Johnny Manziel's Under-age Drinking Draws Criticism

by uInterviewJanuary 8, 2013, 12:00 amNews >

2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, 20, has been partying it up since his season ended on Friday.

The Texas A&M quarterback was spotted with alcohol at a bar in Dallas after his Cotton Bowl win against Oklahoma. On Saturday, he posted a photo of himself on Twitter with a wad of cash at WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma.

"Nothing illegal about being 18+ in a casino and winning money…KEEP HATING!" Manziel tweeted with the picture seen above.

His actions have led many in the sporting world to question his behavior and whether he is breaking any laws or NCAA rules. However, since the casino's policy is that you have to be at least 18 to enter and Manziel is 20, he's safe.

As for the alcohol, according to Chapter 106 of Texas's Alcohol Beverage Code, a person under 21 can drink in a bar as long as they have an adult guardian present with them. Several reports indicate that Manziel's parents were with him that night, so no law was broken there either.

This is not the first time that Manziel has been embroiled in controversy. On Dec. 20, he was spotted courtside at a Dallas Mavericks game, leading announcer Steve Kerr to wonder on-air how a college student, especially a freshman, was able to get tickets that expensive. The NCAA has strict rules about players receiving expensive gifts, or cash from boosters.