Where I grew up at 15 it was easier to get weed than beer
I didn't like the taste of any alcohol at that age anyhow, for me it was an acquired taste.
In the army you don't get in trouble drinking(plus I was first stationed at FT. Sill where you only had to be 18 at the time to buy beer).
I was in California for the early part of my time in the U.S. Navy. There was Near Beer, and 2.5% beer. Not allowed actual beer and alcohol until 21.
Near Beer. Tasted like beer, but had around 0.000001% alcohol content. Wasn't much. Some guys claimed they could taste the alkyhol.
Would have been better off drinking a bottle of Tropocana
Policies
In reality, there is more alcohol in a glass of orange juice or English muffin than in a glass of non-alcoholic beer or wine. By law, the beverage manufacturers must post a label that the products contain less than 0.5 percent alcohol. Many times, the alcohol content can be less than this. An average size man would need to consume at least forty non-alcoholic beers or glasses of wine in an hour to reach the legal limit for driving in most states.
Except in a few states there are no legal restrictions on the sale or service of non-alcoholic beverages to underage people. Some businesses have policies that restrict service because of control or public perception reasons, while many others experience no difficulty in serving these drinks to young people as they would non-alcoholic fruit juice blender drinks. Although there is evidence that drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy may cause birth defects, a woman would have to consume eight glasses of non-alcoholic wine or beer to get the equivalent of one standard alcoholic beverage. Finally people in recovery for alcoholism face many challenges to stay sober. Although for some, the association of the taste of the non-alcoholic beer or wine may precipitate a return to drinking alcoholic beverages, many others are able to enjoy these products with no difficulty. It is not the alcohol content that creates the risk. Each person must make their own decision, and servers, as always, need to respect and honor the decision of their guest.
Just so you know, one of my sister's friends got drunk on coctal mix. There was no alcohol in it. The friend convinced themselves there was, and got drunk. Reading the label ingredients proved the person wrong.
The Near Beer episode was when we had graduated form US Navy boot camp, and were then attending schools for our various jobs. The Near Beer was sold at the local YMCA canteen. Stools at the grill where you could order lunch and a Near Beer or a soda. I opted for the soda. Late 1960s.
The Last time I posted in this thread I was nearly 50 but have since graduated to the next age category at 54.
Fort Sill, Oklahoma, only thing to do there was to help the farmers at harvest and chase cattle
My only reason for celebrating my birthday is the money folks give me when they
can't think up a present.
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