Is it acceptable to serve champagne to someone under 21 (she is 18) if they are in your wedding party?

Question

It will be served only once , for toasting the Bride & Groom.

We plan on serving soft drinks and water, for the main beverages.

Answer 1

no there could be some serious legal issues.And it so not worth it.

Answer 2

NO! NO! AND FOR THE FINAL TIME NO! ARE YOU KIDDING ME N0!.IT IS ILLEGAL NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON,AND BY THE WAY THEY HAVE SPARKLING GRAPE JUICE THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE CHAMPANE

DALE T

Answer 3

It's illegal. Give her cider in a bottle that looks like champagne.

When you asked an 18 year old to be in your bridal party, you accepted the fact that she can't do some typical parts of a bridesmaid such as drinking.  

Answer 4

Of course it is.  In most countries they could buy it themselves at 18.

Half a tiny flute of champagne is hardly going to have an affect.

EDIT: Wow, there are some real squares on here.  We are talking a tiny amount of champagne, not even enough for a child to get tipsy on.  We are not talking about handing out a crack pipe here.

We are talking about a legal adult, who is not driving (I assume), being given a tiny amount of champagne during a meal, under parental and family supervision.  I don't suspect they are going to send a SWAT team to shut down the party.

One of the reasons we have a problem with teen drinking in this country is because we make such a big deal about it.  If you get too uptight about alcohol you will turn it into something exciting and daring, and something to try at all costs.  This encourages illicit under age binge drinking because psychologically you've built the concept up way too much.

Answer 5

It used to be that a minor, under direct supervision of their parents, could have alcohol. Not anymore. Your vendors might possibly lose their liquor license, and not be able to be in business if they are caught serving it. Liquor licenses are very expensive, and very hard to get. And even harder to get back, once lost. And If you are so thoughtless as to serve a minor alcohol,  you could go to jail.  

Undercover police people are everywhere, and if there are police people there as guests, they might have to say something, in order to keep their jobs.

Please do no listen to those that would say it is ok, a square I am not.

I would speak a little stronger here so you might listen. After the wedding, you will want to go on your planned honeymoon, not go to jail for contributing to the deliquency of a minor.

There has been much publicity lately about adults geting drunk, having a wreck after leaving a private party, and later suing the hosts for allowing them to leave like that. And bartenders can get in trouble for serving drunks. So why then do you even consider serving a minor? She can have sparkling grape juice. No one will know or care.

And for the rest of you who are advising the asker to hand out alcohol to a minor, well, what you do at your own parties is fine. But it is rude to insinuate that others here do not have a life, or are not enjoying life to the fullest if they are not breaking laws.

I know, this story will cause groans and moans, but I will tell it anyway. The scene is prom night, not a wedding, but...

Small town near here, my cousin's prom. A group of kids in a car, all had been given booze, they crashed their car. Their parents were all missing in action, with other plans for the night. My cousin ended up at the morgue, telling a police officer who the kids were, so their parents could be notified. It is something she will never forget, and she to this day will not talk about it, and leaves the room if some similar story is told.

Since tonight is the night to be a smart aleck on Answers, I will indulge in it,  too. Hey this picture of you in your wedding gown at the morgue identifying bodies just popped into my head. By the way, my cousin was still in her prom dress whem she went.

Dear it is not your responsibility to teach an 18 year old to drink. Leave that to others, she will have plenty of opportunities.

Look out here comes the smart aleck. The year I turned 18, Illinois lowered the legal drinking age to 18. Do the words Party-Party -Party have meaning for you all? Nightclubs, dancing, all at 18. I didn't have to wait.

Answer 6

I think since she is in your wedding party it is more then fine to let her drink.  It's only champagne its not going to affect her much or harm her.

Answer 7

ummmm...yeah, that's kinda illegal!  

Answer 8

No, it's illegal.  It really is.

Answer 9

It's fine. People are so uptight! I bet the ones saying "NO, it's illegal" have never done anything even remotely against any law ever?! Give me a break. I was allowed to drink a glass of champagne or wine growing up at a special occasion. It's not like you are going to get her smashed and then put her behind the wheel of a car. And I'm sure it will not be her first drink! I say go for it, it will make her feel like you look at her as an adult and mature enough to handle it. She'll be fine!

Answer 10

I would say yes because it's not like you are going to fill the whole glass with champagne, plus it's only for toasting.

Answer 11

Hmm, tough call.  Probably better to play it safe (and legal) and have sparkling cider available for those under 21.  That way they an still have some "bubbly" for the toast.

Answer 12

Wow, apparently most of the posters above had absolutely no social life growing up. It is absolutely acceptable. Its a wedding. Frankly, I'm sure the girl has had it a time or two before anyways. Its not like she is going to drink herself into oblivion and get behind the wheel. A glass of champagne would hardly have any effect on her anyhow.

People are so ridiculous sometimes. Get some lives.

Answer 13

No.  She should have sparklling cider.

