underage drinking in Japan

[MMM]

I try not to put too much effort into people that start a new thread as their first post. They tend to disappear.

[noodle]

Originally Posted by samurai007

Hey, here's an idea... rather than trying to figure out how you can break the law, and possibly jeopardize this great opportunity to study in Japan, why don't you try not drinking alcohol until you're old enough? It's crazy, but it just might work...

Why do people always assume that if someone asks a question about law, they are actually planning to break the law? Does that mean all lawyers are studying law to find loop holes to get away with things or something???

[samurai007]

Originally Posted by noodle

Why do people always assume that if someone asks a question about law, they are actually planning to break the law? Does that mean all lawyers are studying law to find loop holes to get away with things or something???

Yes, it does... but that's lawyers for ya!

Seriously though, why would you ask about underage drinking, how easy is it to do, whether they card people, and the penalties of getting caught, if you will not be drinking (or trying to drink) in Japan? It was really quite easy to read between the lines on the OP.

[noodle]

lol, perhaps that is what he/she wanted, but perhaps not... I once posted a thread on here about illegal work in Japan. ie, little undeclared jobs such as personal tuition etc, and someone "read between the lines" as you have, and assumed that I was looking for a way to get away with breaking the law.

I think it's a legitimate question. Asking a question like this is fair because one should know the differences between their home country and Japan. If for example, you're english, the legal age for drinking is 18, but it's a known fact that most people that drink start at an earlier age... The punishment is rarely applied, so if an english person goes to Japan, they might assume its the same as England, and therefore risk losing one of their greatest experiences!!

[samurai007]

Originally Posted by noodle

lol, perhaps that is what he/she wanted, but perhaps not... I once posted a thread on here about illegal work in Japan. ie, little undeclared jobs such as personal tuition etc, and someone "read between the lines" as you have, and assumed that I was looking for a way to get away with breaking the law.

I think it's a legitimate question. Asking a question like this is fair because one should know the differences between their home country and Japan. If for example, you're english, the legal age for drinking is 18, but it's a known fact that most people that drink start at an earlier age... The punishment is rarely applied, so if an english person goes to Japan, they might assume its the same as England, and therefore risk losing one of their greatest experiences!!

If he was asking "What is the legal drinking age, because in my home country it's 18, and I wanted to know if it's the same in Japan", that's different than specifically asking about the penalties and punishments for underage drinking, and how have people gotten away with underage drinking before. The former is asking for basic knowledge and doesn't suggest he's going to try and break the law, he just wants to know what the law is. The latter specifically calls it "underage drinking", meaning he knows he isn't of legal age, but is looking for ways around it and what are the penalties if he gets caught.

[Nao]

Frankly both sides have a point. On one hand I can see the majority's point that you shouldn't try and risk this if you're in danger of losing your opportunity at the University. However, I also see your point, being an underage person that occasionally likes a drink myself. Hell, I just had a couple rum & cokes (don't go calling me a drunk now; I have a drink or two every few months on average... only been tipsy/buzzed, never flat out drunk, either). It's something to do in a social setting though, so if you're planning on holing up in your room and drinking... I'd say you have a problem.

Otherwise, my view on it is that if you're old enough to die for your country you're old enough to have a drink. Luckily that view is held in my family, and my mother doesn't flip when I have a drink (I'm nineteen years of age). However, I am aware that it is twenty in Japan, and that I'm not at home, and that it's not my rules there. Whether I have any alcohol or not when I go, I cannot be sure of at this time. Frankly now I'm interested in this law as well... I've heard it is not heavily enforced, and they usually don't bother if you're a foreigner, but I can't be sure.

Either way I can probably pass for twenty (not in my home country maybe, as some people tell me I look younger than I am). Especially if I let my facial hair grow a little -- that might even fool the people here. I've heard (but cannot support) that the Japanese often mistake people of Caucasian descent for being older than they actually are, but I could be way off mark there.

If you're going to try it anyway though, all I can say is be careful. Would hate to see you fall flat on your face over something as meaningless as a beer or two.

Have a good one.

-Nao

[Ronin4hire]

Wow... a lot of parental figures in here. I think most of y'all need to lighten up.

I say it's important to know the rules... but that doesn't mean you can't break them. It's important to know what the consequences are though.

For example I went to work in the United States when I was 19 at a summer camp. On my time off I had a drink because here in NZ I could drink since I was 18. I did not feel guilty AT ALL by breaking this American Law. I understood that if I had been caught I would be deported... however that just made me extra careful about not being caught.

So I say have a drink and enjoy yourself in Japan... but be smart about it.

[Matley]

The english use to say "When in Rome, do as the Romans do".
Simple common sense.

[godwine]

I LOVE what you said. You play by the rule

"parental figures"... have YOU been drinking while writing this? You are stereotyping etiquettes behavior....

You are basically telling the kid to "Break rules if you are smart enough to not get caught"

I am not suggesting that I don't break any rules (Driving faster than the speed limit IS breaking the rule, so yes I admit I do it too), but encouraging it is another thing.

[Tsuwabuki]

My government teacher always said "It's not illegal unless you get caught; so don't get caught. For some of you that will mean never doing it."