On Becoming Legal in Scotland

Like most of my fellow juniors who are abroad, this is the year when we turn 21, thus becoming legal adults (who still cannot rent a car from many major agencies). It's my birthday, and aside from doing fun things like wandering around Greyfriars' kirkyard and the city center with some friends, and then having cupcakes with a fellow birthday-child, and tea and cake with another friend, I went out to dinner.

Now, a lot of people get excited that it's their 21st and can drink legally; however, since we are in Scotland, people can legally drink when they're 18. Some of my peers have expressed the feeling that it is anticlimactic when they point out to the bartenders that they can legally drink in America. I am not really disappointed, because 21 is just like any other birthday because I don't imbibe alcohol because of religious prerogatives. Thus, I am left with a mild feeling of irony.

However, to celebrate, I did purchase a "Lemon and Lime Bitters," which is sweeter, less carbonated version of Sprite. It was a mixed drink, though! Something that I really appreciate here is the how okay it is to go to a pub and not order something alcoholic. Here in Scotland so far, I haven't felt weird or out of place not wanting to drink (although someone at the bar gave me a strange sidelong glance when I asked for something that was non-alcoholic, but that's his problem).