Underage drinking at a night club question

[Salecson]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I'm a little bit of a perdicament with a situation that happened last night. I am 21 years old and I went with my 18 year old friend to see our favorite musician at a night club. We got there 10 minutes before the set began so I decided to get a couple beers. My 18 year old friend was at the coat check putting his hoodie away for the show. I found him and decided to put my coat away as well. I handed him one of the beers I was sold (they didn't check my ID which was strange because I don't exactly look 21) so I could take off my hoodie as well. Immediately one of the staff runs up to us, takes my beers and pushes us out of the club. The only reason why I am posting here is because of the amount of grief it caused me to be kicked out of the one and only show I was waiting to see for a number of months, since the day the show was announced. If anyone has any experience with this sort of thing please let me know. I feel incredibly guilty for not thinking about what I was doing. Thanks guys.

-S

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I'm a little bit of a perdicament with a situation that happened last night. I am 21 years old and I went with my 18 year old friend to see our favorite musician at a night club. We got there 10 minutes before the set began so I decided to get a couple beers. My 18 year old friend was at the coat check putting his hoodie away for the show. I found him and decided to put my coat away as well. I handed him one of the beers I was sold (they didn't check my ID which was strange because I don't exactly look 21) so I could take off my hoodie as well. Immediately one of the staff runs up to us, takes my beers and pushes us out of the club. The only reason why I am posting here is because of the amount of grief it caused me to be kicked out of the one and only show I was waiting to see for a number of months, since the day the show was announced. If anyone has any experience with this sort of thing please let me know. I feel incredibly guilty for not thinking about what I was doing. Thanks guys.

-S

What's the question? You got kicked out of the club for furnishing alcohol to an underaged person. You're lucky that didn't call the cops.

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I'm a little bit of a perdicament with a situation that happened last night. I am 21 years old and I went with my 18 year old friend to see our favorite musician at a night club. We got there 10 minutes before the set began so I decided to get a couple beers. My 18 year old friend was at the coat check putting his hoodie away for the show. I found him and decided to put my coat away as well. I handed him one of the beers I was sold (they didn't check my ID which was strange because I don't exactly look 21) so I could take off my hoodie as well. Immediately one of the staff runs up to us, takes my beers and pushes us out of the club. The only reason why I am posting here is because of the amount of grief it caused me to be kicked out of the one and only show I was waiting to see for a number of months, since the day the show was announced. If anyone has any experience with this sort of thing please let me know. I feel incredibly guilty for not thinking about what I was doing. Thanks guys.

-S

The club staff acted appropriately, you did not.

 

[Salecson]

I was just wondering if it was legal for them to kick us out when he was just holding the beer for me momentarily. And also the fact that they didn't ID me...aren't night clubs required by law to check for IDs?

 

[Just Blue]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I'm a little bit of a perdicament with a situation that happened last night. I am 21 years old and I went with my 18 year old friend to see our favorite musician at a night club. We got there 10 minutes before the set began so I decided to get a couple beers. My 18 year old friend was at the coat check putting his hoodie away for the show. I found him and decided to put my coat away as well. I handed him one of the beers I was sold (they didn't check my ID which was strange because I don't exactly look 21) so I could take off my hoodie as well. Immediately one of the staff runs up to us, takes my beers and pushes us out of the club. The only reason why I am posting here is because of the amount of grief it caused me to be kicked out of the one and only show I was waiting to see for a number of months, since the day the show was announced. If anyone has any experience with this sort of thing please let me know. I feel incredibly guilty for not thinking about what I was doing. Thanks guys.

-S

www.ma/ifeelguiltyforbeinganidiot.gov

 

[Just Blue]

I was just wondering if it was legal for them to kick us out when he was just holding the beer for me momentarily. And also the fact that they didn't ID me...aren't night clubs required by law to check for IDs?

www.ma/iwanttobearrested.gov

 

[Antigone*]

I was just wondering if it was legal for them to kick us out when he was just holding the beer for me momentarily. And also the fact that they didn't ID me...aren't night clubs required by law to check for IDs?

Yes it was legal for them to kick you out.

I, for one, do not believe you gave your friend the beer to just hold for you. We obviously didn't fall off a turnip truck yesterday. Do yourself a favor, don't insult anyone else by telling them this b.s. story.

 

[Salecson]

Quite the compassionate group of responses here. Quit hating and just respond to my question. I know this was my fault and I feel terrible about it, and I don't need a group of people I don't even know making things worse. Grow up, you people are insulting someone over the internet.

 

[Just Blue]

Quite the compassionate group of responses here. Quit hating and just respond to my question. I know this was my fault and I feel terrible about it, and I don't need a group of people I don't even know making things worse. Grow up, you people are insulting someone over the internet.

www.ma/ineedcompassion.gov

 

[Mass_Shyster]

If anyone has any experience with this sort of thing please let me know.

There was a recent article in the local paper that a bunch of places in North Central Mass (Leominster) had their licenses suspended for selling to underage persons.

I suspect the grief caused to the establishment owner exceeds the grief you suffered by missing a performance. I don't see the staff's reaction as unreasonable at all. As Zigner wrote, you're lucky they didn't call the police.

Since legal fees would have run several thousand dollars, I suspect you learned an inexpensive lesson.

 

[Salecson]

There was a recent article in the local paper that a bunch of places in North Central Mass (Leominster) had their licenses suspended for selling to underage persons.

I suspect the grief caused to the establishment owner exceeds the grief you suffered by missing a performance. I don't see the staff's reaction as unreasonable at all. As Zigner wrote, you're lucky they didn't call the police.

Since legal fees would have run several thousand dollars, I suspect you learned an inexpensive lesson.

Thank you.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

I was just wondering if it was legal for them to kick us out when he was just holding the beer for me momentarily.

Yes. You were a licensee - their guest. They can kick you out for almost any reason, as long as the reason is not illegal discrimination (based on race, creed, religion, national origin, etc).

And also the fact that they didn't ID me...aren't night clubs required by law to check for IDs?

So because they forgot to card you, it's perfectly OK for you to give beer to your underage friend? - I don't get the connection.

 

[Zigner]

I'm willing to bet that the bartender will be adamant in stating that he DID check ID on the 21 year old.

 

[mistoffolees]

I was just wondering if it was legal for them to kick us out when he was just holding the beer for me momentarily.

Yes. As you were told, they could kick you out for almost any reason at all (as long as it wasn't for illegal reasons like your skin color). And, in this case, they clearly had grounds.

In fact, they could have called the police - and you'd have been facing much more serious charges. What you did was illegal. Period. So, instead of trying to find loopholes or ways to get back at them for embarrassing you, you should be changing your actions.

And, of course, there's the question of why you bought "a couple beers" when it was just you and your 18 year old friend.

And also the fact that they didn't ID me...aren't night clubs required by law to check for IDs?

First, even if true, that doesn't absolve you of giving alcohol to a minor.

I'm also not sure that they committed a crime. I may be wrong, but I believe that their legal obligation is to not sell alcohol to minors. I don't believe that they are legally obligated to card anyone. If they have another way to ensure that minors never buy alcohol, that would be sufficient. (I think).

Either way, their mistake doesn't absolve you of your crime so you should be thankful that you're not facing multiple criminal charges.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

I believe that their legal obligation is to not sell alcohol to minors.

Their legal obligation also includes following whatever rules the local (city/town) licensing board puts into place.

Failing to check the ID may be a violation, depending on the municipality. Permitting an 18 year old to hold the drink is a violation.