Question for the Americans: Beer drinking

[Bruno]

Me and my wife were just watching the Simpsons, and Moe wasn't allowed to sell beer on Sunday before 2 PM.
Is there really a law to regulate that? If so, I presume they are local city / county laws?

Also, under 21 people are not allowed to drink beer, but does are parents allowed to let their kids drink beer? Like if they are 18 and you are having a bbq?

Just wondering.

[kerryman71]

Package stores (liquor stores) weren't allowed to open in Massachusetts on Sundays until a couple of years ago. Bars could open and generally opened late morning. Obviously each state is different here.

As for letting your young adult under 21 to drink, you cannot do it legally.

John

[JoshEarl]

In Pennsylvania, virtually all alcohol except beer is sold through government-owned liquor stores. Beer is sold through "beer distributor" stores, which for some absurd reason are only permitted to sell it in larger quantities--like cases and kegs. Restuarants and bars are allowed to sell by the bottle or "poured drinks."

The government stores aren't open on Sunday, although there is talk of changing that.

A dad who gave his 20-year-old son a beer would be breaking the law.

The whole system is idiotic on several levels. Why should the government regulate how I teach my child about alcohol? Why can't I buy wine from anyone I choose to?

It's amusing to me that modern society has almost no moral boundaries on anything, but heaven forbid that a parent give a teenager a half-glass of wine. A movie could be rated PG-13 and include sex and nudity, but if someone's smoking a joint, that's taboo. Give me a break.

Josh

[xman]

I'll let Marlow have a drink with dinner when he's 16 or so, maybe younger. I figure the earlier you acclimatise your kids to responsible alcohol consumption, like they do in Europe and South America, the better your chances of avoiding drunken teenage tragedy.

The drinking hours in the Yukon are not from such and such an hour to another, but for a specific span of time. An establishment can serve for 14 hours I think it is, whichever 12 hours they like. There's one bar, The 58, where all the hard core alcoholics drink. They don't like the idea of really late drunk ups so they stop serving at about 10pm. That means they start serving at around 8am. They have something called the Breakfast Pitcher. All kind o' yummy goodness gets thrown into a blender, whipped together and served to your table for $50. The secret recipe goes down very fruity and smooth, but must have an alcohol content of about 25-30%. Four of us shared one and I didn't realise I was getting drunk until I tried to stand up. I'm sure many of you guys would like the place. They've got a shotgun above the bar.

X

[JMS]

In California there is no such 'Sunday' law, but when I was in Arizona I remember a couple of cities had their own particular 'Sunday' laws.

[BrianB]

I believe they're referred to as "Blue-Laws" here. It's to promote church attendance or some odd lot.

As far as the under 21 thing goes, I don't believe the government has a whole lot of say about what goes on within ones home, as long as it stays in that home. Yes, though, technically speaking, it is illegal. Yes, though, as a kid myself I "may or may not" know people who "do or do not" have an occasional drink in the privacy of their own homes.

[Ernie]

Me and my wife were just watching the Simpsons, and Moe wasn't allowed to sell beer on Sunday before 2 PM.
Is there really a law to regulate that? If so, I presume they are local city / county laws?

Also, under 21 people are not allowed to drink beer, but does are parents allowed to let their kids drink beer? Like if they are 18 and you are having a bbq?

Just wondering.

Your presumption is right. The details on when and where alcohol can be bought varies upon local laws.

Overall, alcohol consumption for a person under 21 is illegal. Giving a minor alcohol is illegal, too. However, all of this does not stop the thousands of young people under 21 from drinking.

[Bruno]

Over here, the legal limit is 16.

I was not much for beer when I was young, but my dad let me drink wodka from a thimble sized glass when I was 14, 1 glass on saturday.
The glass got a bit bigger on each birthday. From 18 onwards I was allowed to decide for myself when and how much to drink, though I was never to get drunk.

And I will do the same with my kids when they reach that age.
I m a firm believer in teaching responsibility, not in prohibiting and then hoping they never get access. That is also why I am teaching a 3 year old to handle a small paring knife to cut beans and potatoes.

[jaegerhund]

Southern Louisiana is a little liberal on the alcohol consumption --- I've been drinking beer at family get-togethers (crawfish boils, etc) since I was 15 or so --- no big deal around here --- in moderation of course.

Justin

[drfred]

They are/were called 'Blue Laws' When they were first enacted they even regulated what sundry items could be bought. One couldn't even buy tools on Sunday. Now, here in Texas, no liquor or beer can be bought in a grocery store until after 12:00 noon. Archaic isn't it?

Fred