21, stupid drinking age?

[scotth266]

Yup, you summed it up pretty well, we Americans can do eveything save drink booze at 21.

Reason why: It was a good political agenda at the time to blame almost all drunk-driving incidents on teens, so this was exploited vigourously to win the votes of your average schmo.

Honestly, you can make so many other choices at 18 that I see this as ridiculous, but then again I'm not running for public office.

 

[roblikestoskate]

My way, the legal drinking age is 19, and yet, kids were drinking through high school. Kids aren't stupid, so they'll get booze either way.

Ironically, we can start driving at 16; I'd rather kids drink at 16, and start driving at 19 because by then they'll know how much booze is too much, and there'll be less 'stupid' on the roads.

That might work. If you think about the damage you can do with a car, driving is potentially a much greater responsibility than consuming alcohol. The thing is, most of the DUIs I hear about involve underage kids or generally young drinkers. I also feel like there is some conventional truth to the ages insurance companies use to assess risk, since they are based on numbers.

Of course, everyone knows that life doesn't really begin until you're 25.

 

[samsprinkle]

Does anyone ACTUALLY pay attention to that law? I drink. I'm not 21. Not very many people can deny that they've had a drink everynow and then.

 

[Aschenkatza]

I don't agree with the drinking age because I can sign up and die for my country at 18 but I can't drink? That's fucked up.
If we obliterated the drinking age, I think underage drinking wouldn't be an issue. I think most underage drinkers get the thrill of "I'm doing something illegal!!!" rather than like drinking.

 

[Galletea]

Good question, like why are you considered an adult in all respects, but still don't get the full minimum wage until 22?

 

[Bagaloo]

They might as well lower it, juding from these posts it doesn't do much good anyway.
If you have a high drinking age, kids will still get booze.
If you lower it, they will still get booze. You just can't win.

 

[CrafterMan]

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.

Because people genuinely believe crap like this.

Underage drinkers will get their booze whatever the age limit is. Saying that putting three years on the drinking age makes it harder for them is plain wrong.

This is exactly right. Bringing up the teens with the choice/awareness of drinking is better than slapping an arbitrary number on it.

 

[Jaythulhu]

Hell yeah it is. The entirety of Australian youth would be rioting in the streets if the government tried to raise the legal drinking age, and god knows, as a 30 year old, I'd be joining them in solidarity.

If yer considered enough of an adult to sign legal contracts and have an open drivers license at 18, you're old enough to make decisions about alcohol.

 

[toxic_waster]

yeah here in aust

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.

yeah here in australia the legal age is 18 too, by your 16 you are getting wasted at partys and wind up with your face in someones ass.

 

[To mock a killingbird]

About that whole "If you're old enough to die for your country" point:
Well, no. In Israel we have a drinking age of 18, same age as drafting age (everyone is drafted), almost same age as driving age.
Also, frontal unit soldiers ARE REQUIRED to take the rifle home, and usually don't see much of home so when they do they go and get massively shitfaced. So whooptidoo! people that can die for their country can get pissed drunk in it!

But now, you have drunk and angry fucktards behind the wheel (and are new at it), with weapon accessibility and combat training!

In an ideal world we could all drink at 15, and drive and kill only later, when we have the "we get drunk to look cool" bullshit out of our system.
But, in an ideal world we wouldn't have to kill and all the cars would be made out of gummy bears, duct tape and V8 engines.
well, lost my point there, gone hunting for gummy bears.

 

[Corpse XxX]

I wouldnt wanna live in America until i turned 21 then

But seriously, that age limit is way to high..

In Norway, you can buy alcohol up to 21% when 18, any higher percentage you need to be 21..

But the written laws state that you are not allowed to BUY alcohol when younger than 18, but you are allowed to drink when younger than 18..
So when the cops see "underage" teens drinking, they do nothing about it..

So i started drinking when i was 13-14 i think.. now 26 years old, and i turned out just fine.. kinda.. lol..

 

[Zykon TheLich]

I have to say I think the way the french and Italians do things is about right, drinking wines with meals at the family dinner table I think allows children to get used to alcohol and it's effects under the guidance of their parents as well as gets them into more sensible habits for drinking. Also I think it takes away the 'forbidden fruit' and 'this will make you more grown up' aspect that makes teenagers expecially want to drink.

This is of course a cultural thing rather than just to do with the age limits, but put together I think the approach works well, it's a hell of a lot better than the 'no, it's bad, you must not do it...until you're 21 (or 18) and then overnight it's fine' approach. It must also seem especially stupid to american teenagers as in some states it's 21 and some it's 18 (I think), if there are different bits of the same country that have a 3 year difference in age limits kids are gonna figure the whole thing is bullshit. At least be consistent.

Personally I started drinking at about 13 and by 16 was thoroughly bored of alcohol and had moved onto way harder stuff and I don't drink anymore except for the odd pint at social occasions but usually I just stick to coca cola.

Maybe we could institute a law that it is compulsory to drink a large serving of wine/beer/spirits (scaled for body mass) with every evening meal for the whole family for 10 years or so and then lower the age to 14. I think I will send my idea to Gordon Brown...

 

[EeveeElectro]

I heard something about changing the drinking age to 21 in April, I don't know if it's true.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6551887.stm

I think driving at 16 and drinking at 21 is a good idea in America because it decreases the possibility of drink-driving.
I'm sure the age to drink in your own home is 5 and above... That's what I was years ago anyway when I used to do Citizenship or one of those incredibly important subjects...

 

[Zykon TheLich]

I heard something about changing the drinking age to 21 in April, I don't know if it's true.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6551887.stm

That is 'something' about changing the age to 21. It's some guy who writes for a journal suggesting that it should be illegal to serve an under 21 who has had more than 3 units.

Anyone who can say this:

By raising the age threshold, he claims: "It is at least possible that those in their early and mid teens will not see drink as something they will soon be allowed to do so therefore they might as well start doing it surreptitiously now."

...should not be allowed to write in anything other than the wall of a public toilet.

 

[Malkavian]

You can vote, own a gun, you are expected to either be in higher education or be employed and pay taxes, even watch hardcore pornography and play violent games, yet you cant drink.

Because all these things will go horribly wrong if you're drunk.

No seriously, I don't know. Here in Denmark, we can drink whenever. We can't buy alcohol in stores 'till 16, and bars can't serve us 'till we're 18. But we can drink whenever.
We don't have problems. We have some sad statistics, but no problems.

 

[spoon2big07]

i love you john!....there i commented !

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

Because lawmakers here are a bunch of family friendly asshats that want to preserve "The American Way".

 

[johnman]

The thing is with countries like France and Italy is that they have a decent culture to go with it.
Britian has Chavs.
Not quite the same.

 

[WeedWorm]

Hey, at least you dont get ripped off when you allowed to drink. Seriously, the price of drink here (Ireland) is bullshit.