Laws: Can Kids Really Buy Non-Alcoholic Beer in Washington State?

Can Kids Buy Non-Alcoholic Beer In Washington State?

Do you remember getting your first sip of Dad's beer when you were a kid? I'm sure I was about 10 years old when I had my first sip and I puckered up! That little experiment kept me from drinking for the next five years or so.

What States Don't Allow Kids To Buy Non-Alcoholic Drinks?

Kirsten Bell is making the headlines about allowing her kids to drink non-alcoholic beer and it got me thinking about the laws in Washington State.

I did a little digging and found out that four states prohibit the sale of non-alcoholic beer to minors.

New York, Tennessee, Georgia, and Idaho prohibit minors from buying non-alcoholic beer. I was surprised to see Idaho make the list that's for sure.

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So where does that leave Washington State?

First, let's start with the basics. Washington State law prohibits the sale of alcohol to minors, which includes any beverage with an alcohol content percentage of more than 0.5%.

This means that kids under the age of 21 are not legally allowed to buy or consume alcoholic beverages.

However, non-alcoholic beer is not considered an alcoholic beverage because it contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

This means that technically, kids could purchase and consume non-alcoholic beer without breaking any state laws.

But just because something is legal doesn't mean it's a good idea. The consumption of non-alcoholic beer by kids can still lead to negative consequences, such as sending mixed signals about alcohol use or even potentially leading to an increased desire to try the real thing.

For this reason, many stores and restaurants choose not to sell non-alcoholic beer to minors. Some places may also require proof of age or a parent's consent before selling non-alcoholic beer to anyone under 21.

But what about parents who want to buy non-alcoholic beer for their children? Can they do so legally?

The answer is yes. Parents are allowed to purchase non-alcoholic beer for their children to consume in their own homes.

So there you go, I was surprised to discover that our next-door neighbor Idaho doesn't allow it at all.

You can read more details on the law here.