Drinking Age

[thejetstolehome]

i'm on a politics thread making spree so here comes another one.

should the drinking age be lowered from 21?


i believe it should be lowered to 19. i would say 18, but that would mean that high schoolers could legally buy alcohol and that would be bad. at the same time, it really doesn't matter as if someone wants alcohol, someone will get it. i just feel that if one can vote and join or be drafted into the military, one should be able to go to the local bar and buy a beer.

[IAPAI]

It's 19 where I live, and I still think it should be 18.

[Broken Parachute]

21 is fine. 19 is better.

[sweet tragedy]

If you can enlist at 18, you should be able to buy alcohol at 18 as well.

[~OnTheRoad~]

I think 21 is okay. I think the age for military service should be raised to 21 instead of 18, because most of the people joining today are high school students (I know three who joined the Marines right after graduation and are in Iraq now).

[apoemtothedead]

i'm on a politics thread making spree so here comes another one.

should the drinking age be lowered from 21?


i believe it should be lowered to 19. i would say 18, but that would mean that high schoolers could legally buy alcohol and that would be bad. at the same time, it really doesn't matter as if someone wants alcohol, someone will get it. i just feel that if one can vote and join or be drafted into the military, one should be able to go to the local bar and buy a beer.
Those are exactly my feelings.

[Broken Parachute]

If you can enlist at 18, you should be able to buy alcohol at 18 as well.Good point, didn't think of that. I mean..I don't care if it's at 21 because kids are going to drink at 17, 18, 19, and 20 either way..so it's not like it matters anymore. 19 would be more appropriate anyway, think of it like Matt says. High schoolers legally drinking? No good.

[Lueda Alia]

It's 19 where I live, and I still think it should be 18.
I personally wouldn't really care. 19 is a lot better than 21 though. :-D
If you can enlist at 18, you should be able to buy alcohol at 18 as well.
Exactly.

I don't understand why you have to be 21. You can pretty much do anything you want by the time you're 18, but you can't drink? That makes no sense.

[oldwirehands]

If you can enlist at 18, you should be able to buy alcohol at 18 as well.

Thats all that really needs to be said.

[cantnokdahustle]

fuck you and your popular threads...

cliche, but if your old enough to serve in the military your old enough to drink, though I think its a better argument for raising the age of enlistment than lowering the drinking age.

[sweet tragedy]

I don't understand why you have to be 21. You can pretty much do anything you want by the time you're 18, but you can't drink? That makes no sense.

I might be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure my sociology prof said the reason the drinking age got raised to 21 was due to pressure from insurance companies because most of the drunk driving accidents were happening in a lower age bracket and they didn't want to have to insure it.

[thejetstolehome]

the age is actually pretty arbitrary. the only reason it's 21 is because 21 is the ammendment that repealed prohibition here.

[IAPAI]

I personally wouldn't really care. 19 is a lot better than 21 though. :-D

Exactly.

I don't understand why you have to be 21. You can pretty much do anything you want by the time you're 18, but you can't drink? That makes no sense.

I am only really opinionated about it because I was in University at 17. Yes, I had multiple fake IDs, but still. The basic fact is that if you can be in an institute of higher learning, you should be able to go out and drink in bars, letalone your own home.

[thejetstolehome]

I might be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure my sociology prof said the reason the drinking age got raised to 21 was due to pressure from insurance companies because most of the drunk driving accidents were happening in a lower age bracket and they didn't want to have to insure it.

that could be it, too.

i think the drinking age is also mandated by states but the federal government "pressures" the states to make it 21 because if it's not, the government will not give them as much funding for things such as roads and highways.

[sweet tragedy]

that could be it, too.

i think the drinking age is also mandated by states but the federal government "pressures" the states to make it 21 because if it's not, the government will not give them as much funding for things such as roads and highways.

Yeah, the latter is most certainly a fact. The state can make the age whatever they want if they want to lose almost all their highway funding.

[apoemtothedead]

Those who are 18 and do enlist can drink on base. :shrug:

[Broken Parachute]

I'm enlisting at 18.

[aminorthreat55]

cliche, but if your old enough to serve in the military your old enough to drink, though I think its a better argument for raising the age of enlistment than lowering the drinking age.
I agree. I also think the argument that "kids drink when they're eighteen anyways" is essentially a de facto endorsement of shitty parenting and the lack of responsibility kids have these days.

[aminorthreat55]

I might be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure my sociology prof said the reason the drinking age got raised to 21 was due to pressure from insurance companies because most of the drunk driving accidents were happening in a lower age bracket and they didn't want to have to insure it.
That might be the indirect but the direct reason was Congress said they would withdraw highway funding if states did not raise their age from 18 to 21. It's in the Federal Aid Highway Act.

[aminorthreat55]

Those who are 18 and do enlist can drink on base. :shrug:
Alcohol is a lot cheaper on base too.

[dai the flu]

i say keep it at 21.
and while you're at it, raise the voting age and enlisting age to 21 as well.

[icameonherface]

keep it @ 21.

Kids are too irresponsible in our country as is.

[aminorthreat55]

i say keep it at 21.
and while you're at it, raise the voting age and enlisting age to 21 as well.
Voting should remain at 18.

[aminorthreat55]

keep it @ 21.

Kids are too irresponsible in our country as is.
Agreed.

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

either raise the military age to 21 or lower the drinking age to 18.
but they should be the same.

