[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, parents who purchase alcohol for their children aged 18 to 21 during the World Cup may face the risk of imprisonment in certain U.S. states. In Massachusetts, home to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough where both England and Scotland have scheduled matches, the maximum sentence is one year in prison along with a fine of 2,000 U.S. dollars. In Arlington, Texas, the venue for England’s match against Croatia, the fine amounts to 4,000 U.S. dollars. Anyone convicted of buying alcohol for individuals below the legal drinking age may also face a future entry ban to the United States. In the UK, the legal drinking age is 18, while in the United States it is set at 21. Anyone who provides or supplies alcohol to underage individuals will face severe penalties. In Mexico and Canada, which host some World Cup matches, the minimum drinking age is 18. In some Canadian provinces, the minimum drinking age is 19.
The editor believes that young people aged 18 to 21 who are caught drinking face relatively lenient penalties. Such offenses are classified as misdemeanors, carrying a maximum fine of $500 or a sentence of community service. While there are no exact statistics showing that foreigners have been imprisoned in the United States for this offense, it is believed that some individuals may have been detained, especially in college towns.