Underage drinking

  • Thread starter Thread starter fish90
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
F

fish90

Guest
Hello,

With college students returning , I was wondering about the important issue of college kids going to parties and/or restaurants that provide alcohol to minors (knowingly or unknowingly) and the the effect of drinking alcohol.

Is underage drinking a mortal or venial sin when the drinker does so in moderation and not get drunk (funny thing to hear, right:D)?

Should underage drinkers always go to confession since they disobeyed Caesar’s laws?

Are fake IDs a mortal or venial sin?

God Bless
 
fish90 said:
Hello,

With college students returning , I was wondering about the important issue of college kids going to parties and/or restaurants that provide alcohol to minors (knowingly or unknowingly) and the the effect of drinking alcohol.

Is underage drinking a mortal or venial sin when the drinker does so in moderation and not get drunk (funny thing to hear, right:D)?

Should underage drinkers always go to confession since they disobeyed Caesar’s laws?

Are fake IDs a mortal or venial sin?

God Bless
Click to expand...
I don’t consider underage drinking a sin always. Any planned drinking to where you are going to get drunk as heck is a sin though. So that pretty much covers most of the college kids who party. However if you are in responsible setting, don’t have too many, and keep off the road, I don’t see a sin there. Many states allow underage drinking in certain settings, such as at home/with legal guardian.
 
I’d say fake ideas are probably sinful- but I wouldn’t list drinking underage to be a sin.
Now, whether or not drinking in general/drinking to the extent associated with college students is sinful is another issue.
 
Fake IDs are a lie. That’s a clear sin right there.

Underage drinking isn’t necessarily a sin. The details of the situation will always matter. There’s a big difference between a college party or a restaurant breaking the law and your parent or legal guardian letting you have a drink or two while at home.

On parties or restaurants where underage drinking happens, I’d ask myself what reason I’d have for being in such a place. If I know ahead of time a restaurant or party doesn’t care about underage drinking but choose to go there anyway, I’ve just placed myself in a near occasion of sin. There’s act of the will. Does alcohol tempt me? Do I find myself more willing to drink to excess after one drink? Do I know it’s illegal? All possible grounds for knowledge of consequences. All that’s left is grave matter. Is there any sexual debauchery going on at this party? Did I lie about my whereabouts? Did I lie about my age if someone asked me? How big of a deal is it that I’m an accessory to this restaurant breaking the law?

For me it’s a situation that I would personally avoid. Friends in high school laughed at me for not going on the senior trip, but after they came back all they talked about was the drinking and the sex. There’s enough pressure in the world to do wrong as it is. I saw no need to go looking for trouble.
 
Personally, I think the drinking age should go back down to 18 and that parents should not be concerned if they offer their children a beer or wine with dinner at home.

However, there is a law about underage drinking and I doubt anyone in the US can plausibly say they are not aware of it. For that reason, I do believe that any underage drinking in public is sinful. I also believe that parents who encourge their children to have drinks with dinner are also committing a sin, in that they are encouraging their child to break a law for no good reason. The law may be stupid, but it is not immoral, so I don’t believe we have any grounds to resist it (unlike say, one-child laws in China and the like)
 
Mrs_Sally said:
Personally, I think the drinking age should go back down to 18 and that parents should not be concerned if they offer their children a beer or wine with dinner at home.

However, there is a law about underage drinking and I doubt anyone in the US can plausibly say they are not aware of it. For that reason, I do believe that any underage drinking in public is sinful. I also believe that parents who encourge their children to have drinks with dinner are also committing a sin, in that they are encouraging their child to break a law for no good reason. The law may be stupid, but it is not immoral, so I don’t believe we have any grounds to resist it (unlike say, one-child laws in China and the like)
Click to expand...
I live in Texas so can only speak for my state. The law prohibits minors from buying alcohol at all or from possessing alcohol on their own without direct parental involvement, but they are permitted to drink alcohol in the visible presence and with the explicit consent of their parent, legal guardian or spouse. Parents wouldn’t be sinning if they let their kids have some of their beer, wine or bar drink at dinner.

Letting their kids have enough to get heavily buzzed or drunk, on the other hand, would be sinful. Prudence always applies.
 
Alindawyl said:
I live in Texas so can only speak for my state. The law prohibits minors from buying alcohol at all or from possessing alcohol on their own without direct parental involvement, but they are permitted to drink alcohol in the visible presence and with the explicit consent of their parent, legal guardian or spouse. Parents wouldn’t be sinning if they let their kids have some of their beer, wine or bar drink at dinner.

Letting their kids have enough to get heavily buzzed or drunk, on the other hand, would be sinful. Prudence always applies.
Click to expand...
State laws do vary. But the premise is still sound. Laws governing who may drink and where and when are not in themselves immoral. There is no reason for a Catholic to resist those laws, so I believe it is sinful to knowingly do so.

BTW–kudos on your decision re the senior trip!
 
So unlawful underage drinking falls under “render onto Caesar,” thus, this activity is sinful?

God Bless
 
That’s one way of saying it.

In general, if a state law is morally neutral, we should follow it. The Bible tells us not only to ‘render unto Cesear’ but also to obey authorities.

