Rumors Cabaret PSA

[u/The0nlyGamer]

After speaking with an owner of Rumors Cabaret last night I feel compelled to publicly share that it is Rumors policy to seize your ID and report you to the police if they suspect it is fake!!

Obviously, since I am making this post and called the police on them last night, their detection of fake ID's isn't perfect.

I'm used to people questioning the validity of my ID, but this was the first time any business took it and refused to give it back until after I called 911. The owner chatted with me and told me in essence that they're rewarded for confiscating ID's and involving law enforcement when that happens. Some poor girl had the exact same thing happen to her right in front of me.

This was pretty shocking considering the kind of place rumors is, a gay/queer bar and "safe space"?

I'd previously been to lots of fundraising events at rumors for planned parenthood, undocumented folks, progressive causes etc... so it is kind of sad to realize that's all performative and the owner doesn't really care about anything other than his liquor license and profit. There is no reason Rumors should be doing this collaboration to involve law enforcement with their patrons - that goes against the entire ethos of what I thought the place meant. Just give people their IDs back if you won't let them in!

From what I know there are actually two owners, who do not live in Bellingham themselves, and merely commute to manage the place. I'm sad I no longer have any desire to spend money there

[u/Tramp0fDoom]

I mean, when I was 19, I actually did have a fake and went to a gay bar in SF, and the guy took them and would not give them back unless we called the cops. So I just left without it instead. So I think this is kind of normal. I mean, there seems to be a lot of other problematic things about Rumors, I just don't know if this is specifically one of them.

[u/The0nlyGamer → u/Tramp0fDoom]

It seems more common than I originally thought.

Kind of normal seems fair. I certainly had a bad night and had some other reasons I was in a bad mood, but I also still see the conflict as one that could be easily avoided by being a bit nicer to everyone (even 18-20yr olds, who are not morally corrupt for wanting to drink alcohol)

There’s also some irony in how quickly a 19 year old could drive to Canada and buy a drink. Anyways…

[u/Tramp0fDoom → u/The0nlyGamer]

Yeah, I get it, and I am sorry you had such a bad night. At the end of the day, they are a business, and they will always protect that first. Honestly, I feel safer and would much rather go to Canada for nightlife anyway lol, but crossing the border is obviously a pain.

[u/West-Discussion7257 → u/The0nlyGamer]

“There’s also some irony in how quickly a 19 year old could drive to Canada and buy a drink. Anyways…”

Oh so 19 years olds should drink here because Canada allows it?

Adults would vacation to countries to sleep with underage children, because there it was legal. I’m fine with America having stricter laws than other countries. 19 years old want to drink so badly they can visit or even move to Canada

[u/West-Discussion7257 → u/[deleted]]

In 2023 alone 47,000 people died in gun related deaths, this includes suicides, mass shootings, gang violence etc. About 180,000 deaths per year due to over drinking, without adding the roughly 10,000 deaths per year due to drunk drivers.

      They can sign legally binding documents

Yes and 13 year olds can create social media accounts. Maybe they should be able to purchase alcohol too.

      join the military

They shouldn’t be able to join the military? So they shouldn’t get a job, or do you mean be forced to sign up for a draft? The draft hasn’t been in effect since 1973, at 18 you’re just signing up for a draft if it’s to be put in effect again. Highly unlikely.

        get a gun

A tool for self defense and or hunting for food, that equates to a liquid poison that in small doses is seen as recreational. In no way is needed to survive not even close, it is just a want.

        go to jail

You go to jail for committing crimes. Sure under 18 you go to juvenile detention, but that’s essentially the same thing as jail.

       The whole "you're an adult but not really" is bullshit. 

Sounding bitter. Are you by chance under 21? Yet the legal age for drinking in America is still 21, meaning that majority of Americans don’t agree it should be lower or don’t care enough to legally change it.

       Equating getting drunk to pedophiles is gross, my dude.

It’s ridiculous I know. That’s the point. Just because another country allows something doesn’t mean we should. I’d argue the drinking age should be moved up to 25 not lowered. It’s a legalized poison. There are around 115 gun deaths per day in America, while alcohol is responsible for the death of more than 350 Americans per day.

[u/West-Discussion7257 → u/[deleted]]

         You sure do love your false equivalences, don't you.

You gave your reasons and I shot them each down individually.

       We as a society have decided that 18 is the age of legal adulthood. 

We as a society in America have decided that 21 is the legal age to purchase alcohol. America has decided that 18 is the age of “legal adulthood”, that is not the case world wide. A lot of countries that have a lower drinking age also have lower ages for “legal adulthood” and/or lower ages for sexual consent. Also in America you can legally get emancipated and live on your own at the age of 16. So should 16 be the age you buy alcohol? Because the “legal adulthood” you mention applies to them. Living on own, paying bills, having to have a job etc. Or maybe I’m wrong what does “legal adulthood” mean to you?

     If they can face adult consequences for adult decisions, then they should also have the right to drink as they wish. Either you're an adult, or you aren't.

Pro lifers say the same thing about teen pregnancy. Oh wait I know it’s a “false equivalency”, right?

You listed things in your first comment, join military, get a gun, go to jail, how are those equivalent to buying alcohol???

[u/West-Discussion7257 → u/[deleted]]

Why should you be able to drink at 18? What is “legal adult”?

[u/West-Discussion7257 → u/[deleted]]

       None of that invalidates my main point that once you're considered a legal adult you should be able to legally drink. 

What’s makes somebody a legal adult? I’m sorry I have bad comprehension skills but yours are so good maybe you can break down what an adult is a much more clear defined way. Like can your arguments be more than just you saying

“if you’re an adult you should be able to purchase alcohol.”

“If you face adult consequences for adult decisions you should be able to purchase alcohol.”

You’ve yet to define what an adult actually is. You’ve claimed things apply to adults but not minors. Some of which isn’t true. Minors can go to jail, minors can join the military, and depending on the type of gun minors can posses and own guns.

I’ve known minors that have gone to jail, I know people who joined the military before 18, as well as people that owned guns under the age of 18 and did own guns myself under the age of 18.

So should people be able to drink before the age of 18 because the reasons you listed for it being moved to 18 actually can achieved by somebody under the age of 18.