[bigmike]

I think 21 is okay. I think the age for military service should be raised to 21 instead of 18, because most of the people joining today are high school students (I know three who joined the Marines right after graduation and are in Iraq now).

Those are exactly my feelings.
I completely concur.

[shes.a.ghost]

I think people should be able to drink whenever the fuck they want to. Why should someone else tell me what is bad for me and what is not? As long as it's not affecting someone else, why should people not be able to? Shit, when you are under 16 you can't even drive yet... the likelihood of you hurting someone else because of alcohol is very slim. Age 10-15 is the safest time in your life to drink!

Sarcasm.

[konstantine94]

I agree with 18 being too young, high schoolers don't need alcohol. But I do know some people who were 19 our senior year because they used to live overseas or whatever. I do agree that if we can enlist, we should be able to drink. I think 21 should be the enlistment age.

[Lueda Alia]

I agree with 18 being too young, high schoolers don't need alcohol. But I do know some people who were 19 our senior year because they used to live overseas or whatever. I do agree that if we can enlist, we should be able to drink. I think 21 should be the enlistment age.
I have a feeling that the current government would have a problem with that.

[tambam]

I think it should be 18. If you can get married and live alone at that age, then I think you should be able to legally buy alcohol. Besides, eighteen year-olds probably drink just as much as people a year older than them anyways. Might as well make it legal.

[EyesOfMadness]

No drinking age at all, true feelings.

[icameonherface]

I think people should be able to drink whenever the fuck they want to. Why should someone else tell me what is bad for me and what is not? As long as it's not affecting someone else, why should people not be able to? Shit, when you are under 16 you can't even drive yet... the likelihood of you hurting someone else because of alcohol is very slim. Age 10-15 is the safest time in your life to drink!

Sarcasm.

Funny and then people want to be taken care of through social programs...but they're big boys when they drink.

These are 2000 numbers (latest figures available)

Alcohol consumption (85,000 deaths; 3.5%)
(Note: 16,653 deaths from alcohol-related vehicle crashes are included in both Alcohol consumption above and Motor vehicle crashes below.)

Motor vehicle crashes (43,000)(see Note above)



Tobacco (435,000 deaths; 18.1% of total US deaths)
Poor diet and physical inactivity (400,000 deaths; 16.6%) If people can take care of themselves....why are so many people dying from stupid shit?

[icameonherface]

when you enlist - you can drink. It is pretty well known fact a military ID gets you anything.

You can also drink in your own home. However, the idea is that when you buy large volumes of alcohol other people will be drinking it too. That is why there is the law.

[thejetstolehome]

when you enlist - you can drink. It is pretty well known fact a military ID gets you anything.

You can also drink in your own home. However, the idea is that when you buy large volumes of alcohol other people will be drinking it too. That is why there is the law.

a friend of mine was home from Annappolis (he obviusly hasn't graduated yet)last year and was trying to buy beer with his military ID and couldn't get any 'cause it didn't have his age on it. so instead of taking the L, he says to the clerk "i'm sorry, i just got back from Iraq and haven't had a chance to go get my driver's liscence yet." he was given beer.

[icameonherface]

I think people should be able to drink whenever the fuck they want to. Why should someone else tell me what is bad for me and what is not? As long as it's not affecting someone else, why should people not be able to? Shit, when you are under 16 you can't even drive yet... the likelihood of you hurting someone else because of alcohol is very slim. Age 10-15 is the safest time in your life to drink!

Sarcasm.

a friend of mine was home from Annappolis (he obviusly hasn't graduated yet)last year and was trying to buy beer with his military ID and couldn't get any 'cause it didn't have his age on it. so instead of taking the L, he says to the clerk "i'm sorry, i just got back from Iraq and haven't had a chance to go get my driver's liscence yet." he was given beer.

exactly. the military is pretty much over the police.

[thatwasamoment]

when you enlist - you can drink. It is pretty well known fact a military ID gets you anything.hey, can you give me a link that says you can drink under 21 in the military?

Not that I dont think its true, its just that I heard a few soldiers on CNN saying that they couldn't buy alcohol because they were too young.

[icameonherface]

hey, can you give me a link that says you can drink under 21 in the military?

Not that I dont think its true, its just that I heard a few soldiers on CNN saying that they couldn't buy alcohol because they were too young.

i just know from first hand experience you can drink on the bases.

Also, no one says you have to enlist when you're 18 -- it is still a volunteer army. So until the draft comes back, throw that argument out the window.

[thejetstolehome]

i just know from first hand experience you can drink on the bases.

Also, no one says you have to enlist when you're 18 -- it is still a volunteer army. So until the draft comes back, throw that argument out the window.

why? you don't think it's a little ridiculous that you can be given the responsibility of a gun, a grenade, etc and the responsibility of defending the country yet you can't go buy a six pack when you want to just chill out and take a step back from it all?

[thatwasamoment]

I think you obey the drinking age of whichever country you are in. Iraq's drinking age is 21. So everyone under 21 and drinking in Iraq is breaking the law.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/f/faqdrinking.htm

It also means if the countries drinking age is 18, then US soldiers that are 18 can legally drink.

