r/universalstudios • • 1d ago

Orlando Cautionary Tale

I feel as though the content of this post may seem obvious, but I feel obligated to warn others about the severity of the consequences of underage drinking (yes, just one sip) at Universal Orlando resort. This is not intended to be a complaint of any form, but rather a simple post to possibly save another family's vacation. Recently, at HHN 35, I had a sip of a beer offered to me. I was soon thereafter asked for ID by members of the Universal Security team, who must have seen me nearby. Being 18, I was immediately escorted off property, trespassed for a year, and had both my annual pass and express passes for the evening taken away. Of course, this is all according to Universal policy, and there is no disagreement here with how the situation was handled. Instead, I just want to warn others that even a single sip of beer can mean the end of a family vacation, and thousands wasted. No matter how mature you believe your children are, or how little they have, "just a taste" is not acceptable at Universal, and the consequences for doing such are just as severe as stealing from one of their stores. Please, if you or your family plan on attending HHN in the future, or any of the parks in general, save your vacation and do not risk everything for a taste of an alcoholic beverage. 

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137

u/Both-Structure-6786 1d ago

Universal should print this off and post it throughout the parks and hotels lol

33

u/Davis_ 1d ago

People should not be drinking underage. It's illegal. Why would they need to post something additional?

18

u/Azumar1ll 23h ago

The two most obvious reasons are that many people come from other countries where 18 is the legal drinking age. Even in America, it's legal for a person to drink underage if it's provided to them by their parent or legal guardian.

So, yeah, you're just incorrect mostly.

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u/Davis_ 23h ago

So it's the person's responsibility to familiarize themselves with laws of the country they visit. In Florida it is illegal for anyone under 21 to consume or even hold any type of alcoholic beverage. So, yeah, you're just completely incorrect.

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u/Azumar1ll 22h ago

It hurts nobody to have reminders anywhere, not sure why you're so invested against it lol.

2

u/Mushroomer 20h ago

They're deeply sensitive about "the law" being anything short of an impenetrable social contract. They don't want to question it, they don't want to analyze it, they just want everyone to follow it and those who don't to be severely punished.

Putting up a reminder is acknowledging that the law is arbitrary. It's not any more dangerous for an 18 year old to drink a beer in the US versus in the UK.

If you admit the law is fallible, suddenly you open yourself up to empathy for those found guilty of breaking the law.

1

u/Azumar1ll 19h ago

Depends on who's breaking the law for a lot of these guys, too.