Poll: Should The US Drinking Age Be Lowered?

[Shock and Awe]

Should the US Drinking Age Be Lowered?

I say yes, I find it so fucked up that a 18 year old deemed responsible and smart enough to be able to go to war and fight for his/her country, but drinking alcohol is apparently abover there heads. So I say that the drinking age should at least be lowered to 18.

 

[Rednog]

I don't think that is enough of a cause to warrant the lowering of the age. Plus the 18 --> go to war argument is iffy because if you're a student you're excused. It then becomes your choice to go and fight, its not like a draft or that they are forcing you to go.

 

[JRCB]

I think that's the legal drinking age in Canada, so sure, why not?

 

[rainman2203]

Fyi- this has been done a million times, so expect to get that response. But I pretty much agree with you. Then again it won't matter to me in 6 months so I don't get mad about it anymore.

 

[Leorex]

no, because i had to be 21, and forever will it be 21.

 

[vampirekid.13]

i think it should be lowered.

however i dont believe america has the cultural trends that europe has thus making the lowering harder.

for example, i grew up in europe, and ive been drinking socially since i was 7 yrs old.

my family always had wine at the table and everyone was allowed to have some.

growing up in that environment gives you a diff look on alcohol. its not something to get smashed off of, like it is in america, but rather something to enjoy the taste of while you are with friends.

 

[mr rofl]

too many stupid people.... The age should, in reverse, be higher

 

[GodsOneMistake]

Well considering how many 18,19,20 year olds will drink themselves to death the day it is legalized for them, i doubt it's such a good idea

 

[DannyBoy451]

As if having a drinking age has ever stopped anyone from drinking.

 

[kickin wiing]

No. Teens are already getting drunk and causing accidents, so why make it legal and easier to do so?

 

[smokeybearsb]

Possibly because if they do lower it, then they might be more responsible with drinking?

 

[rees263]

From an outsiders perspective it seems that the US has a great deal of taboo over drinking for some completely random reason (see prohibition)- while most of europe has a pretty strong tradition of drinking. A lot of European countries have no drinking age at all, or only some arbitrarily low one, and even then the rest usually allow beer or wine for 16 year olds (even uptight Britain in some circumstances).

I think the real question though is why are people who aren't considered responsible enough to drink still considered responsible enough to vote?

The obvious answer is to raise the voting age (and driving and everything else) to 21!

 

[Cliff_m85]

Anything that takes power away from the government I support.

 

[Cliff_m85]

No. Teens are already getting drunk and causing accidents, so why make it legal and easier to do so?

"Give me liberty or give me death"

 

[A random person]

No. Teens are already getting drunk and causing accidents, so why make it legal and easier to do so?

Because a lot of them drink because of the age?

I'm in the middle. On one hand, this is pretty much the one age restriction I support, since it's for the sake of neurological development, but on the other hand, you can join the army at 18, and maybe 21 is a bit high. Really, I don't know.

 

[Ignignoct]

To me, this is extremely low on the list of priorities.

Really, booze isn't that amazing.

I'm surprised how well the marketing and culture is pushing it these days. The kids seems really thirsty out there.

And for what?

 

[Aur0ra145]

Well considering how many 18,19,20 year olds will drink themselves to death the day it is legalized for them, i doubt it's such a good idea

And we don't do that the day we turn 21?

No. Teens are already getting drunk and causing accidents, so why make it legal and easier to do so?

Instead of ragging on the individual. I would rather rag on the government. Mainly Europe and other countries with lower drinking ages have much better mass transit systems in place for their citizens. Thus, the drunkies out there don't take the risks of driving home while intoxicated. They ride in the back of a bus/taxi home which has been provided by the government with a premium on their taxes.


So, will America ever lower the drinking age?

Answer: Probably not. If you ever need proof of the effectiveness of special interest groups just look at the MADD organization.