Does the Army allow underage drinking when in compliance with the Texas drinking age laws?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 19:31:15 -0400

Fort hood, and drinking under age only if spouse is 21+ does the army allow this at fort hood and being Texas law?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2018 8:11 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:11:57 -0400

21 is the Federal Law. FT Hood is Federal Land. But bear in mind that FT Hood will have a base policy regarding this

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Aug 6 at 2018 8:17 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 20:17:11 -0400

On Hood I believe that they follow the federal standard (21) for drinking. However, off the post, out in public, I know that a minor is authorized to drink with a responsible guardian over 21. I don't know if spouse falls into that category. I do know that I drank Jack and cokes out at dinner when my mother and sister came to visit; I was 19 years old at the time.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Aug 7 at 2018 10:49 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 10:49:29 -0400

Stateside it's 21. That question is like asking if you can smoke a joint at Carson because it's legal in Colorado. Off and on, in Korea, the drinking age has been 18. But in the states they go by the federal law.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Aug 7 at 2018 3:48 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 15:48:36 -0400

A Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission spokesperson told KFOX14 it is legal for a minor to drink alcohol in the state of Texas so long as long as a legal-aged parent, spouse or guardian is within sight.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 6:10 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 06:10:39 -0400

The service secretary can impose more restrictions on the service member and the commander can set restrictions for personnel on his/her installation but officially the basis is the state law.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/2683

10 U.S. Code § 2683 - Relinquishment of legislative jurisdiction; minimum drinking age on...

1988—Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 100–526, §106(b)(2)(A), substituted “the term ‘lowest applicable age’” for “‘lowest age’”.