nothing.

Like disneyden stated, her kids had some alcohol before legal age, and they are just fine.

 

I was simply making a statement toward "serving" underage drinkers.