[icameonherface]

why? you don't think it's a little ridiculous that you can be given the responsibility of a gun, a grenade, etc and the responsibility of defending the country yet you can't go buy a six pack when you want to just chill out and take a step back from it all?

no, because when there was a draft, you could do that when you were 18. If you don't want that imbalance, don't enlist until you're 21. 18 year olds don't buy 6 packs just to chill and hang out. Alcoholism, smoking, drugs, gambling are all problems in this country because we have no control. We have very addictive personalities as a country. More people that have alcohol and smoking related deaths means more health coverage required which means more taxes/more expensive insurance out of everyone else's pocket.

You can drink on the base and more times and not, you can be served with a military ID. And fuck, its not like 18 year olds have a problem getting beer now anyway.

[thejetstolehome]

no, because when there was a draft, you could do that when you were 18. If you don't want that imbalance, don't enlist until you're 21. 18 year olds don't buy 6 packs just to chill and hang out. Alcoholism, smoking, drugs, gambling are all problems in this country because we have no control. We have very addictive personalities as a country. More people that have alcohol and smoking related deaths means more health coverage required which means more taxes/more expensive insurance out of everyone else's pocket.

You can drink on the base and more times and not, you can be served with a military ID. And fuck, its not like 18 year olds have a problem getting beer now anyway.

when they're in the military they might.

and i think the drinking age should be 19. :shrug:

[icameonherface]

when they're in the military they might.

and i think the drinking age should be 19. :shrug:

in our country no, in any other country, i'd agree.

People don't know their limits in our country.

[thatwasamoment]

I suppose I understand after a long day full of stress, that god forbid some 20-18 year olds want to buy some beer.

[Sleepaway]

21 is obscenely high.

It is obviously 18 here, and alot people think that it should be 16. Most people in this country start drinking between ages 12-14, I know I did.
I like to drink recreationally, and only really get fucked up at parties and shows sometimes.

[a speedo model]

I can see how it makes sense to lower it, but it doesn't bother me where it's at now. :shrug:

[icameonherface]

I suppose I understand after a long day full of stress, that god forbid some 20-18 year olds want to buy some beer.

is beer supposed to be a stress reliever?

I could see limiting it for 18 year olds. Beer only, 1 6 pack per person.

[thatwasamoment]

is beer supposed to be a stress reliever?

I could see limiting it for 18 year olds. Beer only, 1 6 pack per person.
that would work.

For lots of people, they find drinking beer relaxing.

[Sleepaway]

Of course beer relieves stress. Alchohol makes you more relaxed, thus relieving stress.

[Sleepaway]

and "limiting" it to one 6 pack per 18 year old just wouldn't work. They would just go several different liquor stores and buy one pack from each.

[icameonherface]

Of course beer relieves stress. Alchohol makes you more relaxed, thus relieving stress.

what i mean is...should something addictive to be used to relieve your stress?

[icameonherface]

and "limiting" it to one 6 pack per 18 year old just wouldn't work. They would just go several different liquor stores and buy one pack from each.

it would if you make the consequences stricter.

[thatwasamoment]

what i mean is...should something addictive to be used to relieve your stress?People prone to addiction or have alcoholism are gonna get their fix either way. That shouldn't ruin for everyone.

[Sleepaway]

it would if you make the consequences stricter.

What exactly do you mean?

[JulieLynn]

People prone to addiction or have alcoholism are gonna get their fix either way. That shouldn't ruin for everyone.

yeah, like my ex boyfriend...hello rehab...

[icameonherface]

People prone to addiction or have alcoholism are gonna get their fix either way. That shouldn't ruin for everyone.

some people are poor, should the government not care of them and help them try not to develop diseases and sicknesses?

[icameonherface]

What exactly do you mean?

i mean dwis, etc.

We have the most cars on the road here. More people will drink and drive if you lower the level.

For the asshole that said, they shouldn't ruin it for everyone...

I've lost many people to alcohol-related accidents and they were the sober drivers...sorry they ruined people lives that way too.

[thatwasamoment]

i mean dwis, etc.

We have the most cars on the road here. More people will drink and drive if you lower the level.

For the asshole that said, they shouldn't ruin it for everyone...

I've lost many people to alcohol-related accidents and they were the sober drivers...sorry they ruined people lives that way too.Sober people crash cars and kill people too, I guess we should ban all cars then.

[icameonherface]

Sober people crash cars and kill people too, I guess we should ban all cars then.

that argument is pathetic.

35% of car crash deaths are alcohol related. It is not a miniscule number.

[we are cured]

Dude it's simple - keep the BAC law where it is (.01 under 21 gets you a DUI, not .08), and lower the age to 18. Kids are always going to drink underage, and it's way better when you actually know it is happening (as opposed to some clandestine party). Sure, younger kids will have more access to alcohol, but if local law enforcement sets a few examples it will work.

[icameonherface]

Dude it's simple - keep the BAC law where it is (.01 under 21 gets you a DUI, not .08), and lower the age to 18. Kids are always going to drink underage, and it's way better when you actually know it is happening. Sure, younger kids will have more access to alcohol, but if local law enforcement sets a few examples it will work.

bac laws differ in different states.

why would it be way better when you already know it happens?

[thatwasamoment]

that argument is pathetic.

35% of car crash deaths are alcohol related. It is not a miniscule number.and 65% aren't. See how many deaths we can prevent?

[icameonherface]

or allow 18 yr olds to goto a bar so their drinking is supervised. don't allow take away beer...people have to compromise.

[icameonherface]

and 65% aren't. See how many deaths we can prevent?

so by putting more drivers with alcohol in their system on the raod will prevent deaths?


