Do you let you 18-20 year olds drink?

[droseball]

I have a question about the waiver for the 18-20 year olds. This means that they can buy beer and wine when not with parents or guardians, but does it mean that I cannot buy specialty drinks (like pina coladas or something like that) for them when with me (like sail away or something)? I would think I could but I don't know. Any experience with this is appreciated!

 

Denise

[love2vacation]

Yes, I would sign the waiver. I will say that every child is unique, and only you know if yours will be able to handle the responsiblility. If you think they can't, don't sign it.

 

I certainly don't think that when you turn 21 you magically turn in to a responsible person. I have seen enough people in 20's, 30's, 40's and even older acting irresponsibly when drinking, so age seems not to make much difference when alcohal is combined with stupidity. :cool:

[Host Jacquelyn]

Why do people think that signing waiver means that your (adult) child will be drinking at any possible opportunity? I guess you know your kid best, but I am sure that most won't see this as free reign to walk around drink in hand at all time. This whole discussion never fails to amaze me. I grew up in Quebec where the drinking age is 18, and we never abused it (not saying that others didn't though :rolleyes: )

[OliverTheCat]

After seeing over 300 18 year olds on Navigator that JUST graduated from high school, alone for first time from parental type authority, and chaparones were never around, I will never let my kids drink on ship before age 21.

 

Those 18 year olds were drunk every night, and very obnoxious.

 

Taught me something. Opened my eyes.

[MGoBlue2]

After seeing over 300 18 year olds on Navigator that JUST graduated from high school, alone for first time from parental type authority, and chaparones were never around, I will never let my kids drink on ship before age 21.

 

Those 18 year olds were drunk every night, and very obnoxious.

 

Taught me something. Opened my eyes.

If your 18-20 YO wants to drink and/or get drunk while on a cruise with you, rest assured, they will be able to find a way whether or not you sign the permission slip.

[OliverTheCat]

If your 18-20 YO wants to drink and/or get drunk while on a cruise with you, rest assured, they will be able to find a way whether or not you sign the permission slip.

 

 

Yes, BUT I think the frequency of drinking will be far less.

[mspink98]

After seeing over 300 18 year olds on Navigator that JUST graduated from high school, alone for first time from parental type authority, and chaparones were never around, I will never let my kids drink on ship before age 21.

 

Those 18 year olds were drunk every night, and very obnoxious.

 

Taught me something. Opened my eyes.

 

But the thing is, if they had been 21, the probably still would have been just as drunk and just as obnoxious. What’s the difference? Being legal in the country that the ship sailed from, even though that country’s drinking laws didn’t apply anymore? Some people will drink to excess, no matter what the age, and some won’t. Some will drink to excess the first few times, realize it’s not worth it the next morning, and take it easy from then on. Again, it depends on the person-I would not let every 19 year old, across the board, drink. But I wouldn’t NOT let ANY 19 year old drink, either.

[erisajd]

what gets me sometimes is the holier than thou attitude on some [NOT HERE - this NOT a flame ] - I heard this one mother chastise the heck out of me a b-fast one day on my recent cruise for basically agreeing with many posters here who said that closely supervised access on a cruise is OK and helps teach responsiblity and that she NEVER would let her minor [19 actually] drink until she was 21.

 

That VERY evening I saw her sweet innocent daughter hammered, in a liplock with some guy she obviously met on the ship, sitting in the Crown Lounge while mommy was downstairs sipping champagne cocktails in the champagne lounge. I guess this guy was buying her drinks, or they got the liquor someplace. But the disconnect was amusing.

 

Kids will be kids, and most of us got drunk in our younger years. We learned, some the hard way and others simply from the one vicious hangover, that drinking too much was not something we wanted to do.

 

I have a curious 12 yr old and when he asks, I offer, beer or wine, give him a taste, some reds he has liked, he does not like beer and does not like white wine, so he simply is not interested. Turn ANYTHING into a tabu for a teen, and they'll immediately want to do it. Make alcohol just another part of life, and its not that big a deal then. THEN, the hard part is teaching them it is ok to decline more, to say no when they mean no. That whole peer thing is the real challenge, not putting up rules that they honor in the breach.

[lawsoncd3]

Hi All,

We have discussed this indepth with our son who will be sailing with us (he'll be 19). I have seen some people who are older than 21 act like complete idiots while they're drunk, causing caos, throwing up, sick... you know. Some adults act worse than some well-behaved teens IMHO.

 

We have set guidelines and the biggest thing is the trust factor. With the discussions we've had with him, his answer is 'why would I want to drink to a point where I can't have fun any longer...' I think he's got a good outlook on this.

 

In summary, I guess that it all depends on the young adult. Yes, some teens get away from parents or their care-takers and act like they have lost all sense of normalcy, but "adults" have also acted less then steller as well. If you have set limits from the time they were little and through their lives, it shouldn't be a problem. Moderation is the key.

 

Just my thought;)

[Tenbyman]

I was on the Navigator for 8 days from 18th February this year and while i was at the Roulette table i had my 16 year old son standing nearby watching. the Croupier reported him to the pit boss who asked my son to leave the Casino. that was fair enough but when i pointed out that in my opinion i would rather have him nearby me than buying booze somewhere else on the ship the croupier decided to argue informing that it did not happen on the ship, i disageed and he continued by stating "that never happens on this ship" i asked him he would like to put money on it, at that point he shut up(he should have done that from the start)

 

I saw kids well under 21 buying booze from day one, in fact on one occasion a child got his card out to pay and the barman told him he could not use that card as it had two holes in it so the child pulled another card from his pocket and the Barman TOOK IT AND GAVE HIM THE DRINKS, icould not believe it.

