Wine Tasting Question
 

Our family is planning a trip to Sonoma this fall. Will our 19 yr. old daughter be allowed to taste? I know this varies from state to state.
THANKS

Isn't the drinking age 21 in EVERY state?

>>Will our 19 yr. old daughter be allowed to taste? <<

Nope

Stu Dudley

Actually, some states such as Ohio allow minors to drink if they are accompanied by their parents.
i.e. a glass of wine at a restaurant

In California, the drinking age is 21..no matter if the person is with parents or not.

And even IF she could taste, which she can't - she can't purchase. So a winery would be really, REALLY foolish to risk ABC taking away their tasting license.

Makes sense; thanks for confirming

That being said, many wineries have lovely gardens and gift shops, and things to see while parents taste..

The drinking age is 21 in every state. And while some clubs may take fake ID a winery certainly won't.

Hey, you're lucky! She can be the designated driver.

Bonise --- if only that were true. I'm betting if they have a rental car she isn't allowed to drive it at her age.

Foiled again!

Is that true about Ohio? I haven't lived there in years, but when did that happen?

Never mind. I googled and see that drinking is indeed allowed by underage persons if accompanied by parents. What's more there doesn't seem to be any further specific limits to that law. A six year old drinking a martini?

Federal law mainly addresses underage purchase of alcohol. It does not mention "drinking age." Most states have some sort of exception for consumption. Here is California law as of 1/1/2006.
California
as of 1/1/2006
Underage Possession of Alcohol
Possession is prohibited WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION(S):
• private location
• OR parent/guardian consent
• OR legal-age spouse

Notes: California's "Any Private Location" exception excludes possession in motor vehicles. California's statute regarding possession of alcohol by a person under the age of 21 years includes an exception for "responsible adult relative", but does not specify which relatives are included.
If the OP (or, more likely, the OP's 19-year-old daughter) is concerned, it might be a good idea to call the specific wineries in advance to see what their policies are.

A quiet tasting room with a dog sleeping in the corner is generally a good sign that the winery practices the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Do you frequently offer wine to your child?

I'm thinking if she CANNOT be the DD, then why not let her taste? I think if she learns about and comes to appreciate wine now, might make her a more responsible drinker.

That "pop" you heard was my opening a can of worms.

I'll jump into the can, Austin. As a child, and certainly as a teenager, it was not usual for my parents to let me have a sip of beer from time to time, or wine with a special dinner. It was no big thing. But when I went off to college with a good friend whose parents didn't even allow alcohol within their house and who would never have allowed him to associate with people who drink -- he went wild, getting drunk every night and flunking out of college. Drinking had never been the big forbidden treat to me that it was to him.

legitimate wineries don't want teenagers tasting any more than the ABC does . . . . .

I don;t mean to suggest that I support the drinking at 21 age.

I have a couple of problems with it:

If at 18 you can marry, vote and serve in the military you're an adult and should be able to drink.

My parents were of the "not forbidden fruit" variety and my brother and I were allowed to drink small amounts of wine and beer starting when we were 12 or 13 - and got used to the effects - and learned what we liked. So by the time we went away to college we were not swept away in drunken binges as were many kids who had no experience with alcohol and would swig down a bottle of ye olde sweate socks. (This theory seems to work out in europe where drinking ages are much younger.)

But- the reason for the law was not drinking - but the huge number of deaths related to drinking and driving (not such an issue in euope - where many fewer teens have access to cars - never mind cars of their own).

Nevertheless it IS illegal to sell alcohol to minors - exceptions in most places being private events (ie champagne toasts at weddings). But - many states are now cracking down on this - due to idiot parents sponsoring keggers - from which packs of drunken teens drive home - and making it a crime for adults to serve alcohol to any minors but their own children.

You can contact the wineries to ask - but I would assume most will not want to go out on a limb.

In response to bobludlow: yes, I will allow her to have A glass of wine with dinner. I tend to view it similarly to Austin and Neo - it is better for her to appreciate a nice wine than guzzle swill. She is a sophmore at college - hopefully she has the ability to make sound judgements. we cannot be there watching over her.