Your views on the drinking age?

[July]

When I was young, the legal drinking age in my state was 18. Now it's 21.

I have a libertarianish problem with the 21-year-old age. Old argument, but I feel that if someone is old enough to vote, marry, and be drafted into combat, that person should also be allowed the other privileges of adulthood.

I believe the problems of young people drinking and driving must be addressed by education and within families. I would add that I have been pretty successful in teaching my young adult son about drinking responsibly, and he has even thanked me for the approach I've taken.

What are your views?

[Champion Jack]

1. 11

[AspenRose]

2. Damn straight

Old enough to vote, old enough to fight, old enough to drink

[KissMyAsscroft]

3. I dont think it matters too much...

I drank before 21, and I actually had a lot of fun at house parties and got way more action. Plus it keeps you from getting a DUI as well because you dont have to drive to a bar to drink and you can just crash at the house of whoever you are drinking at.

Just trying to look on the bright side

[Shifty-Eyed Llama]

4. 18. Damn right.

I agree with your views: "Old argument, but I feel that if someone is old enough to vote, marry, and be drafted into combat, that person should also be allowed the other privileges of adulthood."

Besides, if a person is under 21, he/she drinks anyways.

I see no problems with an 18 y/o drinking.

[DrWeird]

5. Get rid of it completely.

If you walk into a bar in Europe the only drunk people are american tourists.

[Mr. McD]

6. It was never an issue for me

I was able to buy liqueur most of the time from 16 on (at many places).

Laws will not stop those who want to drink or use. I agree education must come from the family.

[LastKnight]

7. wasnt this exact thread posted a few weeks ago?

i think it may actuially be a copy/paste from that thread, it looks very familiar, anyway...

i dont mean to be arrogant or closed minded, but whats so good about drinking in the first place? im a teenager and i just dont get the appeal. i dont have a problem with people that make those life choices like drinking (as long those choices are made responsibly, and dont put me in harm's way.) but ya know, i just dont see what the big deal is. as for the age, it dosent really matter to me because ive never really felt the unquenchable urge to do it.

i donno i guess im a minority on this issue.

-LK

[July]

12. I didn't see that thread, I was just thinking about the topic.

Nor am I saying that drinking is either good or bad. I just think that adults, legally defined, should be free to do what other adults can do, and that the 21-yr.-old drinking age creates a second-class citizenship for young adults.

Not a big deal, just something I was thinking about.

[LastKnight]

17. im not accusing you of anything, dont get me wrong.

just looked familiar thats all.

and i agree with you, i dont care if people drink, thier buisness, just not for me. as long as it doesnt hurt me, they can do what they want, thier smart enough to make the choice for themselves

-LK

[Art_from_Ark]

19. Another minority member here

I never gave a rat's bush about drinking, and still feel uncomfortable when forced into a social drinking situation.

It could be genetic. Or it could be because alcohol has caused too many problems in my family. Or both.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. Statistically DUI's went up in all states where drinking age was lowered

prompting it to go back up, in addition to the fact that lowering the age meant even YOUNGER people would have access to alcohol. I grew up in New York where the drinking age was 19. We could get New Jersey licenses and go out and drink since NJ didn't have pictures on their drivers' licenses at the time...so I was 12 years old getting into bars in New York.

I am for keeping the legal age older simply because of biology. A young man does not stop myelonizing (sp)until the age of 22 indicating that reactors, synapse etc and nerve activity which affects judgement is still in the formative stage, thereby affecting impulse.

For the record, I feel the age to be drafted into combat should be raised for the same reasons.

[July]

13. When was the NY drinking age 19?

Must have been after my time. I grew up in NY, and it was 18 when I was young.

Your argument makes some sense to me, in that you're talking about extending at least one of the other privileges of adulthood at an older age. But it doesn't really sit right with me to say that adults of a certain age (21 right now) can do whatever they want, while adults of a slightly younger age can't, especially when the younger gang is allowed to die in combat, but can't have a beer. Just strikes me as unfair.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. You're right..it was 18

And I did make clear that I disagree with the combat age for the same reason.

The reason I don't include the voting age is because I believe there is far more compelling interest in allowing people that are LEGAL adults to vote since they DO have the intellectual capacity (although varying) to sign a contract.

I am an advocate of the phrase JUSTICE ISN'T FAIR.

I do think it is just to forego the drinking age since myelonizing affects brain development and alcohol targets one section of the brain at a time starting with the frontal lobe and progressing to the parietal lobe...etc until it reaches a saturation level where it can affect the medulla oblangata...since an 18 year old brain is still in the formative stage...I feel there is a scientific reason to restrict sales...especially when that 18 year old has the right to get behind the wheel of a car.

[kalian]

9. I think having a "drinking age" is ludicrous....

Kids can join the military and get killed for somebody's special
interests at the tender age of 18...yet they can't even pop open
a 3.2 beer... What the hell is wrong with that...hmmm? :mad:

[TheMightyFavog]

10. I say go with the European solution

Lower the Drinking age to 16, raise the minimum driving age to 18.

[Kellanved]

26. not that easy

First, drinking age is never a "solution" - things happen regardless of the age.
Second, the age is 18, not 16. Most EU members(basically all continental countries) allow 16 year olds to consume one low-alcoholic (like beer or wine) beverage. A few nations even allow 14-year olds under supervision of their parents to have one drink.

On the other hand: there are EU nations with a min. driving age of 17. But regardless of age, the demands on driver education vary and the allowed blood alcohol level is not uniform either.

Personally I think that NO blood alcohol, the 16/18 threshold for drinking, the 18 for driving and very extensive driver education are a good combination. I see however that this might be a problem in regions with little public transportation and no easily reachable bars.

[absyntheNsugar]

11. 18 to drink, 21 to drive

I would much rather have my drivers know how to handle their liquor already, than throwing the keys to a kid who gets to legally experience alchohol for the first time with a license.

[July]

14. Do you think that is feasible?

Being able to drive is important to young people, especially those who start working young. Interesting idea, though.

[Shifty-Eyed Llama]

16. You're right.

When I was 16, I couldn't wait to get my license. I needed to get out of the house and go somewhere, without my parents.

Pushing the driving age up to 21 would be ludicrous.

[absyntheNsugar]

18. True it would be tough

But think of the implications....

Businesses paying minimum wage would be forced to up the salary in areas where teenagers didn't live nearby...it would help the living wage cause.

[Padraig18]

15. It's ridiculous.

I was born in Ireland, so that should tell you all you need to know about my views. :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. LOL but I would venture to guess that if Tony has ever served

as a traffic officer, he might not agree with you on this point. accidents with kids and alcohol tend to be among the goriest.

[Padraig18]

23. You're correct.

He doesn't think anyone should be able to drive before they're 18, and that Driver's Ed. should be a full-year course. :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. It should be!

What a cop sees largely contributes to these laws since 1) they are a powerful lobby 2) they do know the facts surrounding these issues.

I am for curfews for licenses at certain ages unless there is some other compelling reason such as A) being on the road in the case of an emergency B) going to and from work C) being the only licensed driver in the family.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

21. if your old enough to vote & fight, your old enough to drink & screw

...fair is fair.

[ButterflyBlood]

24. I'm 20 and I don't care

I just go to parties or get someone else to buy the booze for me. Doesn't affect me at all.