Originally Posted By jonvn America becomes more profoundly stupid with each passing year. In this article, a 65 year old was not allowed to buy alcohol because she did not have an ID on her that indicated she was over 21. Words fail. This is utterly moronic. <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/06/national/a102511D30.DTL&tsp=1" target="_blank">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/ article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/06/national/a102511D30.DTL&tsp=1</a>
Originally Posted By peeaanuut isnt it "If you appear under the age of 35"? But remember, that a shop owner can refuse to sell anyone alcohol or tobacco related for any reason.
Originally Posted By jonvn No, the under 35 thing is just a rule that some stores put in place for differences of appearance for people of the same age. It's also ridiculous. No one who is 35 looks under 21, unless they have a portrait in their attic that ages for them.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< No one who is 35 looks under 21 >>> But that's not really the issue. The issue is if anyone under 21 looks 35. As to the original story, I don't think it's that big a deal. If a shopkeeper wants to have a rule that "ALL customers purchasing alcohol must show ID" then I don't see how it's moronic at all. It removes any chance of a clerk making a mistake with someone that some people would say is "under 35" and others not, and it also sets the tone for any underage people in line that happen to see older people get carded that this is not the place to try to buy booze if you're not old enough.
Originally Posted By Mr X Honestly, I think America goes overboard with the age/booze thing to the extreme, and it's my humble opinion that the laws do nothing more than encourage underage binge drinking (can't get your hands on it, so when you do you drink a LOT). I've never seen a drunk teenager in all my years in Japan, and they can get all the alcohol they want from the many VENDING MACHINES.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Honestly, I think America goes overboard with the age/booze thing to the extreme, and it's my humble opinion that the laws do nothing more than encourage underage binge drinking (can't get your hands on it, so when you do you drink a LOT). >>> I agree with you on that point. My comments were in relation to how an individual shopkeeper runs his business in an environment where the state can send in a single decoy purchaser that doesn't look their age and pop the retailer with large fines or a liquor license suspension based on a single underage sale, and not on whether the laws themselves make sense. If you want to see some truly nonsensical alcohol laws, just come visit Texas someday.
Originally Posted By imadisneygal I just moved to San Antonio last month. What differences should I expect from San Diego?!
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x I was with my sister (21 -- 21 this month) and we were buying some drinks for a party. I was at the register first, so I was carded. When my sister came up with the money, they wouldn't let her pay, and wouldn't let her pick up the cases from the counter. I had to take the money from my sister, hand it to the cashier, take the change and hand it back to my sister. Then I had to pick up a case, hand it to my sister then pick up the other. She even showed her ID at the beginning of the transaction. Isn't THAT a little overboard?????
Originally Posted By Mr X Huh? Why? (if she were UNDERaged, I could understand I guess) I'd love to hear about some of those laws, SD!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I just moved to San Antonio last month. What differences should I expect from San Diego?! >>> Well, let's see. Statewide, alcohol can not be sold for off-premise consumption after midnight (except Sunday when it goes to 1am). And, no alcohol can be sold on Sunday morning until noon, either for on-premise or off-premise consumption - you're supposed to be in church and not buying alcohol on Sunday morning! Hard liquor can be sold for off-premise consumption only at a dedicated liquor store, and not supermarkets, and they are closed all day Sunday. In addition, there are a variety of local laws that provide further restrictions. Some areas are completely dry, and other areas are dry on paper but provide an exception to "private clubs" - in these areas, every restaurant is a "private club" that you can join for $1/year and be served alcohol just like in wet areas, making the rule a complete waste of everyone's time and accomplishing nothing. Other areas are wet and have no local restrictions. California is much simpler: no sales between 2am and 6am.
Originally Posted By gadzuux When I lived in Florida in the 70's, there was no "off-sale" on sundays. You could go to a bar and drink to your heart's content, but you couldn't buy alcohol "to go" - even beer or wine, even from safeway or 7/11 - until 12 midnight, at which point off-sale would resume. What's THAT about?!
Originally Posted By Mr X **California is much simpler: no sales between 2am and 6am.** Japan's even simpler...you can buy booze wherever and whenever you want. At the point where they are restricting sales for 4 hours, what the heck IS the point anyway? So, you run out of beer...you wait a few hours and buy more. Duh. Texas sounds VERY similar to Massachusetts in regards to all those silly rules. That garbage stems all the way back from puritan ideals...quite dumb.
Originally Posted By jonvn "The issue is if anyone under 21 looks 35." Right. There are a lot of 19 year olds who look 35. That's also silly. "I don't think it's that big a deal." Of course this is a big deal. Why? Because it demonstrates a total lack of common sense. It shows a complete lack of intelligence on the part of the shopkeeper, the employee, and society in general. And of course, people will defend this utterly dimwitted behavior as the nation's intelligence level continues to dip ever further, all in the name of making sure a 20 year old who somehow manages to look 35 and could be mistaken for someone in their 60s is somehow sold a can of beer. If this person does look like that, a can of beer is the least of their worries. There is a movie on cable going about now called "Idiocracy." I may have mentioned this, I don't recall. If you see it on, try and watch it. It's exactly what is happening to this country. Dumber and dumber and dumber an dumber. Just not one tiny ounce of sense. It's disgusting.
Originally Posted By jonvn "At the point where they are restricting sales for 4 hours, what the heck IS the point anyway? " I have to telly, that's a tough four hours. Usually, at 1:45, I load up with a few cases of Jim Beam so I can make it through the dry period. Sometimes I can do it, sometimes I can't. Those times I can't? I spend the rest of the day weeping.
Originally Posted By Mr X **It shows a complete lack of intelligence on the part of the shopkeeper, the employee** Like SD said, if the feds are setting up sting operations then it DOES make sense. As far as society is concerned, yes I think it's completely dumb... Funny story, I was with a 30 year old Japanese friend one time and we went to a bar. The lady carded both of us (I, too, was 30 and neither of us looked 20 for sure!), and my friend pulled out a PHOTOCOPY of his passport. The lady refused, and my friend was indignant. He was like "are you STUPID? I'm THIRTY years old!". lol.
Originally Posted By Mr X On the flip side, I was at a large table full of students and teachers at the Hard Rock Cafe in Yokohama, and the youngest member of our group ordered a beer. He was promptly served his drink. He was FOURTEEN, and looked not a day over. It's just a non-issue here. (the legal drinking and smoking age in Japan is 20)
