Drinking age question
 

Are the airlines supposed to verify the age of a person requesting an alcoholic beverage on an international flight? And if so, what is the age cutoff?

I believe on most flights at least on U.S. carriers is supposed to be 21 even over international waters.

I think its based on where the airline is based. Or at least where the flight originates.

I know that DL has a 21 and over policy on ALL flights regardless of origin or destination. I believe though that this represents their own company policy rather than any applicable law.

You'll be hard pressed to find a FA on any airline that checks IDs before serving alcohol. If you look reasonably of age, you'll probably get all the booze you want, especially on an international flight.

I was actually on a Continental flight between MCI-IAH and I was sitting next to a girl who was 20 at the time. She tried to order a drink and the FA in FIRST CLASS asked for her ID. Needless to say, she didnt drink that day!

I don't know about DL, but there were a ton of *loaded* college freshmen on the first international flight I ever took (summer of 1998). Carrier was AA, but I doubt DL is that different.

An interesting followup question would be: if an under-21'er has a beer during a cross-country flight, which state's law is he breaking? Since drinking laws are state laws, which jurisdiction would that be in? Just idle curiosity.

I don't think you will get ID'd on international flights especially trans-pacific ones unless you look really young like 15. Otherwise, the drinking age policy is very lax overall in-flight.

Hit or miss. More apt to be checked by a power hungry or rule nut FA that any airline mandate.

Very often, the official "policy" of the carrier is based on the carrier's country of origin. So on flights to and from the US, US-based carriers may not offiically serve alcohol to those under 21. Whether or not they do really depends on how miserable the US-based flight attendant wants your travel experience to be.

Another reason not to fly US-based carriers internationally.

Interesting responses. I asked because my 17-year-old son was offered a drink in J while flying to CDG, in both directions. Sad to say, he happily accepted!

Ah, the scoundrel! He's doomed...

I remember on my very second flight (LHR-FCO on MK), I was fourteen and had a beer; Kronenbourg, IIRC. Look at me now!

Well at least he told you, unless you found out because the symptmos were obvious. :eek: :D

My sister, still looks younger than she is, was flying AMS-MSP on NW some years ago. Got carded, and she happily obliged.

Recently, my often travelled MCI to SLC in route to other west coast destinations switched from SkyWest to ASA. The first flight on ASA returning from SLC to MCI was a late evening flight and I asked for a beer and was denied.

It was not because of age, but rather because they had no liquor on the flight. The FA explained that ASA had not yet secured it's liquor license from the state of Utah yet. Could this make sense?? MC

On a slightly related note, I recall a few months ago seeing some articles about Semester at Sea -- essentially an old cruise ship that's become a floating commuter college/party school. I wondered about the alcohol policy of such a vessel. Turns out, it's a drinking age of 18 -- a policy that no doubt has aided enrollment.

Have some time to waste? Of course you do; you're on FT!

See http://www.semesteratsea.com/

My first international flight, summer of 1992 on DL, ATL-MUC and return, I was 18 at the time and the DL FA's would not serve me in either direction.

However, when I made my connection to LuxAir in MUC, I was offered a beer with the lunch service, no questions asked :D

When I was 18-20, as a general rule most FA's would serve and not bother asking for ID.

SDF_Traveler (in MEL)