The Fount of Youth

I was carded at Trader Joe's today. It is such a gratifying feeling to know that someone is fooled by the wrinkles and laughter lines into believing I am under 21. Then again maybe the staff can just tell when you need a pick-me-up.

I had heard a frightening rumour that if you looked under 30 you were carded but even that is comforting. With less than a year until the change in decade, I am still flattered that people ask for ID.

Growing up in the UK it was different. You wanted to be seen to be 18, our drinking age. If you weren't everyone knew where to buy drinks underage and exploited this. Indeed I got my then 14 year- old brother to buy me beer as he looked older than me, I was 17 at the time. I drank beer and loved it but we did not have id and when asked I usually had to provide a passport.

I am still amused by the antiquated notion that the legal drinking age here is 21. Please, what else has to wait so long? My adopted country was founded by the most repressed people on earth with an austere monochrome wardrobe and a belief that being miserable made you stronger. Fun was out of the question. There are still parts of the country that hold these values dear but not here in sunny California. We want you to get merry on our wine.

Why is drinking here such a big issue? Is it really the fear of letting down the puritans and bowing to the evils of drink? I pity the rogue puritan who was desperate for a giggle, some fart humour, the need to urinate in public and then profess his love for everyone. I hope he found happiness some other way but I suppose he was told that that would make him blind so he was stuffed on all counts.

I am not advocating giving shots to young children unless they are tranquilizer darts but an easing in attitudes. If parents are enjoying a drink and not abusing it then studies show their children will follow the example set by ma and pa.

Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow there will be no more carding.