There are several milestones for kids growing up in the US. There’s the 16th birthday which is when you can get your driver’s license, the 17th birthday when you can view R rated movies, the 18th birthday when you are legally an adult and then there’s the 21st birthday. On your 21st birthday you can legally purchase and consume alcoholic beverages as well as enter 21 and up establishments/bars/etc. Then there is the pseudo-milestone of the 25th birthday when you can rent a car without any restrictions.
The past year has proved to be great for this blog as I doubled subscribers and starting pumping out higher quality articles and reviews. Some of you may be thinking how I can keep up this blog and school and frankly I don’t know how I do it either. I ended up earning Faculty Honors (got all A’s) last semester though, so I’m doing something right.
Today I turn 21, the day after iDay, which was also my Greek name day. I have never been so excited about a birthday as much as this one. So now I ask of you, what are your favorite alcoholic beverages? Cheers.
Oh and Happy Birthday to Rob Goodlatte, Duke student and Newsvine intern extraordinaire, who also turns the big 21 today.
Happy birthday, Paul!
About the alcoholic beverages, I prefer beer but a little glass of Jack Daniel’s dosn’t hurt too!
Don’t drink and drive. Have a great time!
Happy birthday Paul!
In Brazil we can drink beverage when we turn 18, just the age I have. I would recommend you Skol, which is the best local beer. As you won’t have access to it, try Brahma. It’s been sold all over the world.
If you can’t… Well, enjoy the usual Bud!
Happy b-day!!! Don’t get too drunk on the booze now. ;)
Happy birthday dude. I’ll have to buy you a beer in The City.
Happy birthday Paul. Try yourself a Captain Morgans Spiced Gold rum and Coke.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to you too man! You beat me by three hours tho — damn timezones…
Happy Birthday, but what a weird ‘age’ system you guys have :-)
Basically all that happens at 18 in the UK.
Drinks, hmm that develops with age/time:
- a cold beer after golf
- red wine with meals
- cold white wine to sip in the evening
- JackD & diet when on a session
And my speciality shot – a carrot cake: 1/3 cinnamon schnapps, 1/3 butterscotch schnapps and 1/3 irish cream
Enjoy your day – now it will be worth meeting up with you when I am next in the US :-)
“The past year has been proved to be great” – then there’s 22, when you learn to spell.
Have fun :)
Happy Birthday :) Was gonna call but I remembered I dropped my old phone in toilet full of shit and lost all the numbers. So no call from me!
Hope you’re having a good one ;) I’m sure you are
Have a great birthday Paul. Personally I prefer a nice microbrew or some maker’s on the rocks.
Many happy returns of the day Paul!
Happy Birthday Paul!
When I turned legal at the very young age of 18, my friend bought me a shot called a bottlecap. It’s a really neat drop shot which ends up tasting like a slurpee (depends how the bartender makes it).
B-52 is another shot I enjoy which kind of tastes like coffee with a kick!
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy birthday Paul! Have a great night.
Happy Birthday Paul!
Happy Birthday! I think that the staggered drinking system might be a good one- here you turn 18, can drink, vote, and get your provisional driver’s license… so, drink and solo driving at the same time. (not to mention drinking and voting!)
2 years more for me… :) 21 is a good age in Australia because you are classed as “independent” on the welfare benefits- meaning that your parent’s income isn’t used to calculate your payment. (which is good as an impoverished student…)
Happy birthday…
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Paul!
You really have a weird ‘age’ system, even here in Italy everything happens at 18.
Xronia Polla Paul.
Happy Birthday
Xronia Polla Pavlos!
Happy birthday and ..cheers!
Happy birthday! If we don’t hear from you until tomorrow night, we’ll take it you had a good 21st.
Happy Birthday Buddy! Where’s the treaT ?
Happy Birthday!
Adios Motherfucker and Incredible Hulk
Happy Birthday Paul!
Like Chris, in the UK 18 is the magic number- so I’ve been able to buy drinks for 5 years now. The novelty wears off for a while.
“…enter 21 and up establishments.” Gentlemen, I think Paul is about to discover the “titty bar”.
@ Adam – come on you waited that long!!! Maybe it is my age but as they never even thought of carding you when I was younger I was going into pubs at the age of 15, which means next year I will have been drinking for 30 years – wow that has just made me feel really old!!!
Congratulations, Paul. Whatever alcoholic beverage you settle on and despite having waited for a long time for the opportunity, exercise restraint and drink in moderation. Consuming alcohol can be a great pleasure; being consumed by alcohol can ruin your life.
Long Island Iced Tea man all the way, or the old staple of a Jack and Coke, or if before dinner a Gin and tonic of if wanting to extravagant Martini… like Churchill used to drink.
You write great articles, indeed. Happy Birday! Don’t drink too much.
Happy 21st! Give Chimay red label beer a try and don’t forget to use a wide-mouthed goblet.
Cheers!
Oh, and be careful with those Long Island Iced Teas. Stick to vodka – it’s just pure alcohol and water and “easier” on the liver than the impurities found in drinks like bourbon, rum, and champagne, etc.
