Is underage drinking sinful?

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NoPlaceLikeRome

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I’m a year ahead in college, so most of my friends will be able to drink soon, but I won’t be old enough. Is it sinful to drink moderately with friends when it is illegal? Does the morality of the situation change if one’s parents say they don’t mind? (My parents do I think so it won’t help much but just wondering.)
 
It was not that long ago when I was in your shoes…
Now I am a mother of four but I do remember it so well.

Listen there are many reasons that the age was raised from 19 to 21 the first being you are not completely developed untill you are 21 I am not just speaking physically but mentaly as well. If you don’t believe me check it out for yourself on any medical sight that is reputable in the scientific world. The second is it is so easy to fall into the illusion that alcohol gives you of having fun and yes it is an alusion go to a party and stay completely sober you will see.

You are a young woman on the cusp of adulthood would you risk causing your friends to go to jail??? think that wont happen?? there are plenty of people in my complex that thought the same thing.

I don’t know what your decision will be but listen God made our law makers and we are to obey them with the few exceptions such as if it became illigal for us to proclaim him, worship him or witness about him. The law was made to protect you. Someday you might be a parent think about how you would feel if your child was given an alcoholic drink before she was of age??
 
In Portugal the legal age to drink is 16, so we don’t have that problem. In my opinion, as long as you don’t drink very regularly, and drink with moderation when you decide to, I think that is in no way sinful.

Drinking a glass of red wine on some meals is considered excellent for your health, and it’s part of the recommended mediterranean diet.
 
In moderation a drink can’t be said to be sinful. It is good to keep sober. Alcoholism is however a sin of gluttony which adversly effects the health and well-being of the individual and those around the person. With the danger of addiction to alcohol, and the irresponsiblity of young people who don’t always have a properly developed conscience about these things, it is responsible parenting to not allow your children to do these things. That they may make more responsible decisions when they are old and develop a responsible conscience.

The laws of men are less forgiving, and it is against the laws of men in the usa to allow those under 21 to drink alcohol, that i think is a good benchmark, but rather be more forgiving of the sin of disobedience, but less permissive as to giving permission to drink alcoholic beverages.

LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Amen.
 
it is against the laws of men in the usa to allow those under 21 to drink alcohol [/quote said:
Drinking laws are enacted by state governments, not the U.S. Government, therefore it is incorrect to say that it is against the law in the USA for those under 21 to drink alcohol.

The confusion comes in because of the Federal Government’s attempt to blackmail states by withholding highway funds if the states wouldn’t pass laws making it illegal to drink if someone is under 21.

Even so, in some states it is still legal to drink if one is under 21.
In the state where I live, people 18 and over can be served alcohol in a bar if a parent is with them.
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Chris_Jacobsen said:
The confusion comes in because of the Federal Government’s attempt to blackmail states by withholding highway funds if the states wouldn’t pass laws making it illegal to drink if someone is under 21.
Even so, in some states it is still legal to drink if one is under 21.
In the state where I live, people 18 and over can be served alcohol in a bar if a parent is with them.
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A bit antagonistic about this Federal pressure are we? Wisconsin was one of those states when I moved here forty years ago. Michigan where I hailed from was not. The 18 year olds could buy and drink beer only and there were taverns that catered to that crowd. What a sickening mess! Saturday mornings found barf and urine in every nook and cranny in town. Business people had to hose off their sidewalks early on Saturday morn. I had a friend who made his living doing that task for some of them. I’ve got nothing against a little wine or beer in the presence of a parent even for those younger than 18. However, my opinion is that few 18 year olds and college kids even older know how to drink. Abuse of alcohol is far bigger problem in this country than meth or pot.

Most college age drinkers don’t just stop at one or two friendly drinks, so trying to hang out with the drinkers will probably not be much “fun” unless you get smashed along with them.
 
Question: Didnt Jesus say to follow the human law unless it keeps you from glorifying and following Gods law?

And I think if Jesus said not to or to do something, and you dont follow it, then it might be a little sinful?
 
Yes and No. If you have an occasional drink with friends then I can’t see it being a sin.

If drinking causes you to engage in disruptive behaviour such as arguments and fights then I think that it could be considered sinful if you continue to drink too much knowing what it does to you.

I think alcoholism is a sin for the same reasons that were previously mentioned, so I wouldn’t get into the habit of drinking often. My father is an alcoholic so I know that it can happen easily - no one is immune.

I was 12 when I first got drunk. I had a few pints with my dad at Christmas. I wasn’t very drunk, just tipsy. I wouldn’t say that this constitutes a sin because it was a sociable and happy experience. The only time drinking becomes a sin, in my opinion, is when it causes you to indulge in bad behaviour that you wouldn’t do when you were sober.

For a definite answer on this I would talk to a Priest or an Apologist about it. They’re in a better position to say whether it is a sin or not.
 
Hugo_Abreu said:
In Portugal the legal age to drink is 16, so we don’t have that problem. In my opinion, as long as you don’t drink very regularly, and drink with moderation when you decide to, I think that is in no way sinful.

