Legal Drinking Age

[commies-suck]

In Canada its 19, in Europe it is mostly 16, and in the States its 21. I think the drinking age in Canada is O.K. (but of course I'd prefer 16) but the american drinking age must REALLY suck. Border hopping teenagers coming over to windsor to get pissed is funny really. Anyways, what's your opinion of the legal drinking age in your country?

[second-sun]

the drinking age in america is a joke. maybe 1 out of like 30 people drink for the first time when they are 21. i actually drank more in high school than i do now, i'm sure the same goes for lots of people. realistically though, i think its stupid that you can be sent of to war and killed without ever getting to taste a legal drink.

[ReddSky]

The americans find the age of 18 mature enough to fight a war but not enough to drink.

[Leap]

Here in the UK they've got it about right. 18 but you can usually get hold of drink at 16 or 17.

[awkward-silence]

I liked Japan's system. 20...but no one gives a shit. I would see girls hanging out in bars, blasted, wearing their highschool uniforms.

[Leap]

At 5/12/04 07:31 PM, awkward_silence wrote: I liked Japan's system. 20...but no one gives a shit. I would see girls hanging out in bars, blasted, wearing their highschool uniforms.

Is'nt it cool to wear them out of scool hours in Japan?

[awkward-silence]

They wear them all the time, even in Japan they act as a male magnet with them on. And of course their social status it indicated by how high up they glue their socks (different clicks have different locations on the leg for the sock hight to be glued).

They will wear them on weekends, at night, in clubs/bars.

[Reverend-Kyle]

At 5/12/04 05:43 PM, commies_suck wrote: In Canada its 19...

You're forgetting about Quebec! It's only 18 there, and I think it might have been 18 on Prince Edward Island at some point.

[yes-no]

the drinking age should be lowered and the driving age should be increased.

[BUTANE]

At 5/12/04 05:47 PM, second_sun wrote:

realistically though, i think its stupid that you can be sent of to war and killed without ever getting to taste a legal drink.

Thats true, america has really fucked up drug laws. I think its the conservitives fault. They always speak out against drugs. Even though i am positive they drink Alchohal too.

[Jlop985]

If you're old enough to drive, you should be old enough to drink!

[redruM]

At 5/12/04 05:43 PM, commies_suck wrote: In Canada its 19

In most provinces I know of it's 18.

I think the drinking age in Canada is O.K.

I don't.

Anyways, what's your opinion of the legal drinking age in your country?

My opinion is that having a legal drinking age is stupid. People of any age will drink if they want, regardless of what the law says. I was heavy into drinking at the age of 14. Not long after I turned 15 I completely stopped. I was never involved in any fights, never vandalised things, never acted like a complete asshole to people, etc. The same, however, can not be said about many adults I know. I think people should be required to take an intelligence test before they're allowed to do things such as drink or drive, instead of having an age decide. Age means NOTHING.

[FatherVenom]

Underage drinking is better. You get an added element of danger. If you're fighting in a war I'm pretty sure they'll let you drink whatever you want as long as it isn't going to interfere with your performance.

[yes-no]

At 5/13/04 01:53 AM, _redruM_ wrote:

I think people should be required to take an intelligence test before they're allowed to do things such as drink or drive, instead of having an age decide. Age means NOTHING.

actually it does. just because you're intelligent/responsible doesn't mean that your peers are. as a standard, until you hit the geriatric ages and your senses start to go, the older you are the more credible/sensible you are. don't you think you'll be smarter seven or eight years from now? life experience counts, bud.
also, i agree that there are a lot of adults who are HORRIBLE drivers. maybe, drivers should have to take a yearly skills assessment test...

[redruM]

At 5/13/04 02:18 AM, backwardskies wrote: actually it does. just because you're intelligent/responsible doesn't mean that your peers are.

No, it doesn't. But I don't see how my peers are relevant to me. I am very picky and choosy with my friends, and generally choose not to have anything to do with people I deem to be stupid.

don't you think you'll be smarter seven or eight years from now?

Maybe, maybe not. If I started sniffing glue on a regular basis, I'd have a fraction of the brain cells I have now 7 or 8 years from now.

life experience counts, bud.

Yes, it does. However, life experience can sometimes point you in the opposite direction. What if a couple years from now I was robbed by a black man and then became prejudiced to black people because of it. It doesn't mean I'm stupid, it just means that the life experience in that situation has made me prejudiced, and therefore will affect my judgement.

also, i agree that there are a lot of adults who are HORRIBLE drivers. maybe, drivers should have to take a yearly skills assessment test...

I completely agree.

[yes-no]

At 5/13/04 02:51 AM, _redruM_ wrote: But I don't see how my peers are relevant to me. I am very picky and choosy with my friends, and generally choose not to have anything to do with people I deem to be stupid.
life experience can sometimes point you in the opposite direction. What if a couple years from now I was robbed by a black man and then became prejudiced to black people because of it.

i mentioned the average intelligence of your peers because the majority of people your age and younger are incapable of handling the responsiblity of driving. it would cost a lot of money to give everyone who wants a license an iq test(or something comprable to it.) how many times would a little kid be allowed to take the test before he's denied for good..? where does a fourteen year old kid really need to drive to anyway? by creating a standard age for drivers based on the average capability and the necessity for it, maximum safety at minimal cost and energy is created.
i doubt becoming racist would impair your driving. i realize you were using it as an analagy, but really... WHAT IF A SAFE DRIVER MURDERED YOUR WIFE AND FAMILY!!?? swearing revenge, you become a drunk-driving road rage lunatic!

[redruM]

At 5/13/04 03:09 AM, backwardskies wrote: i mentioned the average intelligence of your peers because the majority of people your age and younger are incapable of handling the responsiblity of driving.