[crusinmama06]

Nope! I have a long way to go before I have to start thinking of waivers for my two young daughters, I know the way I am. I won't sign.

[ssca]

We have a son who ia 19 and we will sign the waiver. Last year we were on a Holland American cruise and they do not allow any drinking under 21,but the ports were all 18. He did have a beer with us a few times in port but since he could have it, it did not seem like such a big deal to him. I do not like it, but to me it is taking resonsibility of the laws where you are. He can gamble on the ship but he can not gamble at home. My boys are aware of our rules and in no way would I allow it if it is not "legal". He knows we will see what is is doing and he will be with us most of the time and if it became a problem,which would surprise me its over. I may fell a bit different if he was not in our cabin ,so that is a thought also. Im just happy my kids still want to go on vacation with us!

[Puffinater]

We are leaning toward signing the release so ds19 can have beer, IF he agrees to a few rules. ??

 

a few beers = a few rules out the window

 

Let them drink (moderately) ?? See above

 

Like several have said previously..sends the wrong message.

[Weez]

a few beers = a few rules out the window

 

Let them drink (moderately) ?? See above

 

Like several have said previously..sends the wrong message.

 

What is the wrong message? Even though you're old enough to drink, I'm not allowing you to? When the 18, 19 or 20 year old is at dinner with you in one of the islands where the drinking age is 18, will you allow him/her to order a beer? Kid's rebel for a reason.

[Clarkk W Griswald]

a few beers = a few rules out the window

 

And what rules are being broken?

18-20 are permitted to drink on board so no rules are being broken.

[cmich068]

hahha, being a Canadian, i still can't believe that so many people are "NO DRINKING UNDER 21 IF MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT"

 

kinda sad though... 19 year old canadians have to smuggle our own (much better i must add) beer across the border when we go to football games.

 

of course i'd sign the waiver, it's legal for my kids to drink at home, so why not on the ship?

[Clarkk W Griswald]

hahha, being a Canadian, i still can't believe that so many people are "NO DRINKING UNDER 21 IF MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT"

 

We're from PA and the kids in college always have their fraternity formal in Canada (Niagra Falls) just because drinking age is 19. Are they breaking any laws or rules? Absolutley NOT!

[above sea level cruiser]

hahha, being a Canadian, i still can't believe that so many people are "NO DRINKING UNDER 21 IF MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT"

 

kinda sad though... 19 year old canadians have to smuggle our own (much better i must add) beer across the border when we go to football games.

 

of course i'd sign the waiver, it's legal for my kids to drink at home, so why not on the ship?

 

It sounds like you just turned 19. Your not getting the point. The point is - in the states - the drinking age is 21, yet on the ship its 18 with a signed waiver. That's lowering the legal age by three years. That's their question.:confused:

[denred04]

the responsility factor is more important than the age...just look at the Smiths!!! and she was well over 21!

[above sea level cruiser]

the responsility factor is more important than the age...just look at the Smiths!!! and she was well over 21!

 

I agree with you 100%

However, in Jen Smith's defence:rolleyes: she says she doesn't remember drinking too much alcohol and hoofing her DH in the groin. I'll bet HE would remember it!!:rolleyes:

[suzeyQ]

a few beers = a few rules out the window

 

Let them drink (moderately) ?? See above

 

Like several have said previously..sends the wrong message.

 

What do you mean by the "wrong message"? Signing the waiver doesn't mean the parents are telling their kids it's ok to break the law - the law onboard is that 18 year olds can drink wine or beer so I'm not sure what message you're worried about sending.

 

It's also a little cynical to suggest that as soon as someone has a few drinks, they're incapable of following rules. Most people, including many teens and young adults, are more than capable of drinking while still acting sensibly.

 

Like someone else said, it really is just a matter of trust. If you think you can trust your son or daughter not to get drunk and obnoxious, there's no harm in signing the waiver. If not, it's probably best not to sign it (although if they really want to drink, they'll find a way).

[Zoey1]

We will be sailing on the Voyager next month with ds15, and ds19. We are leaning toward signing the release so ds19 can have beer, IF he agrees to a few rules. I was just wondering what the rest of you with kids in this age range do. Let them drink (moderately) or not at all??

 

SOOO glad you brought this thread up and am anxious to read on..we are hoping to go on the Mariner the end of May with DD 23(not an issue of course EXCEPT DS(18) will want to go to club with her and I know he drinks while away at school, just can't decide should I allow him one or two beers a day or is that hypocritcal? what to do..what to do...looking forward to feedback..

[Ms Jo UK]

I don't have children but I am glad that I don't have this dilemma as the age limit in the UK is 18 so pretty hard to take an 18 year old who can legally visit bars and clubs on holiday and then tell them they can't drink.

 

We took my niece on holiday to Florida and she was outraged that she couldn't drink, but we will obey the local culture and laws, we just forgot to mention the 21 age limit stateside, or maybe we just didn't really give it a thought as we don't drink very much.

[Puffinater]

And what rules are being broken?

18-20 are permitted to drink on board so no rules are being broken.

 

The quote was from the original poster saying she would set up rules. It was not in reference to the drinking age on the ship.

[Jsme]

I think this thread has brought out some great opinions and ideas for one to think about.