Is drinking under age a sin?

[bearer]

OK, I guess I was “joking” I’m not completely done. I realize I am possibly in the wrong here. But you seem to be even implying that if I purposely go ONE mph over the speed limit, I am committing a sin. Based on the quote you gave me from the catechism, I am not endangering anyone by doing this, nor does this display a “love of speed,” as I was saying earlier.

As I said, I may be wrong. But if I am ever the cause of a car crash, it certainly won’t be because I’m going 5 mph over the speed limit.

Your point on pride is taken…thank you.

Well, obviously that is not a good idea as a parent to allow the people at his child’s party to raid the liquor cabinet.

You must come from a state that does NOT allow a parent to supply their kids with alcohol under the conditions listed in the link in Catholic90’s post. My parents would not allow such a thing to happen. In terms of the law, yes, if the state doesn’t allow parents to supply everyone in their household alcohol, then they might be contributing to the “delinquincy of the minor” but if you consider it, there’s nothing objectively wrong with allowing your kid a drink - how is it that in some states a parent is “contributing to the delinquincy of their child” by allowing them a drink, while in other states the same action is perfectly fine? I guess that’s starting to bring in another question suitable for another thread, so that’s as far as I’ll go with that.

I realize that not everyone will make the best decisions involving alcohol, so I was trying to ask my questions and get answers from people that will assume that no bad decisions are being made.

I just wanted to get past a seemingly large point of yours that involves you assuming that I’m making decisions that could endanger myself or others (i.e., speeding excessively, getting drunk, etc).

Since I might be going a little bit off topic, I’ll return more specifically to it, so once again, your point on pride is being considered; I’ve had problems with that before (haven’t we all…haha). Thank you, and God bless you as well.

My greater point is that, while sins vary in gravity, it is dangerous to rationalize their comission. Simply because something isn’t a mortal sin (or at least doesn’t seem like it is) doesn’t mean that it is just, or even OK to do. Commiting venial sins again and again can lead you to mortal sin and separation from God.

I’ll come right out and say it: minors tend to be very foolish at times, and they make mistakes that harm themselves and others. I don’t think adulthood truly begins until about 25, when the brain finishes developing physiologically. And considering how many grown men and women do truly stupid things throughout their lives, even that is debatable.

Some of the greatest harm that people do occurs when people over-estimates their abilities (I can drive 5 mph over the speed limit) or under-estimates the effects of their activities (one beer isn’t a problem). If you take your temporal and eternal life seriously, you will avoid any occasion of sin and do what Christ commands and what the law specifies. Don’t make excuses, don’t think you’re somehow smarter, more capable, or better prepared than the rest of society, and submit yourself to authority. OBEY THE LAW!

You don’t become an adult by acting like a child. Drinking can wait.

 

[yablabo]

Now that I commented on a smoking thread, it got me thinking about alcohol. I want to start with, is it ALWAYS wrong to break the law? If the answer, which I suspect it is, is “no,” (although there may be different circumstances) then is it actually morally wrong to drink alcohol? When you’re under 21?

I don’t ask because I am under 21 and drink a lot (although I am under 21 and have drunk alcohol on many occasions in moderation)…well, I guess that’s one reason, but that’s not exactly why I’m asking. I am just genuinely curious. What could possibly be wrong with a 20 year old, or a person of at least a semi-reasonable age (no, I’m not going to define that, I think people know what I’m getting at, but I could say at least 18 I guess), enjoying a beer or a glass of wine?

Not that I really like alcohol a lot - in fact, I don’t really enjoy beer or hard liquor much, although it’s probably because I haven’t had it often enough - but, subtract the dumb people who drink solely to get wasted, and it’s such a silly idea that responsible people (OK fine, let’s just say adults - age 18) can’t enjoy a simple drink.

Any thoughts?

My personal opinion is that a state or federally mandated “drinking age” is a violation of subsidiarity. It is up to one’s parents (while living under their authority) to decide whether their child can or cannot consume alcohol.

