New York/drinking age/Christmas madness!

[MintyCedric]

DD turns 21 and I turn 50 next September and it’s long been the plan to go to New York for a few days by way of a celebration.

Unfortunately due to her being third year at uni by then and the fact I work in a school, we only have two options…

April…at which point she’ll still only be twenty. As far as I can gather she can still drink alcohol if I’ve purchased it, but I’m a bit concerned that it might be a pain in the arse in some places. Obviously it’s not vital and we’re not going for a piss up, but food, cocktails and jazz bars will be a big part of the trip and having to stick to Diet Coke is hardly celebratory!

The other option is to squeeze in five days right before Christmas…leaving when I finish work on 19th December and flying back on 23rd to arrive home Christmas Eve, but from what I’ve seen online it’s likely to be hell on wheels for crowds in NY then.

If anyone has any pearls of wisdom on either of the above issues, I’d be massively grateful. We’ve not been abroad together since before than pandemic and have had a really shit few years so would rather not put it off until 2026!

Reasonably certain that that clause only applies to alcohol bought for consumption off premises, in the sense that it isn’t illegal for you as a parent to allow your minor child to drink alcohol. It’s an offence for any employee selling alcoholic beverages to serve a minor, including indirectly serving by selling to an adult with the knowledge they will be supplying a minor. Very unlikely you’ll be served.

NYC at Christmas has lots going for it and I can’t say I’ve found it more crowded than being there at other peak vacation and school holiday times.

She needs to be 21 to drink legally in America.

I was in NYC last month and it was bloody amazing!! Yes it was busy, but it wasn’t hell-and I don’t do crowds very well but had no issues

Thanks @ComtesseDeSpair - Christmas does appeal and there’s the bonus we may be able to fit in a Knicks match at that time
of year as DD is a big basketball fan.

A lot of the stuff we want to do isn’t Uber-touristy anyway. We’ll probably do one of the viewing platforms, Central Park and some shopping but otherwise museums/galleries, Trinity church and the UNHQ are the main things on the list

She won’t be served at 20. In fact my experience is she’s unlikely even to be allowed in to many bars (as I got caught out without ID one day!). They are much stricter on ID than the UK is - you can expect to be ID’d too!

Haha…that’ll be fun at my age! I did read somewhere that they check anyone who appears under 40

NYC is great fun at Christmas, go in December!

I highly recommend the Rockettes Christmas spectacular, amazing show.

That’s really good to know.

it’s a lot of money for us and I’d be gutted for it to be a bit crap.

Obviously NY isn’t the only option for a holiday but it ticks so many boxes in terms of budget, stuff to do and the fact I can’t do really hot so going anywhere in the summer holidays isn’t really for me (I’m having a week in Yorkshire then!)

Ooh thanks for the tip!

What she’s time table like? DD does 3 days so has Thursday/Friday off - so there’s 4 straight days.

Missing a couple of days is hardly the end of the world is it? Online lectures self study etc

Under 21, in most states she can drink in her parents home if her parent provides the alcohol. There are typically guidelines about amount and sometimes even about what type of alcohol is allowed. Basically, it’s the you can give your teen or young adult some wine with dinner or share a beer while watching the game provision.

That does not mean you can buy two cocktails at a bar and hand her one. Both of you could get arrested for that. Under 21 can not legally drink at all in any establishment.

What about October half term?

Yeah I was really hoping we could go in October half term which is consolidation week for DD…but she’ll be final year of Law degree and isn’t keen to take any time off at all.

As far as I can gather she can still drink alcohol if I’ve purchased it. To my knowledge, this only applies at home. Your DD won't be allowed alcohol in bars, even if you buy it, or possibly not even allowed in. So if cocktails and jazz are important, then it would definitely be worth waiting until after she's 21.

NY at Christmas is great - yes, it's busy, so pre-book any places you want to visit, which saves time queuing, and make the most of the jet lag - get up early and visit some of the busier tourist sights. It can seem deserted at 7am! But apart from the really touristy areas (Times Square, Rockefeller Centre etc) it's not too bad.

And yes, you will both need photo ID everywhere that you want alcohol, some places just enter. Some businesses card everyone just to be safe, some just people who look under 40.

@MintyCedric

I unknowingly had 'fake ID'. When they'd done my international drivers licence it looked like '67 not '69. It was brilliant. Probably. DEFINITELY not the kind of risk worth taking if she's going into law though!

NY at Christmas is lovely. Do you have to come back for Christmas?

Hi Minty <waves>

If it's only licensed as a bar, she won't be allowed in at all.

Definitely do not try to give her booze in a bar or restaurant when she's underage.

No, you will not be able to buy her a drink in a licenced premises if she has not turned 21.
we were in NY last spring, Niece was 19 and every bar we went to we were all ID’ed, even the 50+ and I was refused a cocktail when I still had a half glass of wine to finish as the server was suspicious I was buying it for neice.

I was arrested for drinking in a bar when I was 20. Don’t.

I live here and it honestly depends on the place. Some won't even blink an eye (unless your DD looks very young) if they're with their parent. Others will ask for ID. My son's Frat can 100% hook you up with a fake ID if you need one 😂

Oh dear. What happened after the arrest?

I go to the US for work a couple of times a year and I get ID'd everywhere as do all my colleagues - ranging from twenties to late fifties. You need photographic ID everywhere. This is West Coast but I'm sure NY is the same. I'd go at Christmas.

@EmmaEmerald fortunately not prosecuted. I was leaving the next day anyway. I had to go there for work and was bloody terrified I’d get turned away. Fortunately, I didn’t.

Christmas is one of the best times to go to NY!
They are very strict about alcohol and will not sell it to you if they think you will be giving it to him. My friend's son was asked for ID every time we went out (he's 21).

@ContinentalBreakfast phew.