Lowering the drinking age

[vtmarik]

First off, I apologize if this is a repost.

Ok, now we all know that the drinking age, across the nation (and by the nation I mean the USA), is 21. This was mandated by the 1984 act passed by congress that threatened the states with a loss of federal highway funds if they didn't raise their drinking ages to 21.

I want to know, seriously, how many people out there feel that the drinking age should be lowered back to 18.

Personally, I think the age to drink should be 18. I think this way because I believe that A) a lower drinking age will give 18-21 year olds more experience with alcohol, reducing binge drinking; B) Less alcohol related fatalities in the 21-24 age bracket; and C) the age limit of 21 is arbitrary and only serves to move the statistics for alcohol-related accidents/fatalities up three years.

What do you think?

[Anarchy Ninja]

It's 18 in Australia . it doesnt matter wether it's at 18 or 21, it just means there will be less underage drinking cause its legal

[Anarkistsdream]

16 to drive
18 to drink, vote, and be drafted
21 to smoke weed
25 to lower insurance


That is the way it should be....

[got tonkaed]

anark...out of curiosity, if weed is legalized, why would the age be different than that for alchy, considering the argument for legalization is often it is no more harmful or even less harmful than alcohol.

[Anarkistsdream]

anark...out of curiosity, if weed is legalized, why would the age be different than that for alchy, considering the argument for legalization is often it is no more harmful or even less harmful than alcohol.

Because it is a better lead-in to allowing it to be legalized...

Although, I made a mistake... I meant to put weed at 18 and keep alcohol at 21... Alcohol is much more damaging to the body and requires a higher level of maturity to use responsibly...

We could make them both 21 and I would be okay...

Hell, I'm old enough that I don't really care about age restrictions anymore, so it doesn't really matter. I would vote for whatever would benefit the youngsters more.

[Guilty_Biscuit]

16 to drive
16 to drink, vote, and be drafted
16 to smoke weed
Insurance is the tip of the iceberg for organised criminals, the money made from it goes on to fund people smuggling and terrorism, just say no!

[onbekende]

alcoholics

I don't drink, and there I am happy with

[btownmeggy]

Personally, I think the age to drink should be 18. I think this way because I believe that A) a lower drinking age will give 18-21 year olds more experience with alcohol, reducing binge drinking; B) Less alcohol related fatalities in the 21-24 age bracket; and C) the age limit of 21 is arbitrary and only serves to move the statistics for alcohol-related accidents/fatalities up three years.

So why, then, 18? Why not 16? 12? 8? No age?

[got tonkaed]

although sobriety works for you sir, many would actually like to drink every now and then (for some maybe its actually every single now and then) thats kinda the point of any public policy - though good intentions often end up creating silly grey areas. Consumption can have consequences and the goal is at least to protect and safeguard individuals until they reach a level of maturity to deal with. Whether or not thats right i dunno, but thats the idea eh.

[jay_a2j]

16 to drive
18 to drink, vote, and be drafted
21 to smoke weed
25 to lower insurance


That is the way it should be....

18 to drive

21 to drink,vote,draft

99 to smoke weed (at that age it won't matter)

insurance should be outlawed

[mr. incrediball]

It's 18 in Australia .

it's 18 pretty much everywhere except America!

HIGH FIVES TO ALL NON-AMERICANS!

[Kahless]

It's 16 in Germany

[btownmeggy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drin ... by_country

[got tonkaed]

Germany is pretty universally known for their pretty strong affinity to the beer, so it only makes sense that one shouldnt have to wait to drink it as far as im concerned. I would think its probably not a high number in ireland either, though i cant confirm.

[DAZMCFC]

18 to drink (got served in the pub when i was 16 no probs).
16 to have sex or smoke (not weed, but you can if you want but is illegal, but who gives a shit).

[Stopper]

It's 18 in Australia .

it's 18 pretty much everywhere except America!

HIGH FIVES TO ALL NON-AMERICANS!

Well, it's 5 years old in Britain, as far as I remember. You just can't purchase alcohol if you're under 18, and there are strict regulations on licensed premises (but it's not a blanket under-18 ban).

So, knock yourself out, young man.

EDIT: Actually, btownmeggy's since posted with that wikipedia link - just scroll down to United Kingdom. I promise I didn't put it there.

[Kahless]

Germany is pretty universally known for their pretty strong affinity to the beer, so it only makes sense that one shouldnt have to wait to drink it as far as im concerned. I would think its probably not a high number in ireland either, though i cant confirm.

18 in Ireland, north and south, although one time a Dublin bar wouldn't serve me because I was under 25

[vtmarik]

Personally, I think the age to drink should be 18. I think this way because I believe that A) a lower drinking age will give 18-21 year olds more experience with alcohol, reducing binge drinking; B) Less alcohol related fatalities in the 21-24 age bracket; and C) the age limit of 21 is arbitrary and only serves to move the statistics for alcohol-related accidents/fatalities up three years.

So why, then, 18? Why not 16? 12? 8? No age?

Because it's easier to lower an arbitrary age restriction to match others before they are eventually eliminated.

Personally, I'm for abolishing all age restrictions of all kinds, but I'm also a pragmatist.

[freezie]

Ban alchool. Plain and simple.


Or higher it to 25. Even in Canada..

[got tonkaed]

being able to buy when you are 6 in haiti or just plan old being able to drink in the isle of man or in britain when your 5 is fairly young, maybe im just a bit of a puritan.

[vtmarik]

Ban alchool. Plain and simple.


Or higher it to 25. Even in Canada..

Yeah, because that worked sooooo well the last time we tried it.

[Stopper]

being able to buy when you are 6 in haiti or just plan old being able to drink in the isle of man or in britain when your 5 is fairly young, maybe im just a bit of a puritan.

Well, some people allow their children to drink a glass or two of wine with meals. Like Pasteur said, "A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine."

Having said that, I had haggis and chips yesterday, and the merlot didn't seem to add much to the experience.

[vtmarik]

Having said that, I had haggis and chips yesterday, and the merlot didn't seem to add much to the experience.

I think for something like haggis you should drink a lighter red wine.

Chablis with your Sheep stomach?

[got tonkaed]

i just think its a bit humorous the disparity between that and much of the rest of the world. There probably is nothing wrong with letting the little tykes have a glass or two with a meal, and probably is a far deal safer than the consuming that goes on in general a decade later no?

And yes i would think it would be critical to find the right wine to blend with the haggis, as ive heard thats quite a formidable dish.

[Kahless]

When I was 19 I got fined for buying drink for a friend who was 17. Surely if this 5 year old rule applies, I wasn't doing anything illegal