– Nicole

 

[bearer]

Check HERE for state laws regarding minors drinking with or without parental consent. The laws vary by states. In some states, minors can drink with parental approval, but not in others.

The information on that site is a bit dated. A number of states have changed their laws in recent years as a result of problems associated with underage drinking.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Now that I commented on a smoking thread, it got me thinking about alcohol. I want to start with, is it ALWAYS wrong to break the law? If the answer, which I suspect it is, is “no,” (although there may be different circumstances) then is it actually morally wrong to drink alcohol? When you’re under 21?

I don’t ask because I am under 21 and drink a lot (although I am under 21 and have drunk alcohol on many occasions in moderation)…well, I guess that’s one reason, but that’s not exactly why I’m asking. I am just genuinely curious. What could possibly be wrong with a 20 year old, or a person of at least a semi-reasonable age (no, I’m not going to define that, I think people know what I’m getting at, but I could say at least 18 I guess), enjoying a beer or a glass of wine?

Not that I really like alcohol a lot - in fact, I don’t really enjoy beer or hard liquor much, although it’s probably because I haven’t had it often enough - but, subtract the dumb people who drink solely to get wasted, and it’s such a silly idea that responsible people (OK fine, let’s just say adults - age 18) can’t enjoy a simple drink.

Any thoughts?

Did you mean you DON’T drink a lot?? I read this first post and thought “Oh, no, he’s an alcoholic and he’s not even 21!”

 

[bobballen_18]

Sigh…I see your points bearer. I guess I just want to close with, I’ll raise that percentage of drinks I’ve had with parents’ consent/knowledge to 99%, and emphasize that I’m not necessarily arguing for myself. I’m just doing my best to try to understand why it really might be wrong for me and others, and you have helped me there. Thanks and God bless!

Did you mean you DON’T drink a lot?? I read this first post and thought “Oh, no, he’s an alcoholic and he’s not even 21!”

Haha yes, that’s what I meant. I meant for this thread to be geared towards responsible under age drinkers. Thankfully it is not a problem I am inclined to have.

My personal opinion is that a state or federally mandated “drinking age” is a violation of subsidiarity. It is up to one’s parents (while living under their authority) to decide whether their child can or cannot consume alcohol.

Agreed, Nicole.

 

[wjp984]

As I have mentioned in other posts of similar nature:

The ultra conservatives will tell you yes it is a sin,

The conservatives will tell you probably not,

The moderates will tell you no

And the liberals will tell you it is a sin for even thinking it is a sin.

I fall into the moderate category

 

[TarkanAttila]

It is not a violation of the natural law itself. Even today in Britain people prefer to drink alcohol to water, as there is not so much water in the UK as there is in the US. What water there is is generally used for cleaning and waste disposal, and since Medieval times it was a foolish man who would take a drink from the highly polluted River Thames.

BUT it is a violation of government law and their right to have governance over everyone under their protection. There is something wrong with breaking the law, in that when the law is broken, the authority of the government is undermined, even to the smallest degree. If dissent becomes common, and eventually a norm - as it has in the past 300 years, since the Protestant Reformation and American Revolution - it becomes difficult for any authority to demand it be taken seriously, when it was founded on a revolt to begin with.

And when authority has a hard time presenting itself as legitimate, chaos. Every man starts defending himself and his beliefs, never mind anyone else. Every man is his own authority. It may seem silly to say, but that one beer could lead to a rebellion and the dissolution of the authority of the government.

This, however, doesn’t mean we cannot appeal to the government with reason and emotion to get them to reform the laws. And of course if the government’s laws are not even in line with God’s laws or the natural law, the offending laws must be disobeyed, in God’s name.

But disobeying the civil law is a step forward in sin, believing the lies of Satan: “you shall be as gods, knowing right and wrong”. Our government in her human wisdom is hardly god-like at times. Nevertheless, obedience first to God, then to one’s parents, then to the government is the proper recognition of authority.

So drinking a beer before the legal age is a small thing. But small seeds grow large trees. Be wary that small rebellions can turn into big ones. And one beer can turn into… something more.