18 versus 21

[Woozie]

I saw something on the morning show about the drinking age this morning

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Politics/story ... 105&page=1

What I don't understand is why some argue that lowering the age to 18 would be dangerous. I'm 21, so I wouldn't be personally affected by this law, but I'm just wondering why it would be dangerous.

Is there something inherently different about the body of an 18 year old and that of a 21 year old that makes an 18 year old more likely to be harmed by alcohol?

Some argue that having the drinking age higher lowers vehicle deaths related to alcohol, but isn't it true that countries with lower drinking ages have less alcohol related deaths?

Why did they decide 21 in the first place? Was there a medical reason?

[Correction]

People wait until they're 21 to start drinking?

Laws draw arbitrary lines all the time. Get used to it.

[Acturus]

I'm going to ask the obvious, but this is US specific, right?

The US has the drinking age at 21 for the same reason that our government thought that Prohibition was a good idea back in the 20s. We're a country of repressed lemmings led by an outdated bible-thumping set of laws.

Having a lower legal drinking age in other countries, or even relaxed drinking laws, has done little or no harm in those other countries.

I never understood why we -raised- the legal drinking age back thirty odd years ago. Personally, if I could vote at 18, buy cigarettes at 18, legally watch a donkey show on DVD, and get drafted by our military at 18, I should be able to down a couple shots at a bar on the weekends.

[Fhqwghads]

Totally yanking this out of my ass, but I could swear that statistically speaking, other countries that don't even have a legal drinking age (aka you can reach the bar, you can have a drink) have in orders of magnitude less issues with young people getting dangerously intoxicated. I think having a limit on drinking does nothing but encourage bad behavior. The whole "attractive because it's taboo" angle and all that. If the mystery of it is removed, I think it loses its appeal and it will be less of an issue.

[Woozie]

^ Yeah, the main argument for lowering the drinking law in these states is because of the fact that 18 year olds are able to join the military.

[Shuemue]

I think it's incredibly insulting to tell a man he's old enough to die for his country but not old enough to toast fallen comrades with a drink.

The legal drinking age here is 18, and personally I'd lower it to 16. I drank heavily when I was a kid, I was a horrible cunt. I lost interest in alcohol almost as soon as it became legal. It's a rebellion thing, the more we say DRINK IS BAD, kids will go nuts for it.

[Isiolia]

I'd say it makes more sense to be at 18. Can be legally independent, in the military or just working full time, etc.

Probably was raised due to the general impulsiveness of the college set. If the age were even at 16 or something it might give people more of a chance to be acclimated towards having access to alcohol while not being free from parents as much.

[Demosthenes]

I totally waited till I was 21 to start drinking.

[Pirian]

Pretty sure you can drink if you're 18 while on a military base. I think you have to actually be in the military, though. I actually went to a big party not too long ago that was on a military base(they are all over NC) and at least half the people there couldn't have been of age yet(me included ).

[Tricen]

When the older generation cycles out, I'm sure things will change. If the drinking age hits 18 again, I think the main problem is going to be the spike consequences following it for the next year maybe? Lotsa DUIs and deaths until the newness wears off.

[Obev]

I think it's incredibly insulting to tell a man he's old enough to die for his country but not old enough to toast fallen comrades with a drink.

Personally I think it's insulting that over here you can get married at sixteen but can't rent a porno 'til you're eighteen. Talk about mixed messages.

[Lordwafik]

I'm going to ask the obvious, but this is US specific, right?

The US has the drinking age at 21 for the same reason that our government thought that Prohibition was a good idea back in the 20s. We're a country of repressed lemmings led by an outdated bible-thumping set of laws.

Where in the bible does it say you have to be 21 to drink? Religion bashing getting old and boring.

Anyway, legal limit is 18 here, and I don't see why it shouldn't be like that worldwide. If you're legally an adult at 18 and can make your own decisions, you should be legally allowed to drink too.

[SephYuyX]

18y/os are more idiotic than 21y/os, should probably raise it to 25 because most 21y/os are dumb too. It's just a damn beverage anyway, whats the big deal if you have to wait longer to have a drink.
I also think 16 is to young to drive, should be atleast 18, but you can start learning at 16.

