Turning 21 is a big deal here in the United States. It’s one of the major age milestones in one’s life, besides 16, 18 and 40. I’ll be turning 21 in about a month, and there are several things I plan on doing that day, and the weekend after – since my birthday falls on a weekday this year. For those of you who will be joining me in turning 21 this year, I hope this article will help you out with party planning ideas.
The first thing I plan on doing is driving down to my driver’s license center, and changing my license from the vertical style, to the “adult” horizontal style. I hate how it says “under 21 until 2008”. When I go out to a bar or a casino, I want it to be known that I am no longer under 21! I want them to be able to look at my ID with no question or whether or not I’m underage. You should do this too. In the Pittsburgh area, the cost is about $10 to replace your license with a new one, unless you are due to renew your license – then it’s free.
The Pennsylvania gambling age is 21, along with many other states here in the US. That’s the next thing I plan on doing legally. Even though I have been in casinos before (in Niagara Falls where the gambling age is 19), I would suggest to people who have never been in a casino, to do their research. There are a lot of games and a lot of rules, and it all varies with each casino. You may be walking into a casino with only slot machines, or you may be walking into a full casino with table games, tournaments and machines too. I would recommend learning a game or two before entering, because once your money is on the table or in the machine, you either win more or lose what you put in. A good way to learn casino games is by playing them online for free. There are also dress codes for some casinos, so make sure you do your research before going to any casino, and you will be on your own to having a good time.
One of the biggest reasons people look forward to turning 21 is that they are now allowed to drink and purchase alcohol. Be careful with this, though. You don’t want to get so drunk on your 21st birthday that you can’t remember it, or even worse, you won’t live to see the day after your birthday. Along with turning 21 comes a lot of responsibility. If you plan on going out to bars or clubs to drink all night, make sure you have a designated driver or call a cab to take you home. Do not drive under the influence! I cannot stress this enough. I was an active member in SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) during high school, and the stats I learned about drunk driving are scary. Visit the SADD web site for a complete list of stats. www.sadd.org
Don’t let your 21st birthday be all about drinking. Instead, plan on going out to dinner to a fancy restaurant with friends and family. Order some quality cocktails with dinner if you’d like. Don’t be afraid to splurge on a Long Island Iced Tea, or an expensive beer. You could even splurge on a good bottle of wine or champagne to celebrate. But remember, make sure you do at least 1 shot on your birthday, to celebrate the event. It’s a customary event that shouldn’t be skipped!
Another thing I would like to do for my birthday is visit Dave and Busters. It’s like a Chuck E Cheese’s, but without all of the kids running around you, screaming their heads off. Dave and Busters guests must be 21, unless they are accompanied by somebody who is 21 or older. Most times, you won’t see kids running around, but you will see adults playing the games. Dave and Busters is mainly an adult attraction. You can eat dinner and drink here too, as well as play all the fun games you enjoyed as a kid. I always liked going to Chuck E Cheese’s as a kid, and I spent a lot of birthdays there too, so I will definitely like going to Dave and Busters for my 21st birthday too.
If you are going to spend the night drinking, make sure you pace yourself. All the myths you hear about drinking on your 21st birthday don’t have to be true. Do not try to drink 21 drinks on your 21st birthday, this is very dangerous. Alternate alcohol with water. Remember, it is your birthday after all. Make it a fun experience that you won’t regret in the morning. Be responsible, and try not to embarrass yourself! Take your camera with you, as you’ll want to take pictures of this memorable day. You could even make a scrapbook dedicated to turning 21. There are many fun things that you can do on your 21st birthday, enjoy it. I know I will!
