Drinking Age

青少年過度飲酒會引發許多問題，因此國際上有了“法定飲酒年齡”一說。各國的法定飲酒年齡各有不同，在大多數國家，18歲或21歲以上的青年已經可以端起酒杯了。但有趣的是，一些國家和地區對飲酒的年齡并非那么“在意”，有些地方就沒有規定法定飲酒年齡。在美國，當你滿心歡喜地迎來自己18歲生日時，你會發現自己還有3年時間才能達到法定的飲酒年齡。在這三年里，小伙子們可以結婚，可以生小孩，可以參加投票，但就是不能在慶祝勝利時喝上一杯香檳。在加拿大南部的魁北、克馬尼托巴湖地區，法定的飲酒年齡為18歲。其余加拿大地區的飲酒年齡為19歲。英國孩子16歲時，就可以自行購買酒，在就餐時飲用。生活在意大利無疑是最幸福的，在意大利沒有任何關于飲酒年齡的限制，并且有著全球最高的葡萄酒產量。

Recently， I wanted to order a beer at a restaurant， but I was asked to show my ID. I must be looking younger than my actual age for it to even raise questions by the waitress about selling me an alcoholic beverage.

The legal drinking age in most American states is 21. Selling liquor to minors[未成年人] who are under 21 is strictly prohibited. So， if you have a baby face and you’re over 21， you’d better bring an ID with you when you buy an alcoholic beverage. You’re very likely to be asked for ID if your appearance raises a red flag to the sellers.

Another time when I was newly arrived in America， I was with an older friend at a supermarket. We were about to buy some beer for a party. But a cashier asked for my ID. I was taken aback. Never had it occurred to me to bring my passport to a store.

“I’m just new to this country，” I explained. “I don’t have my passport with me.”

“I have my driver’s license，” my friend said as he was pulling out his ID from his wallet.

“No，” the cashier said， “I want to see hers. I know you have no problem in checking out the beer. But I’m not sure about her.” She looked at me and asked， “How old are you？”

“26.” I was shocked by the blunt[直率的] question. Isn’t it considered taboo in Western culture to ask a woman’s age？

“I’m sorry，” the cashier said， “It’s the company’s policy that we should check young people’s IDs when they’re buying beer. Without ID proof， I can’t sell this beer to you.”

“But he is buying the beer， not me，” I argued.

“No，” the cashier countered. “Since you’re in the same party， I’ll still need to check your ID. A rule is a rule.”

Just when I was about to refute[反駁]， my friend said， “All right， take out the beer. I’ll get it another time.”

We didn’t get the beer until a few days later when my friend shopped by himself. I now understand why there are many late teen Westerners on a drinking binge[狂歡] in China and why many young Americans would like to party in Canada where the legal drinking age is 18 or 19. This is actually an American rendition[翻譯] of a Chinese saying—every policy has a counter-strategy.