Fuck people die, why bother having children.

[thatwasamoment]

so by putting more drivers with alcohol in their system on the raod will prevent deaths?


Fuck people die, why bother having children.srsly. everyone dies. if everyone dies, then whats the point of living? i think we're onto something here.

[icameonherface]

srsly. everyone dies. if everyone dies, then whats the point of living? i think we're onto something here.

it was sarcasm.

[icameonherface]

Alcohol related crashes are the leading cause of death for young Americans, between the ages of 16 and 24 years old.http://www.nh-dwi.com/caip-206.htm

[thatwasamoment]

it was sarcasm.
http://www.synthstuff.com/mt/archives/nowai.jpg

[thatwasamoment]

Alcohol related crashes are the leading cause of death for young Americans, between the ages of 16 and 24 years old.http://www.nh-dwi.com/caip-206.htmlets raise the drinking age to 24.

[icameonherface]

lets raise the drinking age to 24.

it is pointless to talk to you.

[thatwasamoment]

it is pointless to talk to you.I'm a problem solver, thats what I do.

[icameonherface]

I'm a problem solver, thats what I do.

what problem have you solved?

[thatwasamoment]

what problem have you solved?car related deaths and the problem with alcoholism. people die cause of drunk driving, so we ban alcohol. people die in car crashes, we ban cars.

[we are cured]

why would it be way better when you already know it happens?

good point, but that's not exactly what i meant to say. i tried to rephrase it over the last 10 minutes and couldn't.

this isn't something i care enough about to develop a solid fact-based opinion, so i'll shut up now.

[icameonherface]

car related deaths and the problem with alcoholism. people die cause of drunk driving, so we ban alcohol. people die in car crashes, we ban cars.

your sarcasm is weak.

[icameonherface]

good point, but that's not exactly what i meant to say. i tried to rephrase it over the last 10 minutes and couldn't.

this isn't something i care enough about to develop a solid fact-based opinion, so i'll shut up now.

There is no way lowering the drinking age would help anything because of the way our citizens generally act.

[thatwasamoment]

your sarcasm is weak.Sarcastic, but right. Seems logical, no cars = no car deaths.

[aminorthreat55]

There is no way lowering the drinking age would help anything because of the way our citizens generally act.
Correct.

[EyesOfMadness]

At this point in time it is useless to try and change anything, once you start a society that considers alcohol super cool, and something that ensures a good time, you can't change that. Lowering the drinking age in America would just let the young people who think that the only way to enjoy themselves is to get shit hammered get their beer easier.

I do believe that there shouldn't be a drinking age, because in Europe it's a common part of life, and it looses alot of it's edge. Drinking is a big part of life, but they can handle it alot better than North Americans can.

[PaulsRightNut]

it used to be 18 back in the day

i think if you're old enough to go to war and kill someone, you should be old enough to drink a beer.

[icameonherface]

it used to be 18 back in the day

i think if you're old enough to go to war and kill someone, you should be old enough to drink a beer.

if 18 year olds were more responsible then fine, but stats prove they're not...at all.

[lushintransit]

i'm on a politics thread making spree so here comes another one.

should the drinking age be lowered from 21?


i believe it should be lowered to 19. i would say 18, but that would mean that high schoolers could legally buy alcohol and that would be bad. at the same time, it really doesn't matter as if someone wants alcohol, someone will get it. i just feel that if one can vote and join or be drafted into the military, one should be able to go to the local bar and buy a beer.

There were students 19/20 who graduated from my high school class with me and I was still 17 for the first few months of college so that wouldn't be a logically way to gauge it.

[aminorthreat55]

if 18 year olds were more responsible then fine, but stats prove they're not...at all.
Yep.

[lushintransit]

I don't think the drinking age should be where it is for multiple reasons but I don't think that we can even THINK about lowering it as a country until there's some logical education instituted about it. If you don't teach kids anything about alcohol, they'll learn it in the most violent of ways.

[PaulsRightNut]

if parents wouldnt like freak out about alcohol then 18 year olds would be more responsible. when i was young it wasn't a huge deal NOT to drink like - "oh sara want to try a sip of my beer?" etc. so when i did turn 21 i wasnt like "OMG alcohol lets get wasted!" cause it wasnt like so amazing to me.

[icameonherface]

I don't think the drinking age should be where it is for multiple reasons but I don't think that we can even THINK about lowering it as a country until there's some logical education instituted about it. If you don't teach kids anything about alcohol, they'll learn it in the most violent of ways.

The education argument is a joke anymore. If the general population does not know the effects of alcohol by the time they're (not physically feeling them), but the effects of overconsumption, I have no faith in our younger generation and I will kill myself by the time they are of age to do something with the country.

[lushintransit]

That might be the indirect but the direct reason was Congress said they would withdraw highway funding if states did not raise their age from 18 to 21. It's in the Federal Aid Highway Act.

While that's true (as is the OP of this), people tend to neglect the fact that the majority of safety factors that we have present in our modern automobiles (such as the little light in the rear view) that are credited with preventing accidents were not present then. Personally, just as an experiment, I'd love to see a city or something of 'kids' under 21 drinking and driving and stuff with modern cars and see how it goes.

