They don't need to card him because they can check his profile. It could be that he given alcohol but the crew felt that he looks younger than his age so they checked the SP's iPad to check his birthday.

I think if it was an AA flight and the crew they found out he lied about his age, OP would have gotten a far worse treatment that just being given a "BS" policy about serving alcohol.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that they took a less confrontational approach, it won't embarrass the OP for being called out and it won't get the crew in trouble.

I believe the big picture is how drinking law is enforced by CX.

The way I see it - CX has a major criminal consequence by allowing minors to drink onboard (but well...even charged, this will not be the first time CX is criminally charged...)

The easiest way is to ask the crew. Usually those are internal information.

I respectfully ask this post to be either edited or removed as it is personal and offensive against OP.

Best not get too wound up being politically correct, snowflakes were supposed to disappear with spring ;)

I don't find it personal and offensive, but actually quite good advice.

I am wondering, is it illegal to serve alcohol to minors, as opposed to sell it to them? In many countries, minors can drink alcohol legally if they have not purchased it (and in Hong Kong even purchase is legal from some outlets). Does applicable U.S. law prohibit this?

U.S. alcohol age minimums were anywhere from 18-21 before 1984, when Congress required all 50 states to raise it to 21 or lose 10% of their highway funding. The U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico aren't states, so they've kept their drinking age at 18.

Otherwise, alcohol laws in the U.S. are regulated by state. Most states restrict serving, sale, and consumption to 21+ -- but some states (MD and CT included) make an exception if parents are around.

Don't really intend to fly 830 ever again, given the zoo that is customs at JFK T8 in the early afternoon.

I was just curious. :)

The OP only wanted a glass of champagne or two :D , no harm in trying your luck especially during the teenage years. However if this thread was made when he was 10 , then i would be very concerned that 10yr is downing white wine on a flight , instead of going into overload about how much free coke he can drink. This may be my rare liberal side coming out , but no harm in trying....:cool:

Since when morality come into play in FT when a few of us benefited from erm. Cheap discounted fare and got too sick from boarding a flight to TPE repeatedly.

if those people dont have to go to business ethics class or a lie-detector, how are higher on a higher ground than someone who goes after some underage drinking?

:D:D:D

I think it's fair to say that Flyertalkers are a more hedonistic bunch compared to the general public...

or cross on a red light
noone is any higher than anyone else. Take a grip.
just because you dont do one thing (underage drinking on planes) it doesnt make you any higher than many others

In the 60's and 70's, Air France was serving Champagne to 12 years old passengers in Economy Class.

Well tbh, CX's cellar selection is really bad not to mention how you're flying at a high altitude with a pressurized cabin. Krug is also not the appropriate champagne given how 'heavy' and 'toasty' its notes are. I would rather have something lighter or a blanc de blancs instead

What are they serving nowadays? Cheap white wine? :p

I guess I was born a few decades too late to experience air travel in a time where the Y class seats were actually more comfortable than MTR seats...

According to one of Lucky's trip reports, Air France is so cheap they won't even serve alcohol in F class before takeoff on an ex-USA flight.

Deutz, the champagne served in CX J, seems a bit citrus-y for an airplane cabin...but it's not like I get to drink a whole lot on the ground...:p

This subject came up a while back when I was sitting in the audience in a court room in NYC and this is what I gather.

The minimum age is the same as the country the airline is registered in……..with a few exceptions set forth by individual airlines.

For the USA, it is the Federal/National minimum drinking age (21) and not the individual state.

While the plane is on the ground and the doors are still open – the country they are in rules apply.

Some airlines will follow the origin’s country rule, whichever one is higher. For example, if you are on a RT from the USA to HK, you may not get to drink leaving the USA but can on the return.

It is at the discretion of the crew whether to serve or not.