The Law of the Land

[Latekin]

We get this in Australia on occasion. The drinking age here is 18. Now, my state is not a tourist hot-spot, but it is fairly big for the mining industry, so we get a lot of foreign families moving here temporarily while mum or dad do a stint of mine work. My brother in law works at a large chain liquor store, and he'll occasionally see irritated American parents dragging their 18 to 20 year old kids in to tell him not to sell to them.

He's apparently a bit sick of explaining that they're breaking no law, and that if they want to keep their kids sober in Australia, they're gonna have a gigantic uphill battle. Seriously. Unless you want to watch them at all hours, if they're determined to drink here, they're gonna find a way to do it.

[Deserted]

...not to mention that they are legally adults, at least in the US (and presumably in Australia).

Why are the "kids" even there in the first place? Let go of the apron strings and stand on your own, Little Knucklehead... Oh wait, that's what they're trying to do, I bet.

[Latekin]

Yeah, they're legally adults here. Most come over for a holiday while one or both parents are working 6 to 12 months in the mines. While they're occasionally a bit of a menace, I have to admit, the culture shock is funny to watch in action.

[bunrotha]

When I enlisted we were still using Pterodactyls as delivery systems for bombs.

When Centurion was a rank, not a tank?

[workerbee222]

I once watched three lads each plunk a six-pack on the counter and smile at me. I took the beer off the counter and told them to leave. They said, "But we're Canadian! The drinking age is 16 there!" "But you're not IN Canada" I told them. Since they each looked about 12, it just made the whole exchange funnier.

[Jay 2K Winger]

I once watched three lads each plunk a six-pack on the counter and smile at me. I took the beer off the counter and told them to leave. They said, "But we're Canadian! The drinking age is 16 there!" "But you're not IN Canada" I told them. Since they each looked about 12, it just made the whole exchange funnier.

Somewhere, Jester reads this and nods in approval. I'm pretty sure he's had similar arguments (and a similar stance) for people who object because where they come from, the drinking age is lower/booze is cheaper/they're a king/the sky is green, and Jester just points out they're in Key West, where the drinking age is 21/booze costs more/we don't care/the sky is blue.

[Monterey Jack]

I once watched three lads each plunk a six-pack on the counter and smile at me. I took the beer off the counter and told them to leave. They said, "But we're Canadian! The drinking age is 16 there!"

That's like going to the Moon, taking off your space helmet, and being upset that there's no air. "But I'm from Earth, they have oxygen there!"

[cindybubbles]

I once watched three lads each plunk a six-pack on the counter and smile at me. I took the beer off the counter and told them to leave. They said, "But we're Canadian! The drinking age is 16 there!" "But you're not IN Canada" I told them. Since they each looked about 12, it just made the whole exchange funnier.

The drinking age is 19 in Ontario, 18 everywhere else in Canada, I think. I don't know for sure, but if they look too young, that's the time to card them.

[Deserted]

Yeah, they're legally adults here. Most come over for a holiday while one or both parents are working 6 to 12 months in the mines. While they're occasionally a bit of a menace, I have to admit, the culture shock is funny to watch in action.

Yeah, but how much fun is it when instead of random kids of random American workers, it's already-drunk American sailors instead? (I have never had so much fun that I can barely remember, before or since. )

[Slave to the Phone]

When Centurion was a rank, not a tank?

We really do need a Like button

[wolfie]

They said, "But we're Canadian! The drinking age is 16 there!" "But you're not IN Canada" I told them. Since they each looked about 12, it just made the whole exchange funnier.

Don't know of any province with a drinking age lower than 18, so they're lying. Doesn't matter whether or not they're Canadian, they're trying to buy beer in a place where the drinking age is 21. No beer for them - they're going to be Blue.

ETA: Even if they had diplomatic immunity (don't know if a diplomat's family gets it, or just people working in a diplomatic capacity), all that would mean is that the government couldn't prosecute them for buying/drinking booze underage. They still could be PNGed for it - and it's still illegal for the liquor store personnel (who are residents of the country, without diplomatic immunity) to SELL them the booze.

[chikenlady]

The drinking age is 19 in Ontario, 18 everywhere else in Canada, I think. I don't know for sure, but if they look too young, that's the time to card them.

Actually it's 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, 19 everywhere else.

[Miss Maple Leaf]

Actually it's 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, 19 everywhere else.

A fact I took full advantage of when I spent the summer after I turned 18 in Alberta.

I was out there for work, but I also made sure to enjoy myself while I could, since I knew once September hit I'd be back in Nova Scotia and have to wait until my March birthday before I could legally drink again.

[BeeMused]

What about us not-so-annoying ones? Germans have some really awesome cake too.

Not-so-annoying tourists are welcome in every tourist destination. It's always the few bad apples that spoil it for everyone.

[Catwoman2965]

Reminds me of the trip I took to Spain my senior year in HS. Some of us were 18, others were not. If I recall, the drinking age was 18 there, or maybe it was younger, but only us 18 year olds could drink? What I still remember is in McDonalds, instead of the burger, fries and coke you got in the US, you could get a beer!