Hi Rushy and welcomet to HT!

Unfortunately your girlfriend won't be able to drink, not even a glass of wine. The age limit is 21 and they are very strict on it. Yes, you are likely to get carded if you look under 30.

In Las Vegas she won't be allowed in the gaming areas of the casinos and certainly not gamble. If she were to risk it and had a big win, they won't pay out.

Sorry the news wasn't what you hoped for.

luci

Rushy,
my experience re. Vegas and gambling is out of date, but possibly still valid. Wife and I visited Vegas about 12 years back. Kids were about 13 and 10 at the time and they WERE allowed to stand with us whilst we were playing the slot machines. They were NOT permitted to press the buttons or pull the start handle. Had they done so and a sizeable win ensued as Luci says, they could refuse to pay out.

I suspect you will be able to play the slots with your girlfriend watching behind you. The tables, possibly, again with your girlfriend stood behind you and not directly sat at the table.

Drink in your room

We've been regularly to the states and when our daughter was 17/18 I'd buy an extra wine with the meal after first ordering a wine and beer for wife and I. This was placed near me but daughter would drink it. They are quite strict if they see underage drinking and will remove the glass.

yup, agreed. I've seen people easily in their 40's and 50's get asked for id where alcohol is concerned, I kid you not!

Vegas will not be a problem as long as she doesn't play and win...........play and lose is fine, that's what most of us do anyway

TC

My wife was asked for ID when in her 30's. My mum wasn't - much to her disgust.

I would recommend you postpone your trip till after her 21st birthday-as she will really find it not a lot of fun.
I went 10 years ago when my daughter was 19 and engaged to be married and the security guards were brutal.
The minute she paused to watch her nana and grandad on the slots they appeared like worms out of the woodwork and moved her on.
Honestly-it was awful-really spoiled the whole experince for her and I would suspect it is worse not better.

We go to Florida 3 times a year-and they are red hot on id for drinking on alcohol and Vegas being another touristy state is just as red hot.

I know the lure is there-but you both will enjoy it much more when she is that other year older.

This might seem like a bizarre suggestion, but you could try just not drinking. If alcohol is so important in a person's life that it affects their holiday plans, that's something I would find worrying. Of course, regarding the gambling, Alison has a point when she says that aspect of it will likely be more enjoyable when you are both able to participate (legally, anyway).

the alcohol was the least worry to my daughter.
It was not being part of the family ie just allowed to watch grandma and grandad.

Doesn't sound much does it-but imagine all us over 25's around a machine and her literally told to move on several times.

Was humiliating and disappointing-she felt like a second class citizen.

If the OP goes to have a flutter-well he will just be doing it on his own-and what will she do?

Honestly-you won't enjoy it.

Bit moralistic greyejectbutton - for a holiday advice forum

I suppose I should be worried. I was in Texas some years back with my wife and kids, booked into a hotel for the night then nipped into the local supermarket. No Wine. No Beer.

We'd found ourselves in a dry county. However, 10 miles up the road, just over the county line, I was reliably informed there were several liquor stores and a brothel.

Aint the US a wonderful place

We survived the night without a beer and wine.

However, as a european I'm accustomed to drinking wine with my evening meal. My daughter likewise (but not my son). The lack of a complementary glass or two of wine would reduce the overall enjoyment of the meal.

The US alcohol rules greatly explain why cruises, Caribbean islands and parts of Mexico are full of teenage US lager louts. Of course, it's heartening to know that when your hire car is written-off in an accident caused by a 16 year old driving legally, but under the influence of readily available drugs, hold that thought that at least the driver is under the influence of alcohol

Alisonvilla's suggestion holds much merit.

Beware of car-hire as well - generally the driver needs to be 25 or more and although below 25 might be able to rent there'll be a big premium to pay.

It may have been moralistic but I only wrote two lines about it. A quick chest of your post shows that you dedicated SEVEN paragraphs to the same subject.

I have no idea about US "lager louts" on cruises but something tells me in pales in comparison to their British counterparts in Spain and Greece. The drinking and driving ages are MUCH more sensible in the US than the UK. Having a driving age of 17 and a drinking age of 18 is something I have never understood the logic behind.

Regarding car hire, there are generally three types of company: ones that will rent to anyone, those that rent only those aged 25 or over, and those who will rent to those under 25 but charge a higher premium. I believe Alamo doesn't have a limit, at least they didn't a few years ago. It's possible it may have changed now.

Three weeks before my sons 21 birthday he wasnt even allowed alcohol free lager in Busch gardens!.We all went into a licor store and were followed around by an assistant.My son told him it was easier to buy a gun or drugs than alcohol in Florida!

And by "chest" I meant, of course, "check". I knew there was something hairy about it all.

Hi Rushy,

Dont worry, there is lots to do in Las Vegas without drinking & gambling. Its a shame you did not wait until your girlfriend was 21, we are off in April and our daughter has only just turned 21, and Im sure she will have problems, even though we have told her to carry I.D. They are strict so just be prepared.

Kaz.

Im 29 and I got asked for ID for the first time in my life considering ive been drinking since my teens.

Just returned from Vegas, and yes they are extremely hot on ID's. The 3 youngsters were 24, 23 and 22 and were asked for ID every single time they ordered alcohol. We were in a casino one day and went to the bar for a drink. Two of them forgot their ID's and because of this were refused even a soft drink. The bartender said he couldn't serve them anything and said they must move away from the bar. They never got questioned on the slots however. They did have ID requested when they played the tables.

In one place, 4 wanted alcohol and 1 didn't. Because the bartender could not be sure who would drink what, she requested ID from all of us and I'm 36 and my partner 50!! He was well chuffed!!

Just re-read your post Rushy and can see that Vegas is only a small part of the trip. In that case you should be fine. Just have a wander in to some of them to see what they are like-particularly the flamboyant ones like Caesar's Palace, The Bellagio and so on.

We were there for 9 nights -so it did seem to drag a bit when my daughter was made to feel quite unwelcome in the casino/gambling area.

the buffets are pretty spectacular-and they don't mind you going in to eat.

Have a lovely time.
Alison

Are we talking passport ids? Its a real shame if they have to be ferried around everywhere we go. i am always concerned i might lose them.

A drivers license should also be fine.

I has to be photo ID Michelle, eg passport, photo driving licence, etc.

luci

Thank you all very much for your responses.

Obviously everyone has their own experiences.

I will just need to wait and see how things go when I get there. To be honest though it wasnt really the gambling that enticed me to go to Vegas. I'm sure wandering about the hotel etc and doing the grand canyon will be spectacular enough.

Thanks again.