Drinking and Buying Alcohol if You Are Under 21
 

Hello, this is Canterbury junior! Really - my mom told me to ask you guys this question. I am 18 years old. Can I drink wine on the plane over? We are flying on American Airlines. Can I drink while I'm in Europe? And can I bring home some Champagne or something like that? Will customs take it from me?

Thanks! canterbury junior

The law of the country of the airline you're travelling on applies. Legal drinking age in most of Europe is 16 years for beer and wine, 18 years for all other liquors or drinks containing liquor (in not negligable amounts) whatever the alcohol content is. Quite easy, isn't it? :-)

Yes you can drink while in Europe (don't get totally smashed so that everyone thinks "What an obnoxious American drunken teenager!") How can you bring champagne home when you're only allowed almost nothing in liquids on the plane nowadays?

As I said on your other thread, you can't bring back alcohol to the the US unless you're 21. If you're flying on AA, they may card you.

Basically the geman law states in §323a StGB that if you commit a crime while being totally drunk on purpose or neglect, your maximun fine will be 5 years in prison if you didn't realize commiting that crime. You may end up in an insane asylumn afterwards for an indefinite time ;-) Happy drinking :D

If you do drink in Europe, please, please, please do not overdo it. I'll never forget the sight of six drunken American young people in the Hofbrau Haus in Munich. I don't know what that liquid was under their table, but the waiters were so disgusted, they made the kids (twenty-somethings) clean it up themselves.

We just sat there and cringed!

Maybe I should add: The most common crime is to drink and drive...

My 13 year old daughter was served wine on our Air France flight both ways (and every place we went in Europe.) Really, it's not a big deal there, which is maybe why there seems to be less adolescent alcoholism there than here.

Why would you think others should care when you break the law. As long as you're there they can serve anything and only you're responsible.

The thing to remember is that it varies from country to country, so don't assume, for example, that becuase you can drink in France, you can drink in the UK.

Having said that, at 18, you can drink in the UK.

There are various offenses related to overdoing it, but that wasn't what you asked. Whatever, I'm sure it won't be as restrictive as Utah.

Have a good trip.

What happens (in Germany) if you knock yourself out:

Depending on how bad it is, police will bring you either to the police station where you can spend some hours to become sober again or to a hospital where your stomach will be evacuated (not a very nice procedure, but normally folks do not realize it anymore). Of course, the hospital will bill you afterwards.

You better drink slowly and self-controlled. Stop drinking when you feel easy.

Canterbury junior is not asking "what happens if I get rip-roaring drunk in Europe?" Just be smart and don't overdo it. Have fun on your trip.

Just remember that on American it's going to cost you $5/drink - unless you're up in business class!

<<< Having said that, at 18, you can drink in the UK. >>>

Not as simple as that - believe it or not 5 yr olds can legally drink in the UK!!!

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/alco...hol_law2.shtml

<<< Canterbury junior is not asking "what happens if I get rip-roaring drunk in Europe?" >>>

Could do a "Ewan" and wake up in Leicester Square - or a police station, hospital or the "beer goggles" have worked (failed?)