Supplying underage drinkers and using Fake IDs

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David98

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Hello, I am curious if buying alcohol for underagers and using fake IDs at the bars are mortal sins?

I am of age, however is it a mortal sin to take my underage friends with me to the bars if they use fake IDs?
 
Don’t do it. I can’t say if it’s mortal or not, but it’s definitely sinful as they’d be lying and you’d all be breaking the law.
 
I’m not qualified to say how severe a sin that is, but I wouldn’t dare approach the Holy Eucharist if I haven’t confessed that sin.
 
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Hmmm… Personally I don’t think there is anything wrong with drinking alcohol when under 21 if you are doing it in a mature and responsible way. Ie not getting drunk or driving under influence. But I don’t think lying about ones age is the best thing.

Technically under the law they are not supposed to purchase alcohol and because you are only their friend and not their parent I think you should not be buying them drinks either.

In the end it is their choice. I think as long as you don’t buy them drinks or do anything sinful or dangerous like getting drunk or driving u deer influence there is nothing wrong with hanging out with them at the bar even if they happen to be drinking with fake IDs.

Maybe try hanging out outside the bar?
 
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It’s a hot topic in the US alone. The rest of the Catholic world shakes it’s head with bafflement. 21? As a non-American you might as well tell me that I need to be 86 to marry. It’s beyond absurd… especially when you allow 18 year olds to marry, rack up credit card debt, go to war, vote for your leaders… I can’t even fathom how it could be a just law. I’m 32 and when I visit the US, I get “carded” all the time… it just makes me chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
 
twf said:
It’s a hot topic in the US alone. The rest of the Catholic world shakes it’s head with bafflement. 21?
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No kidding. If memory serves in Germany, as in much of Europe, beer and wine are legal at 16, all alcohol at 18. The US allows driving at 16 and 18 year-olds to purchase and own guns under various conditions. There are even pushes for 18 year-olds to conceal carry.

Personally, I see the European model as more sensible. When you make something illegal relative to its impact, you just make it all that more desirable. College campuses are full of 21 year-olds willing to provide underage drinkers.

As for the OP’s question. I think using a fake ID is a bit of an issue. Deference is usually given to parents who let their children drink under moderated control. If you supply to underage drinkers over 18, I think you also take on similar responsibility. In other words, they need to agree to reasonable terms that you can police. Call me a bit of a rebel in this situation, but much of the rest of the world has demonstrated this should not be an issue and I think you can honor the laws of a country in this case by being responsible for any negative results.
 
Regardless of the age of 21 in the us. It is illegal and it is a just law. So it is a violation of the 4th commandment. And it endangers others and your future. It is indeed sinful. Mortal or venial would depend on the circumstances. But it is not only not holy. Its unholy. Its sinful.

I’m concerned that these issues are even questions…
 
Hoosier-Daddy said:
I’m concerned that these issues are even questions…
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I agree but because they sound so irresponsible or unaware in terms of the consequences. Fake ID = big problem.
And if an adult or somebody “ of age” as the OP describes him/herself induces, facilitates a minor to break the law, then Houston, we also have another problem…
“It won t happen to me…” until it does…
 
We are obligated under pain of sin to obey the law, unless the obeying of that law is itself sinful. A stupid law is not necessarily an unjust law.
 
David98 said:
buying alcohol for underagers and using fake IDs at the bars
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Let’s examine that…

Helping young people to obtain an addictive substance that ruins lives and kills more people in the US than illegal drugs, or guns, or motor-vehicle accidents…

What do you think?

I think of what Jesus said about leading young people to evil: Matthew 18:6-7.
 
It is true that consumption of alcohol is not in itself sinful, but the damage done cannot be disputed. It’s like tickling the dragon’s tail. Many people get away with it. Many others are ruined by it. I myself would never aid and abet underage drinking. I think to help underage drinkers more than surpasses the first criterion of mortal sin, grave matter.
 
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A 20 year old, who perhaps has a family, a house, votes, serves in the armed forces, carries a gun, etc all quite legally, having a beer is not necessarily the great evil you make it out to be.

Of course, I would advise people to follow the law, whatever that may be… but I think you’re blowing it out of proportion.
 
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I am a life-long teetotaller from a country that allows alcoholic drinks if served with a meal to be bought in restaurants by 16 year olds, allows 18 year olds to buy and drink anything they like in bars and pubs etc and in the home, allows parents to give alcoholic drink to 5 (not 15, 5) year olds. I have seen many lives ruined by alcohol, one of the reasons that I steer well clear of the stuff. However I do think American laws are strange to say the least and inconsistent with other age limits.

But the law is the law, we might think a law is strange, even silly, but if it is not unjust or sinful, we are required to obey it, even if we are actively campaigning to change it. So it is sinful if you are in a part of the world in which the local law has a drinking age of 21 to encourage or assist under 21’s to drink, or to drink yourself if you are under 21. Using or facilitating fake ID adds an extra sin.

Not saying that this is your attitude, but an attitude of ‘this is only a venial sin, therefore I will do it’ is itself wrong, and damaging to yourself.
 
HumbleIOughtToBe said:
“First, a Catholic is obliged to obey the civil law.”
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I don’t think so. There are penal laws which you are not obligated to obey but if you do break them, you must be prepared to accept the consequences. Further, suppose you are a prison guard and the civil law says that you must obey your prison warden. And your prison warden tells you not to allow a particular prisoner to use a cell phone. However, you know that the mother of this prisoner is very sick and on her deathbed and that she would want dearly to hear from her son before she dies. Further, it appears to you, but not to the warden, that this prisoner is innocent of the crime he was incarcerated for, as he was setup by false witnesses. Now, I doubt that you are obligated to obey the civil law and not allow the prisoner a few minutes to talk to his mother on your cell phone, even though the warden forbids it.
So no, I do not believe this Associate Professor of Theology at Benedictine College even though he has sterling credentials and I have no credentials at all.
 
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Beryllos said:
It is true that consumption of alcohol is not in itself sinful, but the damage done cannot be disputed. It’s like tickling the dragon’s tail. Many people get away with it. Many others are ruined by it. I myself would never aid and abet underage drinking. I think to help underage drinkers more than surpasses the first criterion of mortal sin, grave matter.
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Says a follower of Jesus - whose first miracle was to produce 120 GALLONS of wine at Cana? For a party of people of all ages? Who had already drunk enough that the steward was surprised that He was providing good wine for them since they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference?

The same Jesus who Himself was (albeit falsely) accused of being a drunkard?
 
twf said:
Of course, I would advise people to follow the law, whatever that may be… but I think you’re blowing it out of proportion.
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I agree that helping a 20 year old college student get Natty Ice isn’t exactly the crime of the century, and people are being perhaps a smidge overly dramatic, but at the same time…yeah, just don’t do it, OP. It’s just not a great idea.
 
It’s illegal isn’t it?

Underage drinking isn’t a sin per se, but we are bound to follow reasonable laws.
 
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