# If I can't trust a 20 year old to buy alcohol... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 3, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698 "2012-02-03T23:46:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/1 "2012-02-03T23:46:39Z")
If I can’t trust a 20 year old to buy alcohol, what can I trust him/her to do? I realize debating a legal drinking age is old and tired, but I’ve run into what I think is a strange new twist. Last December my non-profit was ramping up for the Christmas season with everyone working at 110%. The place was a mad house with every available body busy at work. We needed a handful of things picked up so I put together a list, looked around for someone I could send, and handed it off to one of the interns. He then informs me that he’s 20 and can’t buy the few alcoholic items we need. Through no fault of his own he had made himself _untrustworthy_. I couldn’t rely on him to perform a simple task–go to a store, buy something, then bring it back. Think about that last statement from any other perspective. What if he was a terrible driver and you couldn’t trust him to drive your car? What if he was a thief and you worried he’d pocket the money? What if he was an idiot and you worried he’d fail to return, return empty handed, or bring back the wrong stuff? All of those traits would make him incompetent, this kid isn’t, yet he falls under that category simply because he’s not allowed to purchase alcohol. As a result, a person on staff that is under 21 becomes a liability, essentially dead weight. How do I justify hiring someone under 21 if I can’t trust them to do something as simple as buy alcohol? ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/2 "2012-02-04T00:11:08Z")
I think trust is the wrong word here. I think he is trustworthy, because he told you the truth of his age and the liability there to him, and you. I would probably say he’s ‘unqualified’ to do the job you require, not untrustworthy. And not being qualified to do a job or task could be justified for termination, or not hiring him, whatever the case may be. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/3 "2012-02-04T00:15:26Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > Through no fault of his own he had made himself _untrustworthy_. I couldn’t rely on him to perform a simple task–go to a store, buy something, then bring it back. This sentence makes no sense. If it isn’t his fault, how can it be possible that he made himself untrustworthy? > [@](#): > > All of those traits would make him incompetent, this kid isn’t, yet he falls under that category simply because he’s not allowed to purchase alcohol. As a result, a person on staff that is under 21 becomes a liability, essentially dead weight. If you’ve decided to put him into the “incompetent” category then that says more about you than it does about the intern. He can’t buy alcohol so he’s a liability? He’s dead weight? You sound like a joy to intern for. > [@](#): > > How do I justify hiring someone under 21 if I can’t trust them to do something as simple as buy alcohol? You didn’t “hire” him he’s an intern. If your organization uses interns then you just need to get used to having people who aren’t of age to purchase alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/4 "2012-02-04T00:21:39Z")
This 20yr old employee is most certainly _trustworthy_; as he has demonstrated clear reason to have faith in his words and actions. If part of his job duties include purchasing alcohol, then the fact that he is 20yrs old simply means that he is _unqualified_ for his position. This is quite simple. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/5 "2012-02-04T00:30:00Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > You didn’t “hire” him he’s an intern. If your organization uses interns then you just need to get used to having people who aren’t of age to purchase alcohol. I hire interns all the time and I’m not seeing why you would put the verb in quotes. I consider them hired, they consider themselves hired, the IRS considers them hired, etc.. If I needed people to buy alcohol regularly it might make me less likely to _hire_ under 21 year old interns. Doesn’t seem like that big of a deal though. Hire people who meet your needs. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/6 "2012-02-04T00:30:46Z")
He’s not a drunkard, he’s a minor. In what way has he betrayed your trust? Did he mislead you as to his age in order to procure the position? Did you specify that part of the duties of his job would be purchasing alcohol? I’m also really curious in a horrified sort of way, what sort of nonprofit considers buying alcohol the main duty of its employees. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/7 "2012-02-04T00:32:33Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > I hire interns all the time and I’m not seeing why you would put the verb in quotes. I consider them hired, they consider themselves hired, the IRS considers them hired, etc.. I think most people assume, unless directed otherwise that interns are unpaid and so in a sense are mere volunteers, rather than actual employees. Volunteers who are attempting to build a network and references but volunteers nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/8 "2012-02-04T00:41:23Z")
Unless your non-profit requires liquor to operate and your hired him based on him presenting himself as being able to procure said liquor, he isn’t untrustworthy, he’s just young. If anything, you have poor judgment in picking a grocery-getter or your hiring manager needs to be told to only hire people over the age of 21. But in reality, he can’t by liquor because he’s 20 and to read any more into that is just silly. IOW, he didn’t misrepresent anything, you just guessed wrong. He didn’t imply, you inferred. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/9 "2012-02-04T00:43:49Z")
