I would like a beer.

[Gregory Matthews]

Two men sitting in adjacent seats are asked by a woman if they would like a drink. They each tell her that they would like a beer. She asks to check their ID and then sells each a beer.

Four (4) hours later each of these two men ask the same woman for a beer, while sitting in the exact same seats.

She again asks to check their ID. Following this she sells one man a beer, and tells the second that the law prohibits her from seeing him any alcoholic drink.

Why?

NOTE:

1) It was not an issue of hours. She sold the one man the second drink.

2) It was not an issue of one man having to much to drink. Neither had drunk more than the first drink.

3) It was not an issue of a new law going into effect. The exact same law was in effect at each time.

4) Each an was sitting in teh exact same seat each time.

Can you figure it out. Why? What? What is the answer?

[Dr. Shane]

On some cruise ships a parent is allowed to sign a waiver which allows their child under 21 to drink while in international waters. However once they sail into territorial waters the minor child will not be served alcohol if they are under the legal drinking age of the jurisdiction.

[Bravus]

Could be that they're on a plane between countries. The drinking age in Australia is 18, for example, and in many US states it's 21. I believe it's also lower in some states. Not sure whose law prevails while in transit, though...

[Outta Here]

I think Bravus must be right. In what other situation would two men be sitting the same seats 4 hours later?

[GreatLakesGramma]

My first thought was that they were in a plane, and had flown into the airspace over an area with a different legal drinking age.

[Woody]

International Date Line?

[Dr. Shane]

In what other situation would two men be sitting the same seats 4 hours later?

Well,,, I can think of another situation where two men would be in the same seats for 4 hours but they wouldn't be on their second drink.

[SivartM]

Maybe one of them turned into a squirrel, so she couldn't verify his ID!

[Misty Rose]

The original question doesn't state that they're in a bar and a plane, while plausible, probably won't work unless they're on the ground. My guess is they're on a train, crossing Europe, and have crossed into a country where the legal drinking age is different than the one they were in originally.

[Bravus]

Yep, that works well, and I think the law question would be less shaky there (not sure why, it just seems plausible).

[Dottie]

I heard a discussion about this today on the radio. It seems that they crossed the International Date Line, making one a day younger than the when he had the first drink.

[phkrause]

I heard a discussion about this today on the radio. It seems that they crossed the International Date Line, making one a day younger than the when he had the first drink.

That really sounds plausible, not sure that on either a plane or train that it makes a difference when going from one state to another.

pk

[Gregory Matthews]

On some cruise ships a parent is allowed to sign a waiver which allows their child under 21 to drink while in international waters. However once they sail into territorial waters the minor child will not be served alcohol if they are under the legal drinking age of the jurisdiction.

Shane, a good thought.

[Gregory Matthews]

Bravus: You are getting close.

[Gregory Matthews]

Ah, enlightenment.

[Gregory Matthews]

Unfair. :)

[Gregory Matthews]

And now the answer is (Drum roll):

The two men were sitting in an airplane on an international flight.

At the first request for a beer, It was noted that it was one man's birthday. On that day he became old enough to be served an alcoholic beverage.

Four hours later the airplane had crossed the International DAteline. Upon checking his ID it was noted that it wsa the day before his birthday and he therefore lacked one day of reaching the age where he could be provided with a beer!

A lot of good answers.

[Woody]

Quote:

"Drum roll"

When discussing drinking beer on an Adventist Forum ... it is not advisable to have DRUM rolls. Drums are not allowed on an Adventist forum. Sorry. :(

[SivartM]

But alcohol is perfectly acceptable here, of course.

Especially around minors.

[Gail]

What side of the Date Line are we?

[Woody]

The Good Side :)

[Gregory Matthews]

What side of the Date Line are we?

As I write today, we are on the Monday side of the Dateline.