Can minors drink alcohol at home with their parents? What MS law says
Before I was born, my parents could drink at 18, but once they had me, the legal drinking age was turned to 21, but why?
Why change the drinking age to 21?
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “A review by the U.S. General Accounting Office, conducted in 1988, found that raising the drinking age reduced youth drinking, youth driving after drinking, and alcohol-related traffic accidents among youth.”
However, if you are a minor and still live with your parents, you may be able to drink alcohol.
Can minors drink at home with their parents in Mississippi?
There are actually a couple of exceptions to the drinking age in Mississippi, so let’s take a closer look:
Mississippi law states that no one under the age of 21 should purchase or possess alcohol, but there’s a way around that if you’re a minor still living at home.
“A person who is 18-21 years of age, in the presence of his parent or legal guardian, may consume beer with the consent of the parent or legal guardian,” according to the Mississippi Department of Revenue.
But this exception only applies to light beer and wine products with 5% alcohol or less. The exception does not include hard liquor or products with over 5% alcohol.
The Department of Revenue also stated that someone who is 18 years of age and currently serving in the U.S. military can possess and consume beer on military property.
Additionally, Mississippi has more than two dozen counties that are dry counties (hard liquor) and four counties that are half-dry because there are two judicial districts with their own elections.
Completely dry counties
- Benton
- Chocktaw
- Franklin
- George
- Greene
- Leake
- Newton
- Scott
- Walthall
- Webster
- Covington
- Jones
- Wayne
- Lincoln
- Copiah
- Lawrence
“Half dry” counties (beer and light wine)
- Hinds
- Chickasaw
Partial Dry counties (beer and light wine)
- Pearl River is dry, but Picayune and Poplarville allow beer and light wine sales within city limits.
- Covington, Jones and Wayne counties are dry for beer and white wine
Are you surprised by this exception to the law? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