Answer 14

Yes, it is illegal. I don't mean to be a "square" and although a half a glass won' hurt them, you could be setting yourselves up for trouble. A lot of venues get in legal trouble for allowing underage drinking and could loose their licesnse and you could get sued. Also, the venue may charge you a large fine if they find out that you are serving drinks to underage people. If you are not having any drinks for anyone else for the rest of the wedding, it sounds like alcholic beverages are not a priority to you, then why not serve those under 21 sparkling cider or grade juice. Many winieries sell grape juice in fancy bottles that look like wine and they are bubbly and tasty. Also, Welches sell sparkling grap juice in white and red that is very good at grocery stores for under five bucks. This way they will have something to toast with and you wont have to worry about legalities.  

Answer 15

It actually depends on your state. A lot of states it is illegal for a minor to drink in public or purchase alcohol but if their parents are around, their parents can give them alcohol. You need to check your state's laws. And even if this was law in the past, it may have recently been changed (it has been in my state).

Answer 16

No its not acceptabke..... its not the rerason of underage boozing. its the consequences what happens after she is not within her control. so simply NO.. i know u will not like my opinion...

Answer 17

If her parents are in attendance and they allow it, it's legal. (or at least it is in my neck of the woods.)

besides it's just ONE glass, and it's not like you're having a kegger.

Answer 18

well, once at a wedding and she's 18-- yes, I think 1 toasting glass is ok.

But I wouldn't allow a chug-a-lug or anything. A class to toast with is nice.

Answer 19

It depends on the state you live in.

Thirteen states (Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin) specifically permit children to drink alcohol given to them by their parents or guardians.

Many states also specifically permit consumption under the age of 21 for religious reasons. [This includes sipping wine at Catholic mass and toasting at a religious wedding cermony.]

I don't know which state you live in, but here is one more source:

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/teens/crime/a...

In the last paragraph under "Know the Law: Alcohol," it states "Minors may also consume an alcoholic beverage if in the visible presence of a parent or guardian. An example would be drinking a glass of champagne to toast the bride and groom at a family wedding."

Answer 20

I was 17 and I still got some. It was really good too!

Answer 21

If her parents won't be there then it is fine.

If her parents will be there... do they approve? If they are cool with it, then it is fine. If they are as prudish as some of these answerers, then you may not want to serve it to her, lest you ruin any relationship you have with them!

By the way, you may want to make a non-alcoholic alternative available for people if they want it.

Answer 22

It's fine. It is NOT illegal if the reception is at a place that is private meaning if it is in a public bar or in a public garden then it is illegal.

It's socially acceptable too.

Answer 23

its socially acceptable but still illegal, and even though you probably won't get caught, you dont want to be wearing handcuffs as jewelery in your wedding photos. the law is that you have to be 21 to drink free and clear but you can be any (reasonable) age and drink till your heart's content and as long as the parents are present and have given permission, it's NOT illegal.

Answer 24

Absolutely. Here in Australia the age to drink is 18, not 21. I think 21 is ridiculous but that's a whole other topic.

Giving her half a glass of champagne for the toast won't hurt a bit. I doubt anyone would complain and you wouldn't get in trouble from the police or anything, they have more things to worry about than a bridesmaid having half a glass of wine!

Definitely let her have some.

***EDIT***

This is in response to that river person who wrote a novel about liquor licences and undercover cops. Yes, undercover police are out in bars, nightclubs and places where teens would likely try to sneak in.

A reception venue would not send in undercover police, that's just insane! It'd be futile if they did because at a wedding reception you'd be able to tell pretty quickly who's not a real guest, you invited them all!!!

An 18-year-old girl, who's an adult, and will be dressed to the hilt looking much older than 18, will not be asked for ID or have the cops called on her. She won't be purchasing drinks from the bar, just handed half a glass of champagne by another adult during the toast!

Answer 25

I think its okay, as long as she is comfortable with it (she might not be, you never know), you are comfortable with it, and her parents are comfortable with it. If one of them isn't i would just serve her, sprite or sparkling cider/grape juice or whatever its called.

Answer 26

Yes it is acceptable!  

Answer 27

if you are asking if it's legal, not it is not legal. the bartender at your wedding reception cannot legally give her alcohol.

Answer 28

No, she is 18. It is illegal. Just because it is a special occasion doesn't give you an excuse to break the law.  

Answer 29

Of course!!

In Alberta Canada (where I live) the legal age IS 18

Answer 30

I would think it would be fine.

I will be 19 when my wedding takes place in October 2009. We will have champagne, and I will be tosting at my own wedding.

Its not like she is going to get totally trashed or anything.

If she still lives with her parents, you may want to ask them first.  

Answer 31

If the venue where your reception is taking place does this, they are in violation of the law and can lose their liquor license and be fined.  If your reception is taking place at someone's home or something, then go ahead, but no venue is going to allow it.  At the golf club where I had my reception, they asked ahead of time which of the members of the wedding party were 21+ and which were younger.  My MOH and my bridesmaid were both only 16 so they were served sparkling cider that looked exactly like the champagne.