Drinking Age Applied to Foreign Visitors

**Bader** · 06-10-2008, 10:20 AM

I posted this in another thread (I shall leave it up to you to figure out how the idea was created)

Since Americans can go to foreign countries and drink underage, should foreign visitors who are from countries that allow them to drink at a younger age be allowed to drink the United States when they come here?

Discuss

**ISUFan22** · 06-10-2008, 10:21 AM

I think it boils down to each person living in or visiting a specific country must follow that countries laws - not the laws of where they come from.

**cycloneworld** · 06-10-2008, 10:23 AM

I posted this in the other thread:

Should it be legal for people from Amersterdam to solicit a prostitute? Or someone can walk down the street and smoke pot if its legal in their country?

I don't think so.

**clone2011** · 06-10-2008, 10:24 AM

A kid from my HS was suspended from athletics (Good Conduct Policy) for 7 games senior year because he was seen drinking at a bar in Mexico on Spring Break. Even though it was legal in Mexico (he was 18), a teacher from our school happened to be at the same resort, saw him, and he was punished on return to school.

There are so many laws that vary from country to country, and quite frankly, if you're in a different place you follow their rules. If you're visiting a friend's home for the week, you follow their rules not your own. Just because your parents let you drink at the dinner table when you're 18 doesn't mean you should be able to pull out a beer at the table of a friend's place when their parents don't allow them to drink at 18.

**Bader** · 06-10-2008, 10:26 AM

Yea I don't disagree with that fact at all, I've just always found it interesting that for years US high schoolers have been able to go to Mexico and drink freely, but people who have grown up being allowed to drink suddenly lose that ability.

Please note I started this discussion about drinking age specifically, and do not want this to devolve into who can find the most absurd law ever in order to bring discussion to a halt

**drmwevr08** · 06-10-2008, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by clone2011

A kid from my HS was suspended from athletics (Good Conduct Policy) for 7 games senior year because he was seen drinking at a bar in Mexico on Spring Break. Even though it was legal in Mexico (he was 18), a teacher from our school happened to be at the same resort, saw him, and he was punished on return to school.

In that case the country is irrelevant. He broke the rules of the school.

And no, the rules shouldnt be different for foreign players.

**jumbopackage** · 06-10-2008, 04:48 PM

Firstly, you aren't underage if you're drinking in a country where the legal age is lower. You're of legal age.

Secondly, I don't find it at all unreasonable that we make people comply with our laws, regardless of the laws in their country.

Thirdly, even if something is legal in a foreign country, it does not mean that you are free of the implications of participating in that in terms of your employment or life at home. i.e. smoking pot in Amsterdam does not somehow make it alright if it's against the terms of your employment. You might not be violating the law, but you would certainly be violating the terms of your employment.

**cycopath25** · 06-10-2008, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

Firstly, you aren't underage if you're drinking in a country where the legal age is lower. You're of legal age.

Secondly, I don't find it at all unreasonable that we make people comply with our laws, regardless of the laws in their country.

Thirdly, even if something is legal in a foreign country, it does not mean that you are free of the implications of participating in that in terms of your employment or life at home. i.e. smoking pot in Amsterdam does not somehow make it alright if it's against the terms of your employment. You might not be violating the law, but you would certainly be violating the terms of your employment.

Mark this day! The day I actually AGREE with something Jumbo has to say.

**price26** · 06-10-2008, 05:25 PM

I think federally, you have to follow all the laws that country has governed over its citizens, and while you are there you have to follow their rules. If you don't like it then get out. It shouldn't be our country or another country's responsibility to see that you follow your country's rules while you are in theres.

With regards to the whole high school deal, I definitely agree that if you are in high school and decided to drink in a foreign country (Canada/Mexico/Wherever) and you violating your school policy or do something that would prevent you from getting a job in your home country and get punished for it then that is your fault. But federally, I think you have to follow the home team's rules.

**4VR4CY** · 06-10-2008, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by clone2011

A kid from my HS was suspended from athletics (Good Conduct Policy) for 7 games senior year because he was seen drinking at a bar in Mexico on Spring Break. Even though it was legal in Mexico (he was 18), a teacher from our school happened to be at the same resort, saw him, and he was punished on return to school.

Oh, that would have ****** me right off. He was legally drinking.

**cstrunk** · 06-10-2008, 06:09 PM

When in Rome...

**Cyclone711** · 06-10-2008, 06:10 PM

I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. Having to be 21 to drink is BS.

Now that I opened up a whole new can of worms I think I'll make my exit.

**dmclone** · 06-10-2008, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone711

I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. Having to be 21 to drink is BS.

Now that I opened up a whole new can of worms I think I'll make my exit.

Agree. I believed it when I was 18 and I still believe it at 37.

**Cutlass** · 06-10-2008, 08:04 PM

I'll start this off by saying I know my views on this probably aren't going to be extremely popular with many people. If I don't personally agree with a law I'm not necessarily going to follow it. I've been drinking since I was in high school. I knew it was against the law at that time. Like Clone711, I thought it was BS so I didn't follow it. I got an MIP once, but it was a price worth paying considering the fun I had drinking pre 21. I speed when I think I can get away with it. I don't smoke dope, but I have no problems with those that do in moderation. If I hadn't taken marriage vows, I would have no qualms about paying a prostitute for sex.

That said, you've got to know the laws of where you are at. The laws of where you are from are irrelevant. If you are going to break a law, be prepared to pay the consequences of getting caught. You can't blame the police or judge for enforcing the laws. That's their job.