Drinking a glass of red wine on some meals is considered excellent for your health, and it’s part of the recommended mediterranean diet.
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I’m Italian so I have a similar belief about alcohol. Then again, I had my first taste of wine at the age of seven at Thanksgiving dinner:) In my health and psych courses (this in US middle and high school), we were taught that an occasional glass of red wine is healthy and can prevent heart disease. I intend to do that as soon as I’m legally old enough (right now, I only have a glass on special occasions when my parents offer it to me).

The only thing I find sinful is that it is breaking the law and Jesus said to abide by the law (“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s”). As much as I don’t agree (especially after returning from Europe), I’ll follow that until I’m old enough (only 3 more years:))
 
The only thing I find sinful is that it is breaking the law and Jesus said to abide by the law
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That is the real question - is it a sin to break the law. I believe it is (unless there is an overwhelming moral reason, like hiding Jews from the Nazis - those Nazis sure come in handy!) For instance - it isn’t a sin to drive 50 miles an hour - but if the speed limit is 25, it is.

So if your parents invite you to join them in a glass of wine in their own home, that is legal. However, they cannot provide wine to your underage friends. That’s illegal.

Civil laws can be arbitrary, but that’s the only practical way to deal with millions of people.
 
OP, I’m having a similar struggle ATM. Four more months! We can do it. We can wait.
I’m also having issues because I’m going to be in a foreign country when my 21st happens and my parents don’t want me drinking at all over there, not even for my birthday (I still live with my parents, and they bought my plane ticket, :D. My parents are awesome). Still don’t know what I’m going to do about that. (Probably wait until I come home and experiment with Pomojitos. Pom = NOM NOM NOM.)
 
NoPlaceLikeRome said:
I’m a year ahead in college, so most of my friends will be able to drink soon, but I won’t be old enough. Is it sinful to drink moderately with friends when it is illegal? Does the morality of the situation change if one’s parents say they don’t mind? (My parents do I think so it won’t help much but just wondering.)
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Are you trying to find and answer to justify your actions? I think you know it is wrong and you just want people to tell you that it is okay. Knowing it is wrong and doing it anyways makes the outcome of your actions 10 time worse. Be careful.
 
Nevarlander said:
OP, I’m having a similar struggle ATM. Four more months! We can do it. We can wait.
I’m also having issues because I’m going to be in a foreign country when my 21st happens and my parents don’t want me drinking at all over there, not even for my birthday (I still live with my parents, and they bought my plane ticket, :D. My parents are awesome). Still don’t know what I’m going to do about that. (Probably wait until I come home and experiment with Pomojitos. Pom = NOM NOM NOM.)
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I’m 7 days away! 😃
 
As has already been pointed out, the Church instructs us to obey all legitimate civil authority, provided that the laws in question are not inherently unjust. For example, we would not be bound to obey a law mandating prejudice against a particular race, or forcing women to cover their faces in public. But there is nothing inherently unjust about forcing citizens to wait until a particular age before they can legally consume alcohol.

Furthermore, there is nothing illegal about drinking moderately under your parents’ supervision (say, Thanksgiving dinner, as a previous poster mentioned). What you’re really asking is whether it’s a sin for you to go out and drink with your friends – which is what the law bans.

Ask yourself: are you really being deprived of anything? Yes, the health benefits of a daily glass of red wine are well-documented…but are you more likely to suffer from heart disease because you waited until your 21st birthday to start? If you really and truly feel as though you’re being oppressed, unite your suffering with Christ’s and let it be a source of grace in your life.

I submit, however, that you’ll be just fine if you wait.

Peace,
Dante
 
DanteAlighieri said:
As has already been pointed out, the Church instructs us to obey all legitimate civil authority, provided that the laws in question are not inherently unjust.
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When in roman do as the romans. But this does not suggest that we violate commandments if the Romans should do so.

Galatians 5:18 *But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:19 *Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury,
20 *Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects,
21 *Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.
22 *But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity,
23 *Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law.

Saint Paul tells us here that “drunkness” is a sin of the flesh, and those led by the HOLY SPIRIT are not under any law.

Revelation 16:14 *For they are the spirits of devils working signs, and they go forth unto the kings of the whole earth, to gather them to battle against the great day of the Almighty God.

Who can trust the government when they may be deceived by the devil who deceives the whole world.

Don’t be of the world or of the flesh.
 
Jesusstreet said:
When in roman do as the romans. But this does not suggest that we violate commandments if the Romans should do so.

Galatians 5:18 *But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:19 *Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury,
20 *Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects,
21 *Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.
22 *But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity,
23 *Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law.

Saint Paul tells us here that “drunkness” is a sin of the flesh, and those led by the HOLY SPIRIT are not under any law.

Revelation 16:14 *For they are the spirits of devils working signs, and they go forth unto the kings of the whole earth, to gather them to battle against the great day of the Almighty God.

Who can trust the government when they may be deceived by the devil who deceives the whole world.

Don’t be of the world or of the flesh.
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I have read this twice and still can’t make any sense of what is being said. The “Law” being diwcussed in thei bit of Scripture has nothing to do with the Civil Law, but refers to the Mosiac Law of the Torah. Where is the connection between that and not trusting the government. I am confused. :confused: :confused:
 
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