(My first comment never posted – my apologies if it repeats later.)
Congrats!
I’ll be 21 on the 28th of July, not too far behind you =)
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday and have a wonderful day! :D
I’m 17 and I don’t drink a lot of alcohol(no beer. vodka or similar stuff) but I absolutely adore Coca-Cola with Safari and lots of Ice. If you’ve never tried it I definitely recommend it, couldn’t get enough of it in Lloret del Mar this year :D
mmmm… Cheers!! :)
Happy Birthday, Paul! Now go enjoy a shot of Bailey’s — I know I do.
Moscow Mule
Vodka
Ginger Beer
Lime
Mix as you see fit.
Happy Birthday. Sounds like you have much to look forward to.
Happy birthday! In The Netherlands, you can legally purchase light alcohol (no liquor) and smoke at 16. But you have to be 18 to drive.
I recommend Belgian beer and mojito cocktails! Have a good one!
Xronia polla man! Na ta ekatosiseis. To answer your question, Flaming Lamborghini. If you attend Wordcamp in July ask Matt about that. He knows!!!
Happy birthday Stammy, lots of cheers to those toast of beer you would be having, or is it Champagne for the occasion?
Happy birthday. Wish you all the best :)
And, yeah, beer rules :)
Happy Birthday and be safe!
Have a good birthday man. Captain and Coke for the win!
Happy Birthday and take care!
Happy Birthday! 21 is fun, alcohol is fun too. Enjoy.
Happy Birthday Paul! Enjoy your drinks……..and other privileges of being 21!
(ps: what about 35 when you can become president?? ha ha)
Hey Paul,
Happy B-day. Guinness Stout is great. It’s not only a beverage, it’s a 4 course meal. Enjoy! Don’t drink and drive though.
Happy Birthday! Now go grab a beer!
Heya Paul,
Now I know you don’t know who I am, and this is the first comment I’ve posted on your site although I’ve been reading for quite some time, but I’m only 13 and I look up to you! I wanna be just like you when I’m older, even with all the hard college work you put yourself through! Like you, and before I even come across your (I must say, amazing) site (oh, and mines on its way, too! been looking at your K2 tips!), I love all things Apple and would love to live in California as I’m currently in the UK and right now, I really need to get away from things and start fresh. Anyway, just thought I’d let you know that it’s very surprising how much you can learn about someone by simply reading a few about pages and checking a site (incredibly!) often. And I have learnt quite a bit about you, and through this, I have decided what I want to do with my life when I’m a lil older. So, thank you Paul. Thank you very much. And a massive happy birthday to you! Sorry, I would’ve dropped you a line a little earlier but with all the time zones and stuff.. Keep up the good work Paul and don’t give up your dreams!
Talk soon,
Aron
ΧÏόνια πολλά ΠαÏλο για τη γιοÏτή και τα γενÎθλιά σου!
Paul happy name and birthday!
Fanis
Happy birthday Paul (kai xronia polla gia tin onomastiki sou giorth) !!!
In Greece we drink TSIPOURO.
;-)
Happy Birthday, Stammy…
Happy birthday Paul!
=D
Enjoy your day and keep up the amazing work.
Happy birthday! Just turned 21 my self last March. Still no alcoholic beverages for me (by choice that is…). Enjoy it while it last ;-)
Selamat ulang tahun, Paul (Happy Birthday in Indonesian)… Good luck always.
I’m also turning 21 next month. =)
Though I don’t know you in person, but I really like your blog, I really look up on you, too.. I think you’re doing a great job though you’re still a student.
happy bday
i turn 21 in two weeks
Happy birthday dude. As far as alcohol, i don’t really like it, yeah i know, pretty weird.
Happy B-day Paul, guess we couldn’t have met up for a beer anyway. Now, I’ll recommend you go pick up a case of Delirium Nocturnum, like I did today, and drink it in a real Belgian beer glass (preferably the actual Delirium glass). Pour it correctly (not too much or too little head), and serve it cool, not ice cold! You will be way ahead of the game if you start drinking good beer right on your 21st, rather than consuming Miller Lite for years until you realize it’s basically alcoholic water. Cheers!
@Adam- I bet Paul’s referring to Dave & Busters. You have to be accompanied by a 25 y.o. if you’re not 21. He seems more like the arcade type anyway…
Paul, hopefully the alcohol will help you beat me in air hockey. If you beat me, I’ll buy you a drink. But don’t count on it.
Oh, happy birthday.
@Chris – and then I’ll beat you in foosball, that is of course assuming the table gives us more than 2 rounds..
Happy birthday man! I’m mostly a fan of beer and scotch.
Beers: I love the old ales (try Bell’s Third Coast Old Ale) and imperial stouts (try Bell’s Expedition Stout and Flying Dog Brewery’s Gonzo Porter). They are quite strong and flavorful, so don’t expect to have more than one or two in a night.
