Hi all, I'm planning on going on a trip to Europe this summer with a couple of my good friends. We are currently high school seniors and are gonna spend the majority of our last summer together partying it up over there. Clubbing, absorbing copious amounts of alcohol, etc. However, there is a problem. My birthday is in September so I will still be 17 by the time of the trip. It would really suck if because I'm not 18 yet I can't go clubbing or stuff... Now I know that according to wiki most European drinking ages are 16, but I thought I'd consult the various Europeans on teamliquid for help and clarification.

We are gonna be going to London, Bruges, Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague, and Amsterdam.

So in general how's the leniency in Europe with respect to 17 year olds? Also, do you have any advice in general for our trip? Like what to watch out for, etc?

Oh, and damn you guys and your high euro/dollar exchange rates.

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

October 15 2008 03:30 GMT

Make sure no one spikes your drink.
'nuff said

decafchicken

United States20168 Posts

October 15 2008 03:39 GMT

drink lots of water when you decide to do X

ShloobeR

Korea (South)3837 Posts

October 15 2008 03:42 GMT

On October 15 2008 12:26 Insane Lane wrote:
Now I know that according to wiki most European drinking ages are 16, but I thought I'd consult the various Europeans on teamliquid for help and clarification.

o rly??

I know that in London, if you look young (or if your group looks young), they will proof you quite regularly, be sure to bring a fake moustache. It's a shame you're not going to Madrid/Barcelona because I was drinking there when I was like 16 and I never got carded once.

For other countries I don't really know, some of my friends said that Italy was pretty relaxed, but Germany was a little more strict.

It's probably inevitable that you will get carded at some point, but there's always other places to go!

p.s. drinking age is 18.

Insane Lane

United States397 Posts

October 15 2008 03:49 GMT

Well I did say that I got it off of wiki, so take it as you will.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_age#Europe

Well at least most of the countries I'm planning on going to allow it to some reasonable extent it seems. Still, I would indeed like input, so thanks..

ShloobeR

Korea (South)3837 Posts

October 15 2008 03:50 GMT

whoops... delayed double post.

jello_biafra

United Kingdom6642 Posts

October 15 2008 15:37 GMT

If you think the dollar/euro exchange rate is bad wait till you get to the UK and have to use pounds. And yeah you're quite likely to get ID'd but not 100% you might get lucky (drinking age is 18).
Edit:I'm talking about London only here, haven't been clubbing in the rest of these cities.

d1v

Sweden868 Posts

October 15 2008 15:40 GMT

Well, most of the clubs I know have an age limit of 20 anyway, so..

DwmC_Foefen

Belgium2186 Posts

October 15 2008 15:46 GMT

BRUGES SERIOUSLY???

They dont ask for you're age here

shit I've been going out since I was 14 :p nor would they in amsterdam i think. But I dunno about london, I think they might be strict there but maybe someone from london can say

And btw when you're in bruges you should go to "de Pick" or "coulissen"

just ask around ^^
Hope you fun

yenta

Poland1143 Posts

October 15 2008 16:43 GMT

#10

They have started carding alot more frequently as of late, this is speaking of London, Prague, Hamburg, Krakow. I notice that if the club outsources bouncers from a "security" firm, they pretty much have to card you no matter what - if they hire their own bouncers, it is up to if the bouncer is in a good mood. For the more popular clubs, you usually want to go in looking decent - they won't let you in with like jeans/skate shoes/sneakers.

Bringing girls with you ups your chance of getting in and not getting carded. Underage girls are less frequently carded than underage guys. Foreigners are usually carded less than locals (except for London). I've been carded and showed my CT drivers license - and have gotten in even though I was underage

And alot of clubs have started the 20,21,22 rule even though the drinking age is 18 or less.

RaGe

Belgium9950 Posts

October 15 2008 18:46 GMT

#11

Bruges isn't a good city for clubbing. Not at all. Should go to the pretty nearby Ghent for that. But they wont card you, that's pretty much for sure.

Oh and if you plan on getting high in Amsterdam, they card in most coffee shops, so I hope you have a 18+ guy with you so he can go buy the weed.

Paris: Really expensive for good clubbing, but chances are high you won't get carded.

Sezai

Germany7 Posts

October 15 2008 19:43 GMT

#12

No one mentions Berlin here?
Really, no tour de europe without visiting Berlin, even more if you want to have decent clubbing!
London is cool but expensive (very). Amsterdam is just cool, must see too! Paris, I haven't heard that good things, very snobby, expensive etc.

But if you are 17 and your friends are 18 or just above (read 19) its always hard to get into a good clubs without at least a few girls.
Should be no problem to visit the mainstream clubs though. I can speak for London and every single german city (Cologne is good for clubbing too, espacially if you like electronic and minimal techno)

Thrill

2599 Posts

October 15 2008 21:14 GMT

#13

This idea reaks of fail unless you're a decently attractive girl in which case you'll find the trip very enjoyable. If not - again, fail.

Insane Lane

United States397 Posts

October 15 2008 22:18 GMT

#14

Thanks for the advice guys. I guess I look pretty much my age(really tall though), so it sounds like I'd probably face difficulty in London and Prague. Maybe its time to grow out a beard.

I would be going with some female friends as well, though. Eh... so you guys say that it is possible just really hard to find my way into clubs in London and Prague?

ShloobeR

Korea (South)3837 Posts

October 16 2008 02:44 GMT

#15

i've only been to prague once, but I was over 18 at that point, our group was never carded once though.

London, you will probably be able to find clubs that won't card you but often these clubs won't be worth going to. :/

QuanticHawk

United States32157 Posts

October 16 2008 03:14 GMT

#16

On October 15 2008 12:39 decafchicken wrote:
drink lots of water when you decide to do X

a normal amount. a bottle or two is all youll need

people get retarded when they hear this and kill themselves by having like 2 gallons of water and diluting their blood lol