Down Syndrome Answers: Can a person with Down syndrome drink alcohol?

The best person to answer a question about Down syndrome is a person with Down syndrome. Travis answers this one.

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Can a person with Down syndrome drink alcohol? As long as they’re the legal age, yes they can. I like to have a beer watching the baseball or hockey game. Alcohol affects me just like it would anybody.

[kingc]

I always wondered this. Glad you're not missing out on beer bro

[maxxwiersum]

That was a well said straight forward answer. Much appreciated.

[waynechartsky]

I too have always wondered that. Enjoy your beer 🍻 cheers

[duckscitomaster]

there’s also something called the gabaergic hypothesis of DS that finds gabaergic alteration in the brains of people w DS which could explain the decreased inhibition and cognitive impairments (which are also commonly seen in alcohol intoxication, whose mechanism of action is through the gabaergic system )

[nmac]

Would love to watch the game and have a beer with you! ❤

[jacoby]

My aunt has Down syndrome and for holidays and special occasions she gets to have 1 or 2 beers and it’s hilarious.

[esperago]

Hello. Thanks for the answer but I don't think people are wondering if someone with Down's Syndrome can physically drink alcohol but rather are they legally allowed and/or should they legally be allowed. For instance, an average 8-9 year old child is not allowed, by law, to drink alcohol. The reason is because they don't have the mental capabilities to make proper or safe decisions relating to the quantity they could possibly drink or if they were to become drunk, if they can keep themselves safe from harm in their environment. The average statistic is that a person with Down Syndrome has the intelligence of an 8-9 year old kid, so if society disallows kids to drink alcohol, would it not also disallow someone with Down's Syndrome to drink alcohol? I ask out of curiosity, experience and with the utmost respect. (I worked at a liquor store and a fella with Down's Syndrome would occasionally come in and buy a bottle of vodka. Then a few hours later, he'd return very drunk and buy more vodka. I always wondered how safe or responsible it was to sell him the alcohol in the first place, never mind after he became drunk)

[josefaaguiar]

I thing the alcohol is bad for everyone