drinking

mosand · #1 12-05-2007, 11:04 PM

I'm coming to the Dominican with my family in Jan 08. In our group we have young adults .They would like to now what the legal drinking age ?

Bob K · #2 12-06-2007, 07:06 AM

If you are old enouh to hold a presidente bottle and not need a nipple on it then you are old enough to drink. There is no legal age and if there is one no one abides by it.

I know some of you guys out there prefer the nipple variety.

Bob K

Jumbo · #3 12-06-2007, 07:49 AM

The age at the resorts is 18. The signs in the bars and clubs around the country say " No Minors " or " No One Under 18 ". I was in a tipico in Jamao and the Politar showed up. There were 2 16 year old local chicas there so they dragged the owner away. There is a legal age but rarely will a gringo/a need to show ID.

PICHARDO · #4 12-06-2007, 08:53 AM

Dominican culture is far more relaxed when it comes to the drinking age.
It's custom to allow minors to drink at special events like Birthdays and such, under parental supervision (and then some not). It all boils down to the fact that teenagers in the DR are free from the stigma that permeates most societies around the world.

There's no peer pressure for those who don't drink at all! Most friends rely on these to be the lead head after the party is over and heading home is priority. Most DWI is the result of adults exceeding their regular limits and road conditions. Very few numbers of teens or adolescents are involved in DWI accidents in the DR.

Most parents will even give a sip of liquor to kids as young as 7 or 8!! The kid's curiosity ends as soon as they get the bitter and stingy hot taste of the mesmerizing drink on the cup everyone guards him away from...
Most kids are far more matured when it comes to liquor in the DR because of this.

All school parties at home and graduation after parties always have beer and liquor present!!! Yet very few teens ever cross the limits and those who do, are cared for by their best friends to get them home and their parents usually brush it off as "you know better".

For a tourist underage to have a drink at their hotel or resort is another thing, the owners of those locations are under strict rules that don't apply to the general public in most cases. They could refuse to serve them, but it's up to the parents to be present and decide so. As a parent you could ask for the drink and hand it over to your kid at the table. Politur (Tourism Police force) won't even lift a finger to you, but the manager could face a penalty if he did allow the crew to serve directly to the underage person at your table. At worst they could request to know if in fact you ordered the drink and gave it to the kid.

That's where it all would end period...

Now, if you want to get served without a question, just get off the tourist tail and visit one of the local places and have a drink with your family!

In the DR, the head of the family is the boss! Not the State...

Let me put it like this:

Not one single parent has ever been fined, jailed, etc... For providing alcohol to their underage kids EVER!

Hasn't happened and it won't!

laurapasinifan · #5 12-06-2007, 10:24 AM

my Girlfriends brother and male cousin are 16 and 17. On an over night trip to Sosua earlier this year we all went out to classicos disco. On the first night we all got in...even a female friend on my GF who was 17. the second night the bouncers would not let the 17 year male cousin in. Even though we had a group of 7 and the "gringo " was paying....no way the one main bouncer would not give in.

funny they never quaetion the age of the underage female...which I would think is what they would get into hot water over.

they are KINDA strict at the casino who gets in....but my gfs 16 YO brother has been let in three times so far. But he looks older.

as other have said partys and what happens at home is at the descretion of the owners and parents.

at a BODA...anything goes i am sure.

I have pictures of my GFs brother two fisting presidentes early on, and pictures of him sicker than a dog later on..... and everyone else that is around is laughing ther behinds off...he was 15 at the time of that wedding.

bob

heldengebroed · #6 12-06-2007, 11:49 AM

5 years ago i withnessed a razia of "military" type police in a carwash disco in SD. Very impressionate especialy for me being the only pale guy between all those latino's. Lukily for us one of our companios was the cousine of the officer who led the razia. so the controle of our table was non-excisting. Had a nice chat with him over a bottle of brugal during the razia. They dtook a few dozen young dominicans with them

Greetings

Johan

J D Sauser · #7 12-06-2007, 12:10 PM

I think that the policed issue is more related to WHERE than WHAT. It seems seen as unfit for minors (under 18) to hang around in bars, some Car Washes and similar nite clubs and establishments. On the other hand, one can quite often see kids been granted the privilege of taking a little more than just a sip out of a big Presidente bottle... after all it is called "una familial" and without kids, there is no family.

But I seem to observe less youths hanging around stone drunk on the streets on Saturday nites than in most other countries which have stricter rules.
Actually, in general, while quite a lot is being guzzled here... I seem to see less alcohol excess' on the street than lets say in some Andean countries and even some EU countries. Fiestas end earlier and with less damage too, in general.

... J-D.

Hillbilly · #8 12-06-2007, 01:25 PM

D@mn! NOt one single comment from the Grammar Police.

Hey, Mosand!!!!: It's the Dominican REPUBLIC!! for Pete's sake!! Please use it properly or use DR to save your fingers.

You are not from the " United" nor am I!! Nor are you from "Great"!! See what I mean??

There, you have been properly spoken to by the Grammar Police!! Now, please use it properly, okay????????????

HB

heliace · #9 12-06-2007, 09:41 PM

Wow!!! How offensive!!!! In the Dominican....Please...There are more important things to clean up here. Live in a country with all the problems the D.R. has and this is what you take offense to?

Dragonfly32837 · #10 12-06-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heliace

Wow!!! How offensive!!!! In the Dominican....Please...There are more important things to clean up here. Live in a country with all the problems the D.R. has and this is what you take offense to?

Yes. Hillbilly is right. We are not talking about all of the other problems here are we? All countries have problems. But problems and all you would not want other people to say the name of your country wrong would you? We are simply correcting the ones that may not know better. And yes, I am Dominican.