Parents who buy their adult children alcohol at the World Cup risk being sent to prison under US drinking laws. While teenagers can enjoy an alcoholic drink from the age of 18 in the UK, the minimum age in the US is 21 and anyone 'supplying' or 'furnishing' alcohol to a minor can face severe penalties.
It has been estimated that as many as 30,000 England football fans could be flying out to attend this summer's World Cup and parents taking their adult children have been warned about the laws surrounding drinking alcohol, reports The Daily Telegraph.
Local Enforcement and Penalties
Much of the responsibility for controlling sales will rest with the pubs and bars, Richard Noonan, Foxborough's deputy chief of police, told The Telegraph. He added: 'We have standards and procedures in place at Gillette Stadium and all the other licensed establishments in Massachusetts where they're required to check for identification.'
'And we're going to rely upon our liquor service to act in the appropriate manner and do their jobs correctly. Well, again, we're going to push for voluntary compliance and education on the law and ask for voluntary compliance when we address that issue. The strongest action we can take is arrest by law, but we don't want to do that. We don't want people to come here and have a good time, but they have to follow the laws and act in an orderly manner.'
Massachusetts Law
In Massachusetts, where both England and Scotland have fixtures at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough outside Boston, the maximum jail term is one year and the fine $2,000 (£1,485). In Arlington, Texas, where England play Croatia, the fine is $4,000. Those found guilty of buying alcohol for underage drinkers also risk being banned from re-entering the US at a later date.
Mexico and Canada Laws
In Mexico and Canada, where some of the games are being held, the minimum drinking age is 18. In some provinces of Canada the age is 19. The penalties are not as stiff for somebody aged 18-21 who is caught drinking, with the offence being classified as a misdemeanour with a maximum $500 fine or being ordered to perform community service.
In Arlington, police spokesman Tim Cisco told The Telegraph that officers will also be cracking down on underage drinking in the streets. He said: 'Our officers can go up to them and talk to them and act if they need to be cited for underage drinking. That's certainly an option they have. But our primary concern is just making sure that everyone's staying safe and having fun.'
World Cup 2026 Schedule
The Three Lions' opener against Croatia will be played on Wednesday, June 17. England's second match against Ghana will take place on Tuesday, June 23, in Boston and start at 9pm UK time. Thomas Tuchel's side then finish their group stage run by facing Panama on Saturday, June 27 in New York at 10pm UK time.
As for Scotland, they'll start against Haiti in Boston in the early hours of Sunday, June 14. Steve Clarke's men then play Morocco in Boston on Thursday, June 18 at 11pm before a mouth-watering clash with Brazil in Miami on Wednesday, June 24 at 11pm.