Of course, we can all come up with example of morally evil laws, but in the case of those that are not, it behooves us to obey the law. And in the case of underage drinking, where NOT obeying the law so often ends badly, we have even more incentive to obey. In that case, to flaut this law is to sin.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
That’s one way of saying it.

In general, if a state law is morally neutral, we should follow it. The Bible tells us not only to ‘render unto Cesear’ but also to obey authorities.

Of course, we can all come up with example of morally evil laws, but in the case of those that are not, it behooves us to obey the law. And in the case of underage drinking, where NOT obeying the law so often ends badly, we have even more incentive to obey. In that case, to flaut this law is to sin.
Click to expand...
Would the sin be venial or mortal should the participant not become drunk?
 
fish90 said:
Would the sin be venial or mortal should the participant not become drunk?
Click to expand...
I talked to a priest about this once. Told him on occassion that I do drink with family. He said it’s a real touchy area, and there could be a sin it, but at mostly venial. He also said, it more so has to do with motive for drinking. Whether it is to escape, or to responsibly enjoy the occasion.
 
fish90 said:
Would the sin be venial or mortal should the participant not become drunk?
Click to expand...
The question should not be “Did I get drunk?” The question should be “Why did I disobey and what is my attitude about that disobedience?” I honestly have no idea if it would be a venial or motal sin. But here is something to consider:

I went to a party. I saw drinks being offered. I’m underage. I gave in to peer pressure and had a beer. I regret it and intend to never do it again.

I went to a party. I saw drinks being offered. I’m underage. I know it’s illegal to drink at my age and I should obey the law, but I chose to do it anyway. I know not following legitimate authority is sinful, but I chose to disobey anyway. If I have the chance to drink again in the future, I plan to do so despite knowing I’d be breaking the law.

Two very different attitudes about the situation, aren’t they? The former sounds quite venial. The latter is treading close to mortal if not completely crossing the line. Any sin, no matter how minor, can lead to mortal sin if committed with a deliberate act of the will and full knowledge of the consequences. The venial sin itself isn’t the grave matter. Rather, deliberately sinning in a venial manner can lead to a second sin which IS grave matter - willfully embracing sinful behavior by choosing disobedience.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
BTW–kudos on your decision re the senior trip!
Click to expand...
Heh, thanks. That was many, many years ago. My parents really forced the issue for me, as I kind of wanted to go but also kind of didn’t. If left to my own devices it’s quite likely I would have gone. But they said since I had concerns I really shouldn’t go. I agreed with them with reluctance, and at the time had some regrets.

Once everyone who went on the trip got back, the stories they told got rid of my regret really fast.
 
This reply will come off bad so please read it with respect:D.

I think that these liquor laws may be a silly law, so disobeying it and drinking without getting drunk in a safe way for yourself and others around you is at worst a venial sin in my opinion. Most European countries have easier drinking laws. The whole reason why the drinking law was raised was because there were too many sillies getting drunk and driving. Of course, the drunk driving fatalities declined but that does nothing for the responsible people in society. Hundreds of years ago beer and wine were the favorite drink since the water supply was tainted. People at the age of 18 can drive, enter contracts, go to war and buy cigarettes. Why not responsibly drink with their buddies? The sillies exist from age 18 to age 81.

Now going out and binge drinking is sinful all the time and using a fake ID is sinful, I agree, but going out underage with your friends to a party or a restaurant, not getting drunk and coming home safely in consideration to both others and yourself does not seem sinful in my opinion.

Please respectfully disagree. This is my opinion.👍

God Bless
 
“I am aware of the law. I choose to disobey despite my knowledge of the law because clearly the law should not apply to me. I have given myself the authority to make this declaration simply because I wish it to be so.”

I can imagine Lucifer and the other fallen angels saying as much to God at the dawn of time. I’ve said it myself many times on a variety of things, always to my own detriment in the long run.
 
Alindawyl said:
“I am aware of the law. I choose to disobey despite my knowledge of the law because clearly the law should not apply to me. I have given myself the authority to make this declaration simply because I wish it to be so.”

I can imagine Lucifer and the other fallen angels saying as much to God at the dawn of time. I’ve said it myself many times on a variety of things, always to my own detriment in the long run.
Click to expand...
I get your point, but I think that is talking about apples and oranges. I am not talking about a completely immoral activity. Now, if I was arguing in favor of legalized marijuana just because it is legal in some places, that would be wrong and silly.

God Bless
 
State laws do vary. But the premise is still sound. Laws governing who may drink and where and when are not in themselves immoral. There is no reason for a Catholic to resist those laws, so I believe it is sinful to knowingly do so.
Click to expand...
I agree w/ this. It tells us in Scripture:

"1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake."

(Romans 13: 1-5 KJV) (biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2013) (accessed 4/ 27/ 09)
 
Is this the correct conclusion, then?

Underage drinking is almost always sinful since it is against Caesar. There is no way for underage drinking to be sinless except if it is allowed by the state. As a result, if a kid away from his parents were to be served without a fake ID at a restaurant or if college kids are going to parties and not getting drunk, they are sinning just not committing a mortal sin.

This is bad news for college bound kids then.

God Bless
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top