[Senoska]

I'm almost offended on what they did on the today show. They had some lady that got ass pissed off at even the NOTION of lowering the age. She started personal attacks right away "UHM EXCUSE ME, WHAT MEDICAL EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE?! HA THATS WHAT I THOUGHT" and then later went on to make herself look even stupider by saying "The reason people are in the military is because they have the mentality of children, and no, they shouldn't be able to drink" There is absolutely no logical reason that the drinking age should be 21. You're capable of driving drunk over the age of 21, as much as you are at the age of 18, so that falls apart. Someone provide one good reason for the drinking age to be 21 and I will be impressed.

[Remyo]

if the drinking age were lowered their would be more drinking related auto collisions and dui's, since statistics show that 16-19 have higher accident rates. So now younger drivers would get hit harder with higher insurance rates.

In the countries with lower drinking ages what are the ages for other things like driver's licenses , etc.?

p.s. just because other countries do it doesn't mean america should, we have a history of overindulging on bad things.

[Tyche]

I wrote a long paper on this my freshman year in college, arguing that 18 would actually lower the amount of alcohol related deaths. I had a ton of sources for support, I wish I still had the paper somewhere. I remember one stat that we had the oldest legal drinking age in the west and the highest DUI rate/accident rate per capita of any country. Most kids still live with their parents at 18, so parents are able to teach their children how to safely consume alcohol, whereas at 21, you are out on your own and usually don't have your parent to lean on.

[Tricen]

I wrote a long paper on this my freshman year in college, arguing that 18 would actually lower the amount of alcohol related deaths. I had a ton of sources for support, I wish I still had the paper somewhere. I remember one stat that we had the oldest legal drinking age in the west and the highest DUI rate/accident rate per capita of any country. Most kids still live with their parents at 18, so parents are able to teach their children how to safely consume alcohol, whereas at 21, you are out on your own and usually don't have your parent to lean on.

I wouldn't doubt that it would lower the statistics. But not right away, you'd prolly see a spike high in the stats, and then a gradual decline.

[travOtaku]

I don't really understand why the drinking age is 21, either. If the country thinks at 18 I am both responsible and capable enough to go help bring the US victory during a time of war, why doesn't the government think I can use that same sense of responsibility at home when I just wanna throw one back with my friends?

I personally don't have any real reason to want to drink since its never really appealed to me (mostly because I'm not old enough), but I definitely know that if I were suddenly allowed to drink, I wouldn't be running around downing a shot of every possible combination of alcohol and juice/soda there is just because I was now able to. The same goes for weed. If that was legalized, I still doubt I'd do it.

The 18yos today that get smashed, will still get smashed. The ones that just have one or two at a party will continue to do that, and the ones that aren't interested still wont be interested.

The people that want to drink before they are 21 are going to do it anyway regardless of a law. The only thing that will change is that less older siblings will have to be hassled for booze.

[Kumbai]

Im 17, and the legal drinking age in Scotland is 18... and it doesn't stop me buying alcohol or drinking it ;o Kinda pointless law since it is pretty weak (in the UK anyways).

I always found it funny how you can have kids, drive to your wedding, get married, but not have an alcoholic drink at the reception ;x

[Woozie]

I'm almost offended on what they did on the today show. They had some lady that got ass pissed off at even the NOTION of lowering the age. She started personal attacks right away "UHM EXCUSE ME, WHAT MEDICAL EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE?! HA THATS WHAT I THOUGHT" and then later went on to make herself look even stupider by saying "The reason people are in the military is because they have the mentality of children, and no, they shouldn't be able to drink" There is absolutely no logical reason that the drinking age should be 21. You're capable of driving drunk over the age of 21, as much as you are at the age of 18, so that falls apart. Someone provide one good reason for the drinking age to be 21 and I will be impressed.

I think you were watching the same show I was. I remember that comment about 18 year olds being in the military because they have children mentality. I wanted to slap her.