21, stupid drinking age?

[Danzaivar]

Here in America you graduate high school at 18 and go to college till you're about 21-22. It could be a test to see if you can resist your feelings of freedom. Personally the higher the age, the less people will have it, if you get it at like 15 just think how many people will have had it by 16. Do you really want to get addicted before you're even legally an adult or drive?

You speak like once you've drank alcohol, you're hooked for life. Alcoholism is definitely a problem, but you make it sound like it's as addictive as Cocaine. The problem with booze isn't 'having' it, its 'handling' it, and it's much easier to handle if you acclimatise to it as you grow up.

Then again I've had the dreaded beer, so you'll need to ignore this junkie trying to defend having his fix. >_>

 

[sheic99]

In the UK it's 18 to BUY any alcohol (16 for beer & wine with 18 for spirits in the majority of mainland europe).
The actual age to drink in a restaurant with a meal is 15 / 16 and it's 13 at private parties.

Edit: that last fact is from the nice policeman at new years

I don't know why it's 21 in America tbh. Although I personally say drinking should come a year or so before driving so you don't suddenly get alcohol while you're able to drive. Learn to manage alcohol before driving - much safer.

I just consider myself lucky to be able to pass as 18 and buy myself alcohol.

It was 18 during a portion of the 80's, but for some reason the number of DUI's rose suddenly. So they decided to lower it.

Many states only let 18 years old purchase rifles and shotguns, and the handgun age is 21.

 

[zirnitra]

well no offence but in my experience Americans are complete lightweights when it comes to booze maybe that has something to do with it. historically you were founded by a lot of puritans so all in all your more conservative, I mean you fucking banned alcohol for a decade or so!
but hey you guys can drive at 16 swings and roundabouts eh?

 

[k3v1n]

But you could sucessfully argue that other countires have drinking ages even lower than the Uk's. In italy its 14 and france and spain its 16

spain is 18....

 

[Grenbyron]

Just something the politicians picked. Truthfully you will never stop underage drinkers if they are really determined. NyQuil is still over the counter after all. I know a guy that has a mix for it that makes NyQuil taste a little like a Pina Calatta (only spelled correctly).

 

[sheic99]

i think in america its actually the highest in the world here. what makes them think "oh they can shoot bloodthirsty terrorists just fine but they arent responsible enough to make sure they stop drinking before they drown themselves"? you know what i think that if a kid has the right to get amputations and shell shock then he can put a little alcohol in his system. he probably needs it (american forces in iraq and all that arent allowed any alcohol, while brits get i think two drinks a day, but thats beside the point).

That's because Iraq is a dry country.

 

[johnman]

I started drink at parties at 14, and after a few nights next to the toliet i know my limits, what im like drunk and how to deal with drunk people. When drunk i have been described as awesome, i act like my myself but much more confident. I dont drink to get wasted at parties, the beers there to lighten the mood. I do know people who drink to get wasted and think their amzing for it, but most of us think their tossers.
Im 16 by the way - lots of beer in the house i can (and do) sneak out and when my older brothers are in town they stock me up. My parents wouldnt buy me alcohol but i have plenty of friends parents who would. I also know a fair few people who are 18 and over.

 

[joystickjunki3]

The reason that it's above that is because if you allow 18 year olds to buy booze it makes it much easier still for their younger classmates to get it.

Also American mentally doesn't teach moderation in any way shape or form. SO younger people who have yet to learn this have a hard time drinking as a beverage and not as a drug.

Unfortunately, he's right about the moderation thing. I was raised thinking drinking was fine (which was further reinforced but the fact that I was allowed to have a beer at dinner from the age of 12) and it was perfectly acceptable to get drunk on occasion, but my friends have a different view. Moderation was always stressed by my entire family; celebratory events aside. Although I will admit that there area a fair amount of alcoholics running on my mom's side.