The OP can’t trust anyone under 25 either if he needs someone who can rent a car. Young people these days, aging chronologically. I’m sick of it, I can tell you! ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/10 "2012-02-04T00:56:04Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I think most people assume, unless directed otherwise that interns are unpaid and so in a sense are mere volunteers, rather than actual employees. Volunteers who are attempting to build a network and references but volunteers nonetheless. I don’t think most people would assume that, but if they did they would be incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/11 "2012-02-04T00:58:00Z")
If you hire them, what makes them an intern instead of an employee? ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/12 "2012-02-04T00:58:42Z")
I see several factors. First you are selective about which interns you hire. A good manager knows the abilities of his workers and assigns tasks accordingly. While his lack of experience makes him attractive to use as a gofor in many cases, I am sure there are many other tasks he wasn’t qualified for. If young, inexperienced interns weren’t capable of doing many tasks you required, I am sure you wouldn’t hire any. This reminds me of a time when a kid was told to take the truck and go to town and pick something up. He did as he was told although too young to have a driver’s license. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/13 "2012-02-04T01:01:25Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > I don’t think most people would assume that, but if they did they would be incorrect. Ok. As exciting as the whirlwind world of HR is, I find myself less interested in the IRS opinion of interns and more interested in what led the OP to his out-of-the-box ideas about what trust is. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/14 "2012-02-04T02:08:48Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > The OP can’t trust anyone under 25 either if he needs someone who can rent a car. Young people these days, aging chronologically. I’m sick of it, I can tell you! You know, I have heard this myth touted regularly and I want to nip it in the bud right now. I rented SEVERAL cars in my life before I turned 25 (in fact, I’m only 25 right now). There is no prohibition against 24 or younger years of aged people renting cars, at least in the Great State of Texas 😃 ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/15 "2012-02-04T02:10:19Z")
The drinking age should without question be 16. The _driving_ age, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/16 "2012-02-04T02:46:42Z")
The law isn’t set up because he can’t be trusted to buy liquor for a non-profit. It’s because he can’t be trusted to buy liquor with a group of his dumbass college friends without ending up in some situation that makes problems for society in general. We don’t have the energy to determine who is buying liquor for charity and who is buying liquor to go hold a blow-out teenage kegger that ends with everyone getting STDs or traffic accidents. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/17 "2012-02-04T02:49:23Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > buying liquor for charity You know I’ve always thought it would be a good idea to open a foundation called Booze for Bums, or something of the sort. And you would have these booze gardens for homeless people. I’d support that charity. ---
**Author:** ![KneeSid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dec6dc/32.png) [@KneeSid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneeSid)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/18 "2012-02-04T02:50:26Z")
I think what the OP is getting at, in a round-a-bout way is this: the GOVERNMENT, says this guy is under 21. And people under 21 aren’t trustworthy enough to buy alcohol. If we could trust that they’d drink responsibly and not get into accidents we’d let them buy it an an earlier age. So if the government considers someone under 21 not trustworthy enough to be responsible with drinking, why should we as a private company entrust him. That is how I am reading the post. It’s really a way of getting about why shouldn’t the drinking age be lowered. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/19 "2012-02-04T02:55:37Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > The law isn’t set up because he can’t be trusted to buy liquor for a non-profit. > > It’s because he can’t be trusted to buy liquor with a group of his dumbass college friends without ending up in some situation that makes problems for society in general. > > We don’t have the energy to determine who is buying liquor for charity and who is buying liquor to go hold a blow-out teenage kegger that ends with everyone getting STDs or traffic accidents. How about lowering the drinking age to 18 but punishing those who are irresponsible with drinking? Such as for example making drunk driving and killing someone equivalent to murder and harsh punishments for disorderly conduct, vandalism, and drunk driving in general. After all there are many people over 21 who are utterly irresponsible with their drinking. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698/20 "2012-02-04T03:05:44Z")
Heh, we went thru this in the 70’s; old enough to be drafted and die for your country but not old enough to buy a beer or vote. So the law was changed. Then the draft was ended and the draught age was raised. Didn’t make sense then, doesn’t make sense now. Old enough to enlist, old enough to marry, old enough to sign contracts, not old enough to legally drink a beer.:smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-cant-trust-a-20-year-old-to-buy-alcohol/611698.md?page=2)