[teekert]

In the US, back in 2007, I met some dutch guys, aged 20 and 21, the 20 y/o just spend a night in jail because he was drinking in a bar. He didn't even realize, back home he was drinking legally for over 4 years (and for drinking before the age of 16 there was no real punishment). We had a good laugh, "they must have a lot of jails here" we said.

Lately the government is becoming more firm here (the Netherlands) as well. Beer drinking is now legal only from age 18 and up and serving minors is punishable by law now, a bar owner pays 1360 euro the first time but may risk closure of the establishment. Drinking in private is never punishable. For public drinking (but not for being drunk) the fine is 90 euros, 45 when below age 16. If you are sick from alcohol you will never be punished as it may be inhibiting for seeking help.

[aidenn0]

In the US if you go to the hospital for alcohol related symptoms and you are under 21, you are essentially guaranteed to get an arrest ticket for underage drinking.

Yes this is inhibiting for seeking help.

[edit] See replies, this isn't universally true.

[kinghajj]

In some states, it's only the purchase and public consumption of alcohol that's prohibited for those under 21; and consumption on private property and/or under the supervision of parents/guardians is expressly allowed.

[dragonwriter]

There may be some jurisdictions in the US where this is true, but it doesn't seem to be generally true. As this kind of thing is a matter of state law and local agency practice, there probably is no valid generalization one way or the other on the level of "in the US".

[aidenn0]

For the 3 towns in 3 different states I have lived in, this is true. I accept that this is a very small number of data points.