EDIT: Forgot to put my 2 cents in. 21 is a stupid age to allow drinking, they should change it and legalize pot (among other substances). Setting the age at 21 creates underaged binge-drinkers. What should be done is what we have done w/ sex and hopefully will do w/ guns: educate. The same goes for drugs, whether illegal or legal. The only way anyone is going to go anywhere is if we educate them on the subjects that could potentially deal the most damage.

 

[johnman]

But you could sucessfully argue that other countires have drinking ages even lower than the Uk's. In italy its 14 and france and spain its 16

spain is 18....

Is it?, i went last summer and everybody said it was 16 and i got served everytime. Even to buy 2 litres of whisky

 

[TwistedEllipses]

Over here the drinking age is 18. However, if your not throwing up in a taxi by the time your 15, your an outcast.

I have trouble believing ANYONE would wait until they were 21.

Even as an outcast, I managed being violently sick at 16. There was a pub that was so empty, they didn't mind violating the law as long as they had custom...man that place was a dive. Anyway that besides the point, we could have waited till we were 18, but 21?? That's just crazy talk...

Is it a hangover (pardon the phrase) from the prohibition mentality in the states?

 

[YouGetWhatsGiven]

But you could sucessfully argue that other countires have drinking ages even lower than the Uk's. In italy its 14 and france and spain its 16

Ya, when I went to Italy they poured me wine and beer like it was what they always do........wich it is.

 

[k3v1n]

But you could sucessfully argue that other countires have drinking ages even lower than the Uk's. In italy its 14 and france and spain its 16

spain is 18....

Is it?, i went last summer and everybody said it was 16 and i got served everytime. Even to buy 2 litres of whisky

or at least that's what the supermarket told me when I turned 17," no vendemos alcohol a los menores" translation: we don't sell alcohol to minors....although they don't ask your age in pubs/bars or small grocery stores normally

EDIT: sorry not minors, is it..teens?¿, my english isn't what it used to be...

 

[Beffudled Sheep]

So you can die for your country, but not consume alcohol? Hrmm, justice indeed.

They don't want you drunk on alcohol in the military. They want you drunk on your enemys' blood.
I don't know why its 21 in the US.

 

[Audemas]

While in a chemistry class today, I found out that the liver finishes maturing around the age of 21. This isn't the reason why the drinking age is 21 it just happens to be a coincidence. With that said, I personally don't drink and I don't really see the advantages of drinking since, in high quantities, it only hurts your body(Especially the liver), causes you to do really stupid stuff that anyone who wasn't inebriated would have the good sense not to do, and makes you sleep with women that appear attractive when drunk but when you're sobered up you wake up next to what you think is a hippopotamus.(Then again I suppose everyone needs love.) I never understood why drinking was so fun, it's like smoking? You know it's bad for you and will eventually provide health complications that you will most likely die of so what's the point?

 

[wewontdie11]

I think 21 is a bit late, in Canada is 19 which I think is pretty reasonable, its funny that you can buy cigarettes before you can smoke alcohol though

You smoke alcohol!? Christ you've gotta show me how to do that some time.

All I've got to say is God bless Britain and our collective lax attitude to social drugs.

 

[Kodlak]

Woop! 18 here! Hehe, not a good thing though, as I'm drinking most night.

 

[Late-Night-Conversation]

I heard that your body is fully grown at age 21. Maby thats why. Consuming alcohol is never safe, but maby its atleast easier to handle if you bodys full grown? I dunno. Even though here in sweden teenagers drink anyway becuse stupid assholes buys it for them.

Actually, it isn't. The brain isn't fully formed until age 25, so booze and drugs are still affecting your growth for long after it's legal.

I reckon it should be 16, because it's partly the stigma that's attached to booze that draws young people to it so much. If alcohol is held up as this all-powerful symbol of being grown-up (as the legal age of 18 or 21 tends to place it) kids will want to do it more. If it's no big deal to be drunk, then it eliminates the 'cool' factor of it. Studies have shown that in countries where the drinking age is lower and alcohol is considered a normal part of life from a young age (a glass of wine at the dinner table, being allowed to swig some of your parents' beer etc.) binge drinking in young people is lower.