# Age Requirements for Alcohol Company Websites

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-requirements-for-alcohol-company-websites/232941>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 7, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-requirements-for-alcohol-company-websites/232941 "2004-03-07T05:13:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-requirements-for-alcohol-company-websites/232941/1 "2004-03-07T05:13:21Z")

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I’ve gone to websites for various breweries and distilleries, and have noticed, pretty consistantly, that before I can get into those websites, I have to give them my birthdate or age, which has to be at least 21. If I say I’m under 21 (I’ve done that a few times to check), it won’t let me in.

What’s the deal? I know you have to be at least 21 to drink alcohol, but why do you have to be at least 21 to look at a website?

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**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-requirements-for-alcohol-company-websites/232941/2 "2004-03-07T06:16:25Z")

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Per the FTC, alcohol can’t be advertised to underage drinkers. Websites are considered a form of promotion.

This specific requirement dates to a 1999 FTC report to Congress on the alcohol producer’s self-regulation. I can’t find the text online, but it appears the recommendation was: “Use available mechanisms to block underage access and avoid content that would attract underage consumers.” My cynical side says it was probably the easiest item on the list to implement.

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**Author:** ![Alien2022](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19adc/32.png) [@Alien2022](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien2022)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-requirements-for-alcohol-company-websites/232941/3 "2004-03-07T06:24:34Z")

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Why not just change your birthdate so that you are 21? Kind of ridiculous…

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-requirements-for-alcohol-company-websites/232941/4 "2004-03-07T06:50:53Z")

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> [@SmackFu](#):
>
> I can’t find the text online, but it appears the recommendation was: “Use available mechanisms to block underage access and avoid content that would attract underage consumers.”

That would be [here](http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/09/alcoholrep.htm).

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**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-requirements-for-alcohol-company-websites/232941/5 "2004-03-07T08:52:03Z")

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A sex toy site that’s been mentioned in a sex advice column (Savage Love) that I read occasionally also has a minimum age of 21 on their website. 18 I can understand, since they sell erotica as well, but why 21? I searched for a couple other sites like this just to make sure, and they’re all for people 18 and up. This one doesn’t seem to sell sex liquor or anything, so I really wonder what the deal is.