Scotch: While I haven’t had a ton of scotch, I certainly have been around the block. I like it single-malt, straight up, and about 12 years old. Macallan is great, Lagavulin is incredibly peaty (smoky) and delicious, and Dewers or Cutty Sark is great for mixing (with Amaretto for a Godfather or with Drambuie for a Rusty Nail). If you like to smoke cigars or a pipe, have some scotch with one… that’s the best.
Happy birthday!
My current favorite is a Gin Rickey. Have fun!
Happy B’day Paul! I keep it simple, Coors Light (or vodka tonic when i get all fancy at weddings!).
Happy 21! fellow txan and avid reader. mojitos (frankly any drink with rum) and shiner bock are my favorite drinks.
happy birthday paul, I always like a pint of newcastle brown ale.
Happy Bday guy, I turned 19 a few days ago and I’ve been doing that shit for over a year. Gotta love the legal age limit in Alberta, Canada (18) :-)
Happy birthday Paul! May the best is yet to come and the success ahead welcomes you. Cheers!
‘appy birthday Paul, from across the pond..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Congrats on making the big 21, now you can look forward to your insurance dropping… that is if you don’t get a DUI!
Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday from Copenhagen, Denmark, where they say ‘Skol’ for cheers. You can’t beat an ice-cold beer in my view. Have a good one.
Happy Birthday. My treo reminded me on the 30th :P I twittered it hehe. Now, let’s go get a drink?
Happy Birthday.
@Justine – yeah I saw the twitter thanks!
Happy birthday-Paul. I have fond memories of 21. Think single malt and expensive for beverages.
Happy Birthday! Gonna go out drinkin’ after WordCamp’s first day?
Long Island Iced Tea is my drink of choice. Jack and Diet Coke is good too.
Hey Paul,
Happy birthday. Now I can legally buy you that drink that I owe you next time you are in Svale.
Happy Birthday Paul. Hope you have a nice one! So when can you buy me a drink ;)
Definitely beer, but don’t bother with the crap stuff, never worth the few cent savings.
If you can find it in an import give James Squire Golden Ale a go from australia – currently on the “favourite beer of the year” mantle for me :D
Hey dude…sorry this is late. Happy Belated to you….I hope you got REAL DRUNK this weekend, lol!!!! ^_^
I’ve been following your blog for a while… and you seem to be a cool guy.
Happy Birthday! :)
You’re 8 days older than me.. :P
Happy Birthday [even late] and Happy …. errr… -Xronia polla kai gia tin onomastiki sou giorti :$ -
If you’re still pure from Alcohol i would too recomend Beer.. There are so many flavors, so many “schools” of beer that you can end up every day with a different taste!!
I don’t prefer “heavy” drinks cause I don’t think they offer something… [except headache].
Maybe you could get a sponsorship from Budweiser or Carib [my fav!] -lol-
Happy belated birthday!
Recommended drink:
1 part Malibu rum (coconut)
2 parts Pineapple Juice
1 part Cranberry Juice
Makes some good stuff!
Also, personally, I like Coors Light. Good light beer thats not too watered down.
Happy Birthday Paul,
Down here in Quebec it’s 18 years old! But I think that the “livestone” is 25 years old.
Be serious about drink, considera Martini shaken not stir and/or a Cosmopolitan !
Mr. ’cause I’m 36! Enjoy your day.
Belated Happy Birthday. Like Brazil (and almost all of Europe) the legal drinking age in Ireland is also 18. That means you’ve about 3 years of catching up to your foreign peers to do!
There is no one good drink – depends on your mood. Sam Adams (any seasonal brew) is one of the better commercial North American beers I’ve encountered, but you can’t beat a draft Guinness (… the Belgians may disagree with that). If you’re looking for something stronger you could spend a lifetime discovering the Isle of Islay whiskys – Laphraoig isn’t a bad one to start with.
Beer? Beer is for teenagers, you’re a man now. It’s time for Ouzo! :)
Happy Birthday!
Happy late birthday Paul! Hope you didn’t have a bunch of bastard friends with you forcing you to drink till you puke like I did on my 21st. :)
Crown and Coke.
Any local brew on draft.
Happy Birthday Paul!
Happy Late Birthday! I hope you enjoyed turning 21!
Grats. Now you can rent a car in California. If you wanted to that is..
My grandson’s birthday is August 11th. Today is August 11th and this is his 21st birthday. I happened to be at an ARCO station to get gas and my grandson was there wanting to buy some beer. The clerk refused to sell beer to him saying he was prohibited from selling until after the 21st birthday. He would not even sell the beer to me because he knew I wanted to buy it for my grandson. From the posts above it appears that others were able to buy alcoholic beverages on their 21st birthday. What is the law on this? Should a person be able to buy alcoholic beverages on their 21st birthday? If so, what is your authority for that conclusion?
You absolutely can purchase alcohol on your 21st birthday. My sources? I’ve celebrated with at least 10 friends on their 21st birthday and they all purchased alcohol legally (had their IDs checked etc) – both at stores and in bars/restaurants. I just think in your particular case the clerk, at a gas station no less, didn’t know the law and wanted to stay on the safe side.