The Hunger Games

19-year-old "Hunger Games" star Josh Hutcherson took a not-so-cheap shot at a Ralph's Grocery store -- he posed as over 21 and got the check out clerk to sell him an expensive bottle of whiskey.

We got this pic of Josh leaving the Ralph's in Sherman Oaks on April 18 with a bottle of Macallan whisky in hand -- which, by the way, goes for $170.

A source tells TMZ ... Josh used a fake ID to score the bottle.

It's interesting ... a few weeks ago we got Josh on camera, grousing, "I think the age to go to war is 18 ... so I think the drinking age should be 18 as well."

A spokesperson for Ralphs tells TMZ, "We strictly enforce all laws relating to the sale of alcohol to minors. We will investigate these allegations and take any steps necessary."

Josh could be prosecuted and the maximum punishment is 6 months in jail, although in reality he'd spend no time behind bars. Authorities could also go after Ralph's for selling to a minor.

If 18-year-olds can fire a shot in war ... they should be able to take a shot in a bar ... so says "Hunger Games" star Josh Hutcherson.

Hutcherson was leaving STK last night when we asked a question inspired by his 19-year-old co-star Alexander Ludwig ... who triggered an investigation when he left a 21+ bar in Hollywood this week.

11:50 AM PT: We're told the California Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control has just opened an investigation into The Sayers Club over the Ludwig photos. A rep for the ABC tells TMZ, "We're looking into it."

"Hunger Games" star Alexander Ludwig blew off some steam Tuesday night by kicking back at The Sayers Club in Hollywood -- problem is, he's 19 and the club cannot legally allow anyone in who is under 21.

The pic on the left shows Alexander at an event earlier in the evening. Then we got more pics -- shot at around 11:45 PM -- showing Alexander, wearing the same leather jacket and skinny jeans -- covering his face leaving Sayers.

The California Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control tells TMZ ... Sayers has a Type 48 license, meaning only patrons 21 and over can enter.

Robbie McKay, Director of Communications for Sayers, tells TMZ when security spotted Ludwig inside the club he was asked to leave.

"The Hunger Games" stars Liam Hemsworth, aka Gale, and Josh Hutcherson, aka Peeta, were all buddy buddy at an event for the movie in Toronto this week.

Question is ...

"The Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence may have slipped and revealed a huge plot line about the movie everyone's dying to see -- or maybe just her cleavage. Either way ...

"The Hunger Games" doesn't come out for two more days, but Jennifer Lawrence proved she's already overexposed ... by wearing a sexy revealing dress with a deep plunging neckline in NYC last night.

The gorgeous 21-year-old is a gifted actress.

Katniss Everdeen aka Jennifer Lawrence, 21, and Miley Cyrus, 19, -- the girlfriend of Jen's "Hunger Games" co-star Liam Hemsworth -- both struck a pose at the film's premiere in L.A. on Monday.

Question is ...

Katniss, Peeta and Gale -- more commonly known as Jennifer Lawrence (right), Josh Hutcherson (left) and Liam Hemsworth (back) -- arrived in Los Angeles yesterday as the March 23 release of "The Hunger Games" is almost upon us.

The movie is based on a book of the same name ... which at one point was on The New York Times list for over 100 consecutive weeks. Advanced tickets for the movie broke Fandango's record for advanced sales, beating out "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse."