# I'm turning 21 tomorrow! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094 "2005-09-29T21:08:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/1 "2005-09-29T21:08:04Z")
Woot! I plan on walking into the nearest convenience store at the stroke of midnight, grabbing something modest (like some wine coolers or mike’s hard lemonade). If the clerk asks me if I’m 21, I’ll say “yes, as of 3 minutes ago” and show him my I.D. I’ll admit though, I’m a bit scared to do this. I’ve had a lifetime of mental programming that alcohol is forbidden to drink, and it may not be so easy to overcome that. But overcome it I will !! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![marque\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@marque\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marque_elf)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/2 "2005-09-29T21:19:23Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Woot! I plan on walking into the nearest convenience store at the stroke of midnight, grabbing something modest (like some wine coolers or mike’s hard lemonade). If the clerk asks me if I’m 21, I’ll say “yes, as of 3 minutes ago” and show him my I.D. > > I’ll admit though, I’m a bit scared to do this. I’ve had a lifetime of mental programming that alcohol is forbidden to drink, and it may not be so easy to overcome that. But overcome it I will !! 😃 I was going to say something snarky but instead I’ll say: Happy Birthday! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/3 "2005-09-29T21:24:30Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Woot! I plan on walking into the nearest convenience store at the stroke of midnight, grabbing something modest (like some wine coolers or mike’s hard lemonade). If the clerk asks me if I’m 21, I’ll say “yes, as of 3 minutes ago” and show him my I.D. > > I’ll admit though, I’m a bit scared to do this. Ah, just be casual about it. If your experience was anything like mine the first time I (legally) bought alcohol, the clerk won’t even check your ID. 😉 Kind of an anticlimax, actually. But then, I’d been drinking alcohol (in moderation) for about ten years at that point, and never really understood the appeal or appreiciated the mystique of getting drunk. (It turns out that in fact there is no mystique; it’s just that people who are intoxicated confuse nausea with mystery.) And do yourself a favor–have a drink or two and call it a night. Despite how copiously people like to boast about “getting smashed” on their 21st birthday (and, judging from the stories, every successive weekend for the next eight years), it really isn’t that novel of an experience. Dare to be orignal! And _Lá Breithe Sona dhuit_. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/4 "2005-09-29T21:34:14Z")
My dream was always to go to the store at 15 minutes to midnight, and try and buy beer. Ideally, the clery would card me and turn me away. I would wait until midnight and go and buy successfully. Of corse, I was working that night IRL, and didn’t actually buy any alcohol until 6 months after my birthday. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/5 "2005-09-29T21:50:56Z")
Happy birthday! I’m resisting the urge to point and laugh because you couldn’t buy beer until you were 21. I love Britain. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/6 "2005-09-29T22:35:51Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > Of corse, I was working that night IRL, and didn’t actually buy any alcohol until 6 months after my birthday. :smack: 6 **months**? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/7 "2005-09-29T23:44:23Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > 6 **months**? 6 weeks I should say. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/8 "2005-09-30T05:04:46Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > 6 weeks I should say. Clearly, **CynicalGabe** is using the “Wrath of Khan” code. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/9 "2005-09-30T05:12:26Z")
You’d be amazed at how many bars will give you a free drink on your 21st birthday. A lot of them will buy you a drink on any birthday after that. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/10 "2005-09-30T06:10:38Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Woot! I plan on walking into the nearest convenience store at the stroke of midnight, grabbing something modest (like some wine coolers or mike’s hard lemonade). If the clerk asks me if I’m 21, I’ll say “yes, as of 3 minutes ago” and show him my I.D. Wine cooler? Hard lemonade? Why not share a bottle of good wine with some friends? Well, I guess it’s too late. You’re probably on your way to the 7-11 right now. But if you read this, don’t say anything. Just show the ID and see if the clerk can figure it out right. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/11 "2005-09-30T15:37:44Z")
I’d been buying beer there for about 2 years before I actually turned 21, but had never once been carded. The guy behind the counter and I weren’t exactly on a first-name basis, but I’d been in there on average once or twice a month for two years, so we were at least nodding acquaintences. I went in there within a couple weeks of turning 21, and there was a cop behind the counter with the usual clerk. **Clerk** says “Hey, how are ya? Just need to see your ID.” **Me** : “Sure. Here you are.” **Clerk** carefully eyes license. His face brightens, and he says "Hey! Just had a birthday, eh? **Me** : “Yup.” As dawning realization, then horror flash across his face. I shot him a wink, politely took my license from his slightly trembling hand, turned to the cop and said “Catch any bad guys tonight, officer?”. Neither **Clerk** or I ever brought it up, but he was never quite as friendly to me again. Oh, well. Sorry for the hijack, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/12 "2005-09-30T16:14:51Z")
I would go to a bar with some friends. Get a free drink or two, and call it a night. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/13 "2005-09-30T16:18:34Z")
Congratulations! _smooch_ I didn’t go out and get completely tanked on my 19th, and neither do you have to, either. Just go with the flow and enjoy yourself–that’s the whole point, innit? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/14 "2005-09-30T21:02:24Z")
I walked in at about midnight, put the booze on the counter at 12:03 AM. The clerk puzzled over my ID for a couple minutes and then said “happy birthday” and let me go on my way. Well, I didn’t get completely wasted but I did get pretty drunk. I think the beer is easier on my digestive system than the hard lemonade so I’ll stick with that in the future. The microbrew stuff is good. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/15 "2005-09-30T21:30:06Z")
Happy Birthday, **Blalron**! Microbrewed beer is indeed good. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/16 "2005-09-30T21:47:35Z")
Wasn’t really that big of a deal to me either. Living in Old New Orleans, it wasn’t especially difficult getting into any bar to get drunk, just a bit more convenient being able to buy it at groceries. Find a happy medium between “getting drunk” and “having a few.” If you’d do Rosie O’Donnel, you’ve had too much, but if you still find her disgusting, have a few more. ---
**Author:** ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/17 "2005-10-02T13:55:03Z")
I turned 21 a few months ago and I didn’t even get ID’d when I went to the liquor store at midnight. What a disappointment! Turning 21 for me was only great for being able to buy good beer to drink in moderation instead of having to drink someone else’s Miller Lite. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/18 "2005-10-02T18:12:52Z")
Why is the drinking age in America 21. In China, there is no drinking age. It’s basically up to the store owner, who wouldn’t sell beer or hard alcohol to a 10 year old. Then again, if they knew the 10 years olds family and the kid goes to the store to pick up food for the family(and cigarettes and beer), the store owner could sell to him/her. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/19 "2005-10-03T02:05:04Z")
Child! ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094/20 "2005-10-03T02:51:10Z")
If you’re going for Mike’s hard lemonade, grab a bottle of Razmatazz liqueur. One swig out of the bottle of Mike’s, refill with Razmatazz, and enjoy. 😉 Happy daze! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-21-tomorrow/324094.md?page=2)