Paying for alcohol for teenagers

Your venue may automatically count them as adults if they don't know their ages. Ask if they can reduce that price once you know how many people will be under 21.

View Quoted Comment I agree. They may include them because of the non-alcoholic drinks (soda, juice, etc.).

Ours were included but we only had 1 or 2 teenagers so I didn’t even think to ask if we could pay for the under 21 beverage service.

For my bridal shower venue we were considering doing a mimosa station for a per person price. I have a handful of baby cousins 3 years and younger and a handful of adult under 21 cousins. The venue's policy is to charge the per person price for the total head count. We ended up doing a consumption bar where the host paid based on the number of drinks served. That way we didn't feel scammed paying for mimosas for a 3 year old. LOL I'm not sure if it ended up being cheaper.

Not true for us! It depends on your bar vendor though. We paid $7.95 for every guest under 21, and $29 for every guest 21 and over. So I'd for sure get their ages.

Our venue had prices for adults, under 21 and then also for small children so I think it depends on your venue or caterer as to what options they have.

No. If they are under 21 we are not paying for the alcohol for them...they can't drink it. Keep in mind our kids are 14-16 so nothing close to 21

I had to pay for the alcohol for those under 21. I have 5 people in the party under 21 and I had to include them in the head count.

My venue has a count for adults and under 21 and over. The under gets soda and an insurance fee and and over gets a bar and insurance fee.

Our venue takes off $10 for 13-20 and $115 off for <12. Lol I know I’m not only paying $10/head for alcohol but at least it’s something.

Our venue included all food and beverages. Children 12 and under were $35pp and got a kid's meal, people 13-20 got a regular menu and were $100pp, and adults 21+ were $120pp and (obviously) had the regular menu. I'm not sure if the bartenders were carding, but the only people under 21 in attendance were 19 months, 4, and 7 so they clearly weren't trying to get alcohol.

Depends on the venue, we had our wedding at a hotel. 5 and under were free, 6-20 were $13 less then adults 21+. What does your contract say? Ask your venue.

Our venue does not charge for alcohol for guests under 21. They had a price for 21+, "minors" who were old enough for the adult meal but not old enough to drink, and children under 12 who got a children's meal.

It may depend on your venue/bar company. One venue we looked at made us pay for everyone because they could get soda or juice. But the venue we ended up choosing uses a company that only makes us pay for 21+ as they legally have to check IDs for anyone who looks underage.

When you have the open bar, you are paying for guests over the age of 21. For everyone else younger, they should have juice or soda.

I used to work as a caterer and when I worked the bar we had to check ID when they were getting alcohol regardless. But you would have to pay for them if the bar is providing sodas and what not. We did have some couples provide their own alcohol and we provided the sodas tea coffee and lemonade so it all depends

My venue has a soda price. I would ask. It's half the price of the alcohol price so $12 for soda per anyone under 21.

We had different price points for the following age groups: Children 2 and under (free), children 3-11 ($33), children 12-20 or adult non-drinkers ($53 pp), and 21+ adult drinkers ($85). That fee included bar and food.

Daughter's venue charged the same for all guests (including the pp charge for the premium open bar) except those with kids meals (under 12). We had three nieces who were between 15-20, so we paid full price for them. I asked the venue coordinator and she said the bar charge included soda and other nonalcoholic beverages, so, yes, even though they were under 21, we had to pay the full price. (Honestly, I'm pretty sure at least the 20 year old was likely drinking, so apparently the bartenders weren't carding.)