[PaulsRightNut]

The education argument is a joke anymore. If the general population does not know the effects of alcohol by the time they're (not physically feeling them), but the effects of overconsumption, I have no faith in our younger generation and I will kill myself by the time they are of age to do something with the country.

haha you're only 23, its not you're that much older than all the soon to be drinking teenagers out there

[icameonherface]

haha you're only 23, its not you're that much older than all the soon to be drinking teenagers out there

that besides the point. Our population of citizens act like assholes generally. We don't consume, we overconsume food, liquor, smoking, etc.

[aminorthreat55]

if parents wouldnt like freak out about alcohol then 18 year olds would be more responsible.
Overprotection is not why teenagers are irresponsible.

[aminorthreat55]

that besides the point. Our population of citizens act like assholes generally. We don't consume, we overconsume food, liquor, smoking, etc.
Yep.

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

if 18 year olds were more responsible then fine, but stats prove they're not...at all.


then why do we let them buy guns, knives, smoke cigarettes, go to war, vote for the leader of the free world?

[icameonherface]

then why do we let them buy guns, knives, smoke cigarettes, go to war, vote for the leader of the free world?

1 - guns/knives are generally for people who hunt. They don't necessarily impair their judgement.
2 - Cigarette - do not impair your judgement
3 - The army is voluntary. It is a job, and like most jobs, you have to be 18 to do it. If there was a draft, then yes the drinking age should be lowered.
4 - Voting - you say it like it is a bad thing.

[lushintransit]

1 - guns/knives are generally for people who hunt. They don't necessarily impair their judgement.
2 - Cigarette - do not impair your judgement
3 - The army is voluntary. It is a job, and like most jobs, you have to be 18 to do it. If there was a draft, then yes the drinking age should be lowered.
4 - Voting - you say it like it is a bad thing.

Well it is if the person we're talking is so immature that they apparently can't handle the ability to drink alcohol legally without hurting themselves/others.

[E-Skeezy]

The ONLY thing lowering the drinking age would accomplish in this country is more alcohol-related deaths. For every person that's able to be hand the responsibility of legally drinking at age 18, there's probably 8-10 people that aren't. Go spend a year at any semi-major/major university in the U.S. and you'll see.

[icameonherface]

[/b]Well it is if the person we're talking is so immature that they apparently can't handle the ability to drink alcohol legally without hurting themselves/others.

then raise the voting age.

[Sleepaway]

If they lowered the drinking age then it wouldn't be a big deal to get wasted by the time someone was 18 year olds. That is how it works here. I'm 16 and I've been drinking for over 2 years. I know how to drink responsibly.
If teens were around alcohol more often there would be much less of an attraction to get fucked up every time they drink.

18 are DEFINATELY mature enough to handle alcohol.

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

1 - guns/knives are generally for people who hunt. They don't necessarily impair their judgement.
2 - Cigarette - do not impair your judgement
3 - The army is voluntary. It is a job, and like most jobs, you have to be 18 to do it. If there was a draft, then yes the drinking age should be lowered.
4 - Voting - you say it like it is a bad thing.


you missed the point completely

18 year olds are viewed as mature enough to do all those things I listed. I dont think voting is a bad thing. But apparently we think 18 year olds are mature enough to do it. Do you really want to go hunting with an immature 18 year old with a gun? As fas as the military goes, yes its voluntary, but if they cant be mature enough to drink responisbly why do we place the responsibility in their hands to carry out things that our government sees as vitally important to national security?

[icameonherface]

If they lowered the drinking age then it wouldn't be a big deal to get wasted by the time someone was 18 year olds. That is how it works here. I'm 16 and I've been drinking for over 2 years. I know how to drink responsibly.
If teens were around alcohol more often there would be much less of an attraction to get fucked up every time they drink.

18 are DEFINATELY mature enough to handle alcohol.

I never had a problem not getting alcohol when I was under 21 and 18. It is not that unaccessible. The problem is not of 18 year olds drinking, the problem here is people here don't know their limits for some reason until they're about 25.

You cannot compare the British to Americans...

It used to be 18 here. There is a reason it was raised to 21.

[icameonherface]

you missed the point completely

18 year olds are viewed as mature enough to do all those things I listed. I dont think voting is a bad thing. But apparently we think 18 year olds are mature enough to do it. Do you really want to go hunting with an immature 18 year old with a gun? As fas as the military goes, yes its voluntary, but if they cant be mature enough to drink responisbly why do we place the responsibility in their hands to carry out things that our government sees as vitally important to national security?

Statistics show that the average 18 year old is NOT mature enough to do most things when they are using a substance that alters their judgments. If they want it lowered, they should act a little more responsible when they they drink illegally now. Thats my point.

2/3 of adults and teens think the drinking age is fine.

Even when people use fake IDs they don't use it to buy beer to have 2 to relax. They use them to get fucked up.

[StuGrimson]

THe drinking age in the States is too high. The whole argument about drinking age being lowered causing more problems is bullshit. Look at Canada or any other country that has a lower age. I dont understand how you can go off to college for 3 years before you are legally old enough to drink....we all know what goes on at college. If anything having a higher drinking age will create more drinking related problems.

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

Statistics show that the average 18 year old is NOT mature enough to do most things when they are using a substance that alters their judgments. If they want it lowered, they should act a little more responsible when they they drink illegally now. Thats my point.

2/3 of adults and teens think the drinking age is fine.