Well that's a scary thought. At my age I should already have my license.

it would cost a lot of money to give everyone who wants a license an iq test(or something comprable to it.)

I suppose so...

how many times would a little kid be allowed to take the test before he's denied for good..?

If we are going to refer to averages, then the average little kid would not have a safe view over the steering wheel, or a safe reach to the gas and break pedals.

where does a fourteen year old kid really need to drive to anyway?

Just about as many places as an adult would. I can't count the times I've wished I were able to drive when I go out for dinner, or to see a movie, or even just cruise.

i doubt becoming racist would impair your driving. i realize you were using it as an analagy, but really... WHAT IF A SAFE DRIVER MURDERED YOUR WIFE AND FAMILY!!?? swearing revenge, you become a drunk-driving road rage lunatic!

I was thinking more about the effect it would have on drinking, not driving. I've seen many drunken fights caused because some stupid drunk (in his late 20's, mind you) didn't like the colour of another guy's skin.

[yes-no]

At 5/13/04 03:30 AM, _redruM_ wrote: where does a fourteen year old kid really need to drive to anyway?
Just about as many places as an adult would. I can't count the times I've wished I were able to drive when I go out for dinner, or to see a movie, or even just cruise.

the key word in my question was NEED. an adult NEEDS to go to work so he/she can pay bills. it has to do with necessity, not leisure. you'll get your license sooner than you'll even notice.

I was thinking more about the effect it would have on drinking, not driving. I've seen many drunken fights caused because some stupid drunk (in his late 20's, mind you) didn't like the colour of another guy's skin.

i see your logic, but i think there's a good chance a drunk fourteen year hitting his girlfriend for cheating on him... and even worse, an outbreak of pregnant fourteen year old girls.

[redruM]

At 5/13/04 03:42 AM, backwardskies wrote: the key word in my question was NEED. an adult NEEDS to go to work so he/she can pay bills. it has to do with necessity, not leisure. you'll get your license sooner than you'll even notice.

In that case, it would be a hell of a lot easier to drive to school, as well.

i see your logic, but i think there's a good chance a drunk fourteen year hitting his girlfriend for cheating on him... and even worse, an outbreak of pregnant fourteen year old girls.

That's just a stupid and irresponsible fourteen year old. When I was 14, I got drunk plenty of times with my girlfriend (who at the time was also 14) and never once did I hit her, or anything of the sort. And if we had sex, we were always prepared.

[yes-no]

At 5/13/04 04:32 AM, _redruM_ wrote: In that case, it would be a hell of a lot easier to drive to school, as well.

That's just a stupid and irresponsible fourteen year old. When I was 14, I :got drunk plenty of times with my girlfriend... if we had sex, we were :always prepared.

most students have free public transportation. if not that ridiculous cheese bus, then a student bust-ass(bus-pass) which even worked for the subway when i was a kid.
again, most fourteen year olds ARE stupid and irresponsible. i believe that you are an exception to this standard and that many of your fellow minors have ruined it for you and all the other good ones... but junior high school students + legal drinking, driving, or any other priviledge they are currently denied will almost always = a bad idea.

[A-Carrot-By-Dr-Riot]

Hate to break the news, but the federal drinking age for the United States is 18 years.

[Coop]

At 5/12/04 07:29 PM, LeapOfFaith wrote: Here in the UK they've got it about right. 18 but you can usually get hold of drink at 16 or 17.

Speak 4 yourself. We got served in the local as young as 14

[yes-no]

At 5/13/04 05:09 AM, Dr_Arbitrary wrote: Hate to break the news, but the federal drinking age for the United States is 18 years.

actually... it's 21 in almost every state.

[A-Carrot-By-Dr-Riot]

At 5/13/04 05:22 AM, backwardskies wrote:

At 5/13/04 05:09 AM, Dr_Arbitrary wrote: Hate to break the news, but the federal drinking age for the United States is 18 years.

actually... it's 21 in almost every state.

no, the FEDERAL drinking age is 18 in every state. I'm pretty sure the state drinking age is 21 in all the states now, Arizona is sometimes lower because of its rad constitution.

[yes-no]

At 5/13/04 05:24 AM, Dr_Arbitrary wrote: no, the FEDERAL drinking age is 18 in every state. I'm pretty sure the state drinking age is 21 in all the states now, Arizona is sometimes lower because of its rad constitution.

nuts. i just did some research on it, and the federal drinking age IS eighteen, but all 50 states require you be twenty-one! that's an interesting bit of information. apparently, it's some sort of tax trick.
still... i think your first post was intended to be a ruse.

[Reverend-Kyle]

At 5/13/04 01:53 AM, _redruM_ wrote:

At 5/12/04 05:43 PM, commies_suck wrote: In Canada its 19

In most provinces I know of it's 18.

Only in Quebec is it 18.

[TheShrike]

At 5/12/04 05:47 PM, second_sun wrote: the drinking age in america is a joke.

Seriously. I drank my first beer at 5. Didn't drink again till I was 16 or so, but I've lived in the US all my life.

[IllustriousPotentate]

At 5/13/04 09:05 AM, TheDeath wrote:

Seriously. I drank my first beer at 5.

5?!?

I think there's nothing wrong with the age being at 21.
Look, teen drivers are the worst. You throw easily obtainable alcohol into the mix, and it's a recipe for disaster.
Granted, teens can still get access to alcohol, through their parents, etc. But the last thing we need to do is add to the problem by lowering the drinking age.

[TheShrike]

Yep. It was a miller light, so it's not like I got drunk ; ]

[Gobo718]

The more the government attempts to control something, the bigger the problem is going to be. Prohibition never works. I was drinking since I was 16, and I'm 27 now. I drank more when it was illegal and exciting.