Can I drink if I'm not 21?

[UKcatholicGuy]

I’m 20 years old. My friend (who’s 21) is having a get-together and is planning on having alcohol available. It will be at her parents’ house. Here’s my question: Is it sinful for me to drink (moderately, of course) at the get-together even though I’m under 21? She told me that parental consent takes precedent over the drinking law in this case, and that it’d be perfectly moral for me to drink there. Also, one more factor: they will be a baptist in the process of converting to the Church present at the get-together. He is uncomfortable with alcohol. What should I do?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi Guy,

Certainly, it is not intrinsically evil to drink alcohol if one is under 21. But, like it or not, the legal drinking age of 21 is the law of the land—and a good law, in my opinion. I’d skip the get-together if I were you.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.