Even when people use fake IDs they don't use it to buy beer to have 2 to relax. They use them to get fucked up.


well to use the argument from the abortion thread
if they are gonna do it anyway, why not make it legal?

I understand there are holes in that, but my point is kids who want to drink are going to whether its legal or not. it just doesnt make sense to me why they are plenty mature enough to do all these other things but not to go have a beer.

[icameonherface]

THe drinking age in the States is too high. The whole argument about drinking age being lowered causing more problems is bullshit. Look at Canada or any other country that has a lower age. I dont understand how you can go off to college for 3 years before you are legally old enough to drink....we all know what goes on at college. If anything having a higher drinking age will create more drinking related problems.

thats incredibly false and you cannot compare countries until parental units in our country teach kids to be responsible and the children show maturity.



well to use the argument from the abortion thread
if they are gonna do it anyway, why not make it legal?

I understand there are holes in that, but my point is kids who want to drink are going to whether its legal or not. it just doesnt make sense to me why they are plenty mature enough to do all these other things but not to go have a beer.

Fucking awful argument. If people are going to kill people, lets make it legal.

Abortion is about morals, not maturity...also underage drinking...leads to more abortion possibilities.

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

thats incredibly false and you cannot compare countries until parental units in our country teach kids to be responsible and the children show maturity.





Fucking awful argument. If people are going to kill people, lets make it legal.

Abortion is about morals, not maturity...also underage drinking...leads to more abortion possibilities.


I think its an awful argument too. but people on here use it for one thing and not another. It doesn't apply to this issue at all though. so disregard.

Drinking in general leads to that. The fact that it is underage doesnt matter. I really think you are missing my point. I do not drink, and wouldnt even if the drinking age was 18. But to have such a inconsistent opinion of 18 year olds is weird to me.

[E-Skeezy]

I think its an awful argument too. but people on here use it for one thing and not another. It doesn't apply to this issue at all though. so disregard.

Drinking in general leads to that. The fact that it is underage doesnt matter. I really think you are missing my point. I do not drink, and wouldnt even if the drinking age was 18. But to have such a inconsistent opinion of 18 year olds is weird to me.


I understand your point. And, generally, I agree that there's a certain hipocracy with the priveledges that 18 yr olds are given. I used to believe that the drinking age should be 18 because of the way everything else way, but, after being around that age group for so long my opinion has changed. If I believed that the majority of 18 yr olds would just be getting a beer or two to relax, then I'd certainly agree with lowering the age, but I just don't believe that's the case.

[Love As Arson]

Perhaps eighteen year olds act immaturely with regard to drinking alcohol due to the way in which they are approached about the practice.

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

Perhaps eighteen year olds act immaturely with regard to drinking alcohol due to the way in which they are approached about the practice.


I think thats a great point

[MusicalSpirit]

I think thats a great point

I agree with the given statement as well. Nicely said.

[icameonherface]

Perhaps eighteen year olds act immaturely with regard to drinking alcohol due to the way in which they are approached about the practice.

What telling kids when there 11 and 12 warning them about alcoholism and the effects of drinking and drugs?

[Ambulance X]

The drinking age should be 25, or even higher. It would cut down on drunk driving, and set a better example for the younger generations.

[aminorthreat55]

THe drinking age in the States is too high. The whole argument about drinking age being lowered causing more problems is bullshit. Look at Canada or any other country that has a lower age. I dont understand how you can go off to college for 3 years before you are legally old enough to drink....we all know what goes on at college. If anything having a higher drinking age will create more drinking related problems.
Nope. The countries with lower ages have very different societies compared to ours and therefore serve as poor examples.

[StuGrimson]

Yes Canada and the US are so different

[icameonherface]

Yes Canada and the US are so different

It sucks to say this, but I think Canadians are more responsible.

[StuGrimson]

My view on it is that when I go to bars in Niagara Falls I can instantly tell who the under 21 Americans are because they carry themselves in a rowdy fashion and overindulge quite a bit. I would like to give them the benift of the doubt and say its because they are not allowed to drink in the States that they are rowdy when they can, and if it was legal the novelty would wear off and they would act like the rest of us. I can see how you can look at it as them being to immature and not ready to handle it. I guess its tough to digress which is right and which isnt. I just like to believe that people are generally responsible and when you can drink, after a while it isnt that big of a deal anymore. Belive me though, I can see where you are coming from.

[icameonherface]

My view on it is that when I go to bars in Niagara Falls I can instantly tell who the under 21 Americans are because they carry themselves in a rowdy fashion and overindulge quite a bit. I would like to give them the benift of the doubt and say its because they are not allowed to drink in the States that they are rowdy when they can, and if it was legal the novelty would wear off and they would act like the rest of us. I can see how you can look at it as them being to immature and not ready to handle it. I guess its tough to digress which is right and which isnt. I just like to believe that people are generally responsible and when you can drink, after a while it isnt that big of a deal anymore. Belive me though, I can see where you are coming from.

21 and 22 year old college kids get just as rowdy.

[Love As Arson]

What telling kids when there 11 and 12 warning them about alcoholism and the effects of drinking and drugs?
A more effective strategy would be to cease placing alcohol upon a mantle.

[lushintransit]

Perhaps eighteen year olds act immaturely with regard to drinking alcohol due to the way in which they are approached about the practice.

I think it's a matter of education. You could make the drinking age 50 or 10 or 18 or 21 and it won't matter in America. The way we treat drinking is so abnormal when compared to every other country. There are some countries where drinking at dinner with your family is a part of your communal culture...in America, it's all about getting shitfaced in the bar with your friends.

