MYTHBUSTING: Can People with Down syndrome drink alcohol? 

(“Myth-busting” is a new multi-part blog series where we tackle all things Down syndrome: misconceptions, half-truths, and fabrications. We’re setting the record straight, once and for all.) 

Can People with Down syndrome drink alcohol?

Age is a tricky thing.  

Sure, in polite society, it’s often considered rude to ask someone’s age, but that’s not the only avenue where age gets complex. Age once directly aligned with reaching specific American milestones, but as laws and societal norms have evolved, so have the benchmarks of age. 

Turning 16 once signified hitting the open road and getting your driver’s license, but many US states now require individuals to turn 17 or 18 before getting behind the wheel. Likewise, turning 17 once meant seeing an R-rated movie at a theater, but with the rise of streaming services, most 13-year-olds now plop down on the couch, flip on Netflix, and watch whatever gory movie their heart desires. Even the age of 18, when teenagers traditionally become adults in the eyes of the law, isn’t universally true. In states like Alabama, the age of majority (when one becomes an adult) is 19. 

…confused? You’re not alone. Yet, despite this complexity, there’s still one age that stands out above the rest: 

21.  

Across America, the moment the clock strikes midnight and an individual turns 21, some immediately toss out their fake IDs and hand over their cash to a bartender. Despite society’s changes, turning 21 is still synonymous with being able to (legally) drink alcohol. It’s cut and dried… 

…Or is it?  

While 21 serves as the legal drinking age across America, some question if this applies to ALL individuals, especially those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Specifically, many wonder, “Can people with Down syndrome drink alcohol?” 

Though it seems like there should be an easy answer to this question, you wouldn’t know that by turning to the internet. Typing “Can people with Down syndrome drink alcohol?” into a search engine produces a variety of contradictory results. Some websites claim that people with Down syndrome cannot ever drink. Other sites suggest it might be okay.  

But let’s set the record straight… 

CAN PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME DRINK ALCOHOL? 

The short answer? YES. 

The long answer? ALSO, YES. 

Provided they’re of legal age, there’s no inherent reason an individual with Down syndrome can’t consume alcohol. If people with Down syndrome don’t drink alcohol, it’s likely due to other factors rather than the condition itself. 

Yet, the myth persists. Many automatically assume people with Down syndrome can’t drink alcohol… but why? 

 In most cases, the incorrect assumption stems from a general lack of understanding of Down syndrome and perpetuated myths surrounding the condition. 

DISPELLING COMMON MYTHS AROUND DOWN SYNDROME AND ALCOHOL 

Many people believe that Down syndrome itself impairs the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol, but that’s not true. Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, simply refers to a genetic condition in which an individual is born with an additional chromosome. 

Specifically, individuals with Down syndrome possess a full or partial copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material alters their physical and cognitive development, but it does not inherently affect the body’s ability to absorb or process alcohol. 

Another misconception that contributes to the myth that people with Down syndrome can’t drink relates to cognitive abilities. Often, people assume individuals with Down syndrome have severe cognitive disabilities, but this isn’t the case.  

Most individuals with Down syndrome have mild to moderate cognitive or intellectual disabilities. While low muscle tone (hypotonia), commonly associated with Down syndrome, may affect speech, speaking ability is not indicative of cognitive ability.  

Just because individuals with Down syndrome may encounter difficulties pronouncing certain words, it does not imply that they lack intelligence or have impaired judgment. 

Beyond this, society often infantilizes individuals with Down syndrome, referring to them as “kids” or “children” regardless of their age. Not only is this categorically false, it’s also harmful. An adult with Down syndrome is an adult, plain and simple. They retain agency and have the right to make their own decisions, including whether they want to drink alcohol. 

Now that we’ve established that people with Down syndrome can drink alcohol, one question remains: 

SHOULD ALL PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME DRINK ALCOHOL? 

No. Of course not. 

Just as not all individuals without Down syndrome should drink alcohol, the same holds true for individuals with Down syndrome.  

Some may be on medications that do not mix well with alcohol. Others may struggle with substance abuse issues. Additionally, some might not react well to alcohol. Beyond this, many people, with or without Down syndrome choose to abstain from drinking alcohol as a health-conscious decision. 

 …Or some might just hate the taste. 

Either way, there are plenty of legitimate reasons why people with Down syndrome may not or should not drink, but none of these reasons are inherently linked to Down syndrome itself. 

SETTLING THE BAR TAB (WRAPPING IT ALL UP) 

It’s important to acknowledge that this topic is about something bigger than a cocktail or a beer. 

Misconceptions about Down syndrome often stem from viewing individuals with Down syndrome as a monolith, when they’re diverse individuals with different wants and needs.  

So yes, people with Down syndrome absolutely can drink alcohol. However, whether they choose to do so or not is a different story. It varies from person to person.  

At the end of the day, individuals with Down syndrome are just that — individuals.