Is it ok to underage drink for religious reasons?

Parent Cafe
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<p>Last night, I went to my step-grandparents house with my family for Passover. Although I’m not born Jewish, my step-father and step-grandparents are. Before we eat food, we had to read the Haggadah and have a few sips of wine. Usually, I’m against drinking alcohol but did it anyway. That leaves me wondering, is it ok to underage drink for religious events such as Passover or the Shabbat? Is it legal in the U.S.?</p>

2

<p>It is not illegal to take a few sips of wine in the privacy of your grandparents’ home.
I’m sure if it is a big deal for you to remain alcohol free they would sub grape juice for you. Ask them.
It’s about the observing the religious ceremony with the family and the symbolism of the wine.
ktsai-sometimes you gotta go with the flow of things</p>

3

<p>Most states allow alcohol to be consumed for religious reasons. The ones that make no mention would probably never ever charge anyone with such a crime, not that they’d ever know about it anyway.</p>

4

<p>No, I think that’s protected. Catholics & many christians do it all the time for communion; i don’t see why shabbat and passover would be different. Don’t worry about it.</p>

5

<p>Please don’t waste your life worrying about crap like this. Drink the wine.</p>

<p>And on what principle are you “against drinking alcohol?” Not a very strong one, apparently. Just drink the wine and go worry about something that matters.</p>

6

<p>In Georgia, it’s legal for otherwise underage kids to drink with their parents in their own home (and I’d assume that extends to grandparents as well).</p>

7

<p>It seems that every state has a religious exemption and some add an exemption so parents can serve their child alcohol in a private home without a religious purpose. If you don’t want to drink, you can always politely refuse the wine or excuse yourself from the situation.</p>

8

<p>“Catholics & many christians do it all the time for communion”</p>

<p>I don’t think that has been true for year… it’s grape juice!</p>

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<p>What wimpy church do you go to? :D</p>

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<p>^It is not good wine, but it is definitely wine! At least in all the Catholic churches I’ve ever been in.</p>

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<p>AllThisIsNewToMe: some protestant and catholic churches use real wine as you can see.</p>

12

<p>In Episcopal churches they generally use a port wine. And kids can take communion from when they are baptized which is generally in infancy.</p>

13

<p>Maybe your church serves Manischewitz, and you just think it’s grape juice?</p>

<p>Manischewitz rules. Or, as I choose to think of it, the King of the Juice.</p>

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<p>I was raised Catholic and drank a sip of wine at communion after age seven or so. Big deal, it’s a little bit of wine for religious purposes. It’s not like you’re getting staggering, falling down drunk or drunk-driving.</p>

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<p>It’s legal to drink alcohol in a private setting. It’s not legal to provide alcohol for an underage gathering such as a party. Religious ceremonies are exempt because the state can’t regulate religious observance. So your parents can let you drink any time but they can’t let your friends drink and your parents can’t give your friends alcohol except in a religious setting. That’s the strict rule. Actual practice is much, much, much looser in most places.</p>

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<p>All Catholic churches use real wine. It’s a requirement.</p>

<p>So…I’d say it VERY OK to drink wine at a seder.</p>

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<p>Unless the government suddenly outlaws religion (which I cannot imagine happening), it should be fine, not to mention the drinking laws are, to a large extend, unenforced.</p>

18

<p>Thanks that made me feel a lot better since I know it’s ok to drink wine for religious reasons. Thanks guys!</p>

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<p>That is completely dependent upon the state. In not all states is it legal to give one’s own child alcohol. It is in Texas, but there are many states that do not have a parent provider exemption.</p>

<p><a href=“http://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/State_Profiles_of_Underage_Drinking_Laws.html[/url]”>http://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/State_Profiles_of_Underage_Drinking_Laws.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>The exception would be if it is against YOUR religion to drink.</p>