[lushintransit]

21 and 22 year old college kids get just as rowdy.

Seriously, I know everywhere that I've ever been (PA, NJ, NYC, WV, etc) it's those who can legally drink that are the bigger issue in terms of behavior. They're the ones more likely to drive drunk home from the bar than to call a friend, they're the ones stumbling drunk down the hills and making noise issues. Sure, the minors do it too but the fact that they have to 'hide it' makes their behavior more toned occasionally. When my college has our nights at a local bar, the kids who can't drink come home and go to bed. The kids who can legally drink at the bar barely make it on the bus without puking and screaming and are up until seven am causing problems.

[lushintransit]

The drinking age should be 25, or even higher. It would cut down on drunk driving, and set a better example for the younger generations.

I don't know about that. I think that if you set it that much higher that it would cause more of a rebel culture that would thus increase what it's attempting to prevent. IMO.

[icameonherface]

Seriously, I know everywhere that I've ever been (PA, NJ, NYC, WV, etc) it's those who can legally drink that are the bigger issue in terms of behavior. They're the ones more likely to drive drunk home from the bar than to call a friend, they're the ones stumbling drunk down the hills and making noise issues. Sure, the minors do it too but the fact that they have to 'hide it' makes their behavior more toned occasionally. When my college has our nights at a local bar, the kids who can't drink come home and go to bed. The kids who can legally drink at the bar barely make it on the bus without puking and screaming and are up until seven am causing problems.

and you don't think that amount will increase when you lower it?

[Broken Parachute]

No drinking age at all, true feelings.You'd support a 13 year old getting hammered? Ya gotta draw the line somewhere.

[lushintransit]

then raise the voting age.

Great! An even larger apathetic youth population who can now not only vote (but why would they care to since they're so immature, right) but they can't drink either. Let's just make heroine legal and, since we have no faith in any minor or newly legal 18-year-old, they'll take care of the problems for us.

[lushintransit]

Overprotection is not why teenagers are irresponsible.

Amen.

[lushintransit]

What telling kids when there 11 and 12 warning them about alcoholism and the effects of drinking and drugs?

I think that's part of the problem. If you tell kids from the time they can conceive of the word 'dog' that here is a list of things that will hurt them eternally and that they are a fuck up if they touch them (cigarettes, liquor, drugs etc) and then let them enter their teens where 'everyone is doing it' and it's glamorized on television, movies and their newfound role-models in cultural icons, you send a mixed message that every wise-ass teen can see through. "Man, that skinny girl on T.V. is drinking, she looks good doing it too. And she's happy!" I'm not saying these things don't hurt people, I'm just saying that there are a lot of aspects that America goes about 'wrong' in teaching the younger generations and the idea that alcohol will kill you tends to contrast with the fact that when most families get together, someone is having a beer.

[icameonherface]

Great! An even larger apathetic youth population who can now not only vote (but why would they care to since they're so immature, right) but they can't drink either. Let's just make heroine legal and, since we have no faith in any minor or newly legal 18-year-old, they'll take care of the problems for us.

What?

Way to go off on tangents.

[icameonherface]

I think that's part of the problem. If you tell kids from the time they can conceive of the word 'dog' that here is a list of things that will hurt them eternally and that they are a fuck up if they touch them (cigarettes, liquor, drugs etc) and then let them enter their teens where 'everyone is doing it' and it's glamorized on television, movies and their newfound role-models in cultural icons, you send a mixed message that every wise-ass teen can see through. "Man, that skinny girl on T.V. is drinking, she looks good doing it too. And she's happy!" I'm not saying these things don't hurt people, I'm just saying that there are a lot of aspects that America goes about 'wrong' in teaching the younger generations and the idea that alcohol will kill you tends to contrast with the fact that when most families get together, someone is having a beer.

Or...just show them pictures of drinking and driving accidents/lungs from smoking, cancer victims, what crackheads look like, etc.

I'm not saying to put fear, but to show reality.

People that do stuff because people on tv do it, are obviously not mature enough to drink, so why would you want to lower the age?

People try to warn people of what not to do when they drink and the long-term effects of consistent drinking.

[Bad Luck Prince]

I think the drinking age is completely appropriate. I would like to see it higher. It's hard to see the good in lowering such a horrific liquid. Alcohol is bad for everybody, but seeing as how prohibition is completely out of reach because of the sad social acceptance of it's consumption, it's always going to be there.

Me being Native American, I see the destruction alcohol can do to a person, a family and a community. Native Americans are very prone to alcoholism, due to a gene they have that helps them better digest firmented food or drinks.

I'm not saying all people who drink are drunks, but why give somebody the opportunity to be one. It sickens me.

[icameonherface]

I think the drinking age is completely appropiate. I would like to see it hire. It's hard to see the good in lowering such a horrific liquid. Acohol is bad for everybody, but seeing as how prohibition is completely out of reach because of the sad social acceptance of it's consumption, it's always going to be there.

Me being Native American, I see the destruction alcohol can do to a person, a family and a community. Native Americans are very prone to alcoholism, due to a gene they have that helps them better digest firmented food or drinks.

I'm not saying all people who drink are drunks, but why give somebody the opportunity to be one. It sickens me.

before you're bashed, go back and proof-read.

