What other things are you prohibited from doing in letters- besides drinking?

[TSteven]

Legal Drinking Age

exert

While it is commonly believed that the minimum drinking age is 21, people can legally drink below that age under many different circumstances.

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.... 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.”

Many of the states that have chosen to specifically prohibit alcohol consumption by those under age 21 have a variety of exceptions. For example,

Some States allow an exception for consumption when a family member consents and/or is present. States vary widely in terms of which relatives may consent or must be present for this exception to apply and in what circumstances the exception applies. Sometimes a reference is made simply to "family" or "family member" without further elaboration.

....

Some States allow an exception for consumption on private property. States vary in the extent of the private property exception which may extend to all private locations, private residences only, or in the home of a parent or guardian only. In some jurisdictions, the location exception is conditional on the presence and/or consent of the parent, legal guardian, or legal-age spouse.

Some States also allow exceptions for educational purposes (e.g., students in culinary schools), religious purposes (e.g., sacramental use of alcoholic beverages), or medical purposes.

Edited to add disclaimer from link

Laws are constantly changing and efforts are made to provide accurate and current information. However, this information cannot be guaranteed as to accuracy, is not intended as legal opinion or advice, and is not a substitute for the services of an attorney. Those in need of information about the application of law to their circumstances are encouraged to consult a qualified lawyer.

[AGDee]

I'm not sure how old that is, but this is the current Michigan law:

Here's how recent changes in Michigan law (effective September 1, 2004) can affect you :

As a minor, it is a violation to have even a 0.02 Blood Alcohol Level. That's the equivalent of one drink.

If you are under 21 and you’ve consumed alcohol you can be charged with a Minor in Possession (MIP) citation which could result in:
A fine possibly as high as $250.00
months of probation
25 hours of community service
Education class

Other changes in the new law include:

Judges now have discretion to use jail time if there is a prior conviction

There is a new system through the Secretary of State for tracking 1st time offenders

You will also be held responsible for being in violation of the Statement of Students Rights and Responsibilities.

Unchanged consequences:

Refusal to take a Breathalyzer test is also a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $100 plus court costs.

Anyone caught--or caught furnishing someone--with a fake ID will be prosecuted.

Anyone providing alcohol to a minor is subject to a criminal penalty (first offenses include fines of $100 and imprisonment for up to 60 days).

Similar penalties occur for hosting a party where a minor drinks. If a minor is injured or dies, the host can be found guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years and fines of up to $5000.

[PGPeripheryGirl]

Originally posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu
I still disagree with this.

I see no issue with wanting to put your best foot forward. I put on makeup for dates. I wear heels to interviews. I don't drink in letters.

I agree on her point that if you think you're fooling other folks on campus, you've got another think coming. Everybody knows you drink/smoke/whatever, and everyone knows you're a (insert group name here). So, be aware of that, and act accordingly.

But I see NO problem with not drinking when you're wearing letters, not swearing in front of your mom, and keeping your elbows off the table at grandma's. Some things are just respectful.

Excellent point! Your mom knows you swear, but it's just respectful not to curse like a sailor around her. People may know that you drink or smoke but it shows veneration to refrain from doing so in your letters. And unless you are Lindsay Lohan, not every single person on your campus and around your school knows what GLO you are in. However, if some random stranger sees you throwing back drinks in the club until you pass out and you're wearing ABC letters, they now think, geez, those ABCs are a bunch of alcoholics.

[TSteven]

Originally posted by AGDee
I'm not sure how old that is...

I am not sure how old the information is either. At the bottom of the page of the link, it states the following.

Sociology Department, State University of New York, Potsdam, NY 13676.
© Copyright 1997-2005 D. J. Hanson.

My reason for my post was to simply show that in in some U.S. states, and under certain circumstances, drinking under the age of 21 *is* legal. However, I should have added the following disclaimer from the provided link as well. (I'll go back and add it to the previous post as well.)

Laws are constantly changing and efforts are made to provide accurate and current information. However, this information cannot be guaranteed as to accuracy, is not intended as legal opinion or advice, and is not a substitute for the services of an attorney. Those in need of information about the application of law to their circumstances are encouraged to consult a qualified lawyer.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by PGPeripheryGirl
However, if some random stranger sees you throwing back drinks in the club until you pass out and you're wearing ABC letters, they now think, geez, those ABCs are a bunch of alcoholics.

I still don't understand why we should care what some random person thinks. I'm not saying that I think it's cool to drink until you pass out in letters, but I think our organizations need to stop being so concerned about behaving in a certain way because of what other people think. Especially in terms of sororities, I'd rather collegiate members learn how to be strong, intelligent women instead of worrying about what others think of them or their behavior.

[wrigley]

Originally posted by alum
The majority of undergraduates are under 21 so drinking is illegal in the US, letters or not.

And if you are under the legal age and you are offered an alcoholic drink by your bf's parents the first time you meet, don't accept. You're still breaking the law and that is NOT a way to impress the potential in-laws.

My friends' dad used to offer to a alcoholic drink to her boyfriends when he met them the first time as a test. If the guy said yes to his offer, he'd give him a mini-lecture about the legalities and dangers of drinking underage. The guy she ended up marrying was the only one to turn down her father's offer for a alcoholic drink.

[alum]

Originally posted by wrigley
My friends' dad used to offer to a alcoholic drink to her boyfriends when he met them the first time as a test. If the guy said yes to his offer, he'd give him a mini-lecture about the legalities and dangers of drinking underage. The guy she ended up marrying was the only one to turn down her father's offer for a alcoholic drink.

GEN Alum might have to try that in the future....

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by wrigley
My friends' dad used to offer to a alcoholic drink to her boyfriends when he met them the first time as a test. If the guy said yes to his offer, he'd give him a mini-lecture about the legalities and dangers of drinking underage. The guy she ended up marrying was the only one to turn down her father's offer for a alcoholic drink.

So he wanted his daughter to end up with a wussy dork?

I don't know -- that's weird to me. The drinking age is only a big deal because we make it so, and telling kids/young adults to "just say no" is probably about as successful as abstinence-only sex ed.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by wrigley
My friends' dad used to offer to a alcoholic drink to her boyfriends when he met them the first time as a test. If the guy said yes to his offer, he'd give him a mini-lecture about the legalities and dangers of drinking underage. The guy she ended up marrying was the only one to turn down her father's offer for a alcoholic drink.

What a lameass.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
What a lameass.

lol

What if the boyfriend was from another country and had "forgotten" that the legal drinking age in the US is older?

[ilikehazing]

You don't wear your letters when you're drinking because you should be in some pearls and a polo when you're out.

[33girl]

Pearls and a polo?

I like preppy, but that's just yuck. The only way I would wear a polo out is if I got dragged somewhere from work and couldn't get home to change.

[ilikehazing]

You also are from Pennsylvania.

You probably had just left a coal mine or a factory.

[33girl]

Read my post again.

I said I WOULD HAVE HAD A POLO ON AT WORK.

Factory workers and coal miners do not wear polos.

DUH.

[Beaver]

We used to have a rule that you couldn't be anyplace OTHER people wer drinking or smoking while you wore letters.