In order to foster healthy growth of the /r/alcohol community, we are starting a series of posts for the rules of the subreddit (one post per rule) over the next few days. Each post will explain what the rule says, what it means, and why we have it (with examples), and ask for user input on improving each rule.

We ask that you read each post carefully, and provide constructive input (no, calling the moderators "Hitler," making threats, and demanding that we remove a rule entirely are not constructive, and such comments will be removed, accordingly).

Each post will be open for comments for 3 days, and we will take constructive comments under consideration in rewording the rules to better serve the community.

Today's rule: Underage Drinking

What the rule says:

If you are under the legal drinking age for the country you live in, don't bother posting. Yes, we DO check your age and geographical location. We don't care if your "parents allow you to drink," or if you're visiting some country where the legal drinking age is 12, we base it on where you live.

What this means:

Literally what it says. If you are under the legal drinking age for your area, don't post, or you'll get banned permanently. It's that simple.

Why we have this rule:

Yes, we know people drink when they're underage. But we don't want to encourage that. Yes, there are exceptions to the law, like religion, parental permission, etc. We don't care about that. If where you live says "you must be this old to drink" and you aren't that age, don't post.

And like the rule says, we do indeed look at your post/comment history to see how old you really are and where you live. No, that's not us being "creepy stalkers," that's us doing our jobs as moderators. If you post somewhere else that you're 15, and live in Michigan, then we're going to remove your post from here, and ban you, since the legal drinking age in Michigan is 21.

If you live in another country, with a "more sensible" legal drinking age, and you're still under that age, we're still going to ban you. And yes, we know what the legal drinking ages are for every country are.

In the event that we can't find anything in your post/comment history showing that you live in an area where it is legal for you to drink (i.e. Canada), then we err on the side of caution and assume you live in the United States. If you wish to dispute this, you need to provide proof of where you live. To date, only ONE user has done so by sending us a picture of their driver's license.

Even if you're visiting another country with a lower drinking age, we'll still base it on where you live. Why? Because as I said above, we don't want to encourage underage drinking.

Finally, yes, the "21 and older" law set in the United States is arbitrary and unfair. But it is still the law. If you don't like it, then get out and vote to have it lowered. Until then, this rule stays as it is.

With all this said, how can we improve this rule? What are your (valid) suggestions? The thread will be open for the next 3 days.