[themangowalk]

i dont think those under 21 mind that much, just from a legal standpoint i guess. I am under 21 and many of my friends are...if we want it...we get it with ease.

[Bad Luck Prince]

before you're bashed, go back and proof-read.

Ah. I have the flu. Don't get angry guys.

[The Revisionist]

I wouldn't mind seeing it lowered to 18 for the time being, and then possibly eradicated at some point. It's not the government's job to "protect" us from stuff like that, it's our job to be knowledgable about the pros and cons.

Then again, I don't terribly care that much. I'm 22. ;P

[icameonherface]

I wouldn't mind seeing it lowered to 18 for the time being, and then possibly eradicated at some point. It's not the government's job to "protect" us from stuff like that, it's our job to be knowledgable about the pros and cons.

Then again, I don't terribly care that much. I'm 22. ;P

The government is not protecting the people you, but the people around you.

[lushintransit]

What?

Way to go off on tangents.

Not off tangent at all...we're talking about the immaturity of 18-year olds. They're too irresponsible to vote, to drink etc...(or so this thread has suggested).

[lushintransit]

Or...just show them pictures of drinking and driving accidents/lungs from smoking, cancer victims, what crackheads look like, etc.

I'm not saying to put fear, but to show reality.

People that do stuff because people on tv do it, are obviously not mature enough to drink, so why would you want to lower the age?

People try to warn people of what not to do when they drink and the long-term effects of consistent drinking.

That's the problem, the way things are done now is to show fear. There's a stark raving difference between fear and truth. If you show some a picture of a corroded lung and say to an impressionably eight year old mind that they WILL have this as their lung if they so much as think about smoking a cigarette and that you WILL die if you have more than one cigarette and so forth projects absolute fear, not reality. Telling them that yes, this will happen if you pick up smoking as a habit and that you run the risk of this and that is a different scenario.

The people 'impressed' by those actions are in the t'ween/low teen range, not as a whole the upper teen range. I don't think anyone would suggest lowering the drinking/voting/smoking age to 13.

They've done studies (mostly at Harvard...of course lol) that indicate that teenagers, unlike the plus 25 generation, are able to grasp the idea of the future and all that jazz but aren't able to comprehend it in the same way that their elders do. Up until the age of early twenty, most people still have developing rationality in their minds. This is why a lot of truth commercials attempt to show immediate affects and damage rather than long term. Telling a kid they can die of cancer from drinking too much is too far off for most to really be scared of it. Tell them that some superficial affect such as yellow skin and teeth will occur if they begin smoking is more immediate, and substantive, to them.

[icameonherface]

Not off tangent at all...we're talking about the immaturity of 18-year olds. They're too irresponsible to vote, to drink etc...(or so this thread has suggested).

they're too irresponsible to drink - as they tend to drive.


christ, lets just talk about how they cannot rent a car until their 25.

The age is what it is and it should stay there.

[icameonherface]

That's the problem, the way things are done now is to show fear. There's a stark raving difference between fear and truth. If you show some a picture of a corroded lung and say to an impressionably eight year old mind that they WILL have this as their lung if they so much as think about smoking a cigarette and that you WILL die if you have more than one cigarette and so forth projects absolute fear, not reality. Telling them that yes, this will happen if you pick up smoking as a habit and that you run the risk of this and that is a different scenario.

The people 'impressed' by those actions are in the t'ween/low teen range, not as a whole the upper teen range. I don't think anyone would suggest lowering the drinking/voting/smoking age to 13.

They've done studies (mostly at Harvard...of course lol) that indicate that teenagers, unlike the plus 25 generation, are able to grasp the idea of the future and all that jazz but aren't able to comprehend it in the same way that their elders do. Up until the age of early twenty, most people still have developing rationality in their minds. This is why a lot of truth commercials attempt to show immediate affects and damage rather than long term. Telling a kid they can die of cancer from drinking too much is too far off for most to really be scared of it. Tell them that some superficial affect such as yellow skin and teeth will occur if they begin smoking is more immediate, and substantive, to them.


Alcohol-Related deaths doesn't show that? Injuries from alcohol-related accidents?

I was always taught about over-consumption, irresponsibility. I'm sorry other schools and parents are bad teachers.

The government protects the people, not the individual.

[AnF1500]

i'm on a politics thread making spree so here comes another one.

should the drinking age be lowered from 21?


i believe it should be lowered to 19. i would say 18, but that would mean that high schoolers could legally buy alcohol and that would be bad. at the same time, it really doesn't matter as if someone wants alcohol, someone will get it. i just feel that if one can vote and join or be drafted into the military, one should be able to go to the local bar and buy a beer.


I agree it should be 19. I don't like the idea that you can join or be drafted and still not be able to legally have a beer...but if it were 18 the efftects with high schoolers and all would be disasterous.

[iita]

I didn't know the age was 21 in the U.S.A. I thought it was 18 like it is here (in Finland).
I think 18 is a good age, 'cause when you're old enough to drive, you should be old enough to drink, because drinking causes accidents for the drinker and sometimes to his/her enviroment, but a bad driver can cause a death for many people at the same time. And many times.
But you know, the age being 18 doesn't stop many desperate teenagers (from my school for example) to drink every weekend and make total fools of themselves. Really, what do you think when a 13-15 years old girl or boy walks on the street totally drunk?
Even they are my age, I think it's pathetic.