Strange but true law about 21 and drinking

[Anonymous]

Virginia allows people to buy alcohol on the DAY BEFORE THEY TURN 21. It's apparently a common law thing.

I was today year's old when I learned this. (My 20 year-old, who turns 21 on Saturday, informed me of this. She plans to buy a bottle of vodka on Friday).

[Anonymous]

Why vodka? Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why vodka? Weird.

Why weird? It's one of the most versatile of hard liquors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why vodka? Weird.

I think it's weird that you think it's weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia allows people to buy alcohol on the DAY BEFORE THEY TURN 21. It's apparently a common law thing.

I was today year's old when I learned this. (My 20 year-old, who turns 21 on Saturday, informed me of this. She plans to buy a bottle of vodka on Friday).

Let us know how that works out for her.

[Anonymous]

Vodka has the least alcohol flavor of spirits and can more easily mixed with fruit juices to cover the taste of alcohol. For GenZ, who seem to dislike drinking Vodka is the go to hard alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia allows people to buy alcohol on the DAY BEFORE THEY TURN 21. It's apparently a common law thing.

I was today year's old when I learned this. (My 20 year-old, who turns 21 on Saturday, informed me of this. She plans to buy a bottle of vodka on Friday).

Let us know how that works out for her.

OP here. I'm curious, too. I looked it up -- she's right. Apparently the Blacksburg ABC is used to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia allows people to buy alcohol on the DAY BEFORE THEY TURN 21. It's apparently a common law thing.

I was today year's old when I learned this. (My 20 year-old, who turns 21 on Saturday, informed me of this. She plans to buy a bottle of vodka on Friday).

Let us know how that works out for her.

OP here. I'm curious, too. I looked it up -- she's right. Apparently the Blacksburg ABC is used to this.

If it's not right at midnight, I would refuse to sell to her.

[Anonymous]

This was very much a thing when I was in college in VA forever ago (I was the youngest in my friend group).

[Anonymous]

The anniversary of one’s birth date is actually the first day of the subsequent age year. So while a person might colloquially “turn 21” on their birthday, they actually complete their 21st year of life the day before that.

[Anonymous]

This isn't new. I bought a pint of Bacardi Razz on my way home from my internship the evening before my 21st birthday, summer 2005

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't new. I bought a pint of Bacardi Razz on my way home from my internship the evening before my 21st birthday, summer 2005

It’s been a thing since 1963. But you need to purchase from a liquor store worker who knows VA common law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why vodka? Weird.

I think it's weird that you think it's weird.

This. Her daughter had probably been drinking for many years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia allows people to buy alcohol on the DAY BEFORE THEY TURN 21. It's apparently a common law thing.

I was today year's old when I learned this. (My 20 year-old, who turns 21 on Saturday, informed me of this. She plans to buy a bottle of vodka on Friday).

Let us know how that works out for her.

OP here. I'm curious, too. I looked it up -- she's right. Apparently the Blacksburg ABC is used to this.

If it's not right at midnight, I would refuse to sell to her.

Why? It seems to be perfectly legal.

[Anonymous]

I think low reading comp PP does not understand that "common law" is valid law, and it is therefore a legal practice. "Common law" does not mean "kinda unlawful," it means actually lawful as tested in practice and court, but not necessarily defined in statute.