Giving Alcohol to Minors on Purim

Congress overturned the Peyote decsion as it could affect Jews and christians (Like with wine).

States cannot ban Peyote anymore

I found this

“The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required all states to raise their minimum purchase and public possession of alcohol age to 21. States that did not comply faced a reduction in highway funds under the Federal Highway Aid Act. The U.S. Department of Transportation has determined that all states are in compliance with this act. The national law specifically prohibits purchase and public possession of alcoholic beverages. It does not prohibit persons under 21 (also called youth or minors) from drinking. The term “public possession” is strictly defined and does not apply to possession for the following:

An established religious purpose, when accompanied by a parent, spouse or legal guardian age 21 or older

Medical purposes when prescribed or administered by a licensed physician, pharmacist, dentist, nurse, hospital or medical institution

In private clubs or establishments

In the course of lawful employment by a duly licensed manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer.

oomis: So then if your son has friends from yeshiva for shabbos, will you not give them a little cup of kiddush wine?”

My son and all his friends are well over the age of consent for alcohol. That said, when they were much younger, we generally only served wine on Pesach at the Sedarim (and therefore not shayach to this discussion), and grape juice on Shabbos. I never put bottles of alcohol on our table when the kids were under age. Nonetheless, had I done so and had they drunk some kiddush wine (under extremely careful supervision, and no more than to be yotzai), it would have been under the purview of religious observance.

ZD, the Prohibition Amendment clearly spelled out religious exemptions, so it was not necessary to go to the First Amendment.

Minor nitpick: The amendment itself said nothing about religious practices. It was the Volstead Act (which governed how the 18th was enforced) that made the exemption for religious and medical grounds.

In any event, a later amendment can overrule a previous one (as the 21st did) or anything in the actual body of the Constitution. Hence, had Congress not specifically exempted religious ceremonies in the Volstead Act, it *would* have trumped the First Amendment (vis-a-vis freedom of religion).

The Wolf

My parents were so negligent that they let me have wine when I was eight days old.

B-U-M-P

Although I would say there is a significant difference in the physical makeup of an average fourteen year old and nineteen year old, which can impact their ability to be able to safely handle an abnormal amount of alcohol. People who serve to minors already intoxicated can be charged with endangerment if anything chas veshalom happens, and I don’t know if all the askanim would run to save that person. If you are going to serve; serve wine, not schnapps. Most people have enough to drink themselves, and what you giver them is probably on top of that. Consider that if you offer, (especially to boys collecting), they may feel uncomfortable refusing.

I see lot of holiness and unholiness on Purim. It depends on the persons aspirations, not what they are now.