:eek: I am 19 yrs old and pregnant with my first child. My son is due next week and I have to start thinking about work. I have lived on my own since I was fifteen, now I live with my boyfriend/childs father. There is not a lot of high paying Jobs here where I live other than the casinos. I have to be 21 or emancipated to work as a cocktail and make money to support me and my son. How do I go about getting emancipated for work? :eek:

You are 19. That is adult in most areas. You could move to a state that does not have the 21 year old law for legal drinking age. Not sure if that would even effect working in the casino. What is wrong with this baby's father? Doesn't he work?

You need to contact your state's Labor Department, Division of Labor Standards Enforcment, with your specific question.

I believe you MUST be mistaken on the law. Emancipated is what happens if you are under 18 and need to leave your parents or guardians home for some issue and the court allows you to move out, but once you are 18 you are "emancipated". Normally to serve cockails you just have to be 21.

But she does raise an interesting question. Is there some way for someone under 21 to be able to work in a bar, casino, etc. where they normally couldn't? I know that you can get "hardship" rulings to allow you to drive and work when you are 14 in some cases. Is there something similar for this?

Been along time since I was 18, ( long time) but back then as now drinking laws are all state by state, I do know in some places 18 year olds can sell packaged items,

Each state has its own state agency that handles the licencing of clubs and bars, contracting your own state agency would be the best bet.