Drinking age

[CSI671]

ive been reading up alot on the effects of the raise of the drinking age and if people havent noticed in some places it just made it worse. Come on! Did they honestly think that if they make someone wait 3 more years to drink beer that the person would be more responsible. Please voice opinions here

[Castlevania]

it doesn't really matter what the age limit is because if children or minors want alcohol bad enough they'll get it anyway, even if it takes two weeks but you can guarantee they'll get booze from somewhere.

[Toadenalin]

I wouldn't know, but I imagine making something taboo just makes people want to abuse it more.
Here in sunny Britland, we're hugely uptight about sex, and as a result have a huge amount of teen pregnancy (highest in Europe I think) and STI's. In places like Holland, where things are more relaxed there is a lot less pressure to 'rebel' against the system (in that way, anyway)

[Leap]

At 6/9/05 12:15 PM, Toadenalin wrote: I wouldn't know, but I imagine making something taboo just makes people want to abuse it more.
Here in sunny Britland, we're hugely uptight about sex, and as a result have a huge amount of teen pregnancy (highest in Europe I think) and STI's. In places like Holland, where things are more relaxed there is a lot less pressure to 'rebel' against the system (in that way, anyway)

That's true actually, not as bad as it was but it still could be better.

As for alcohol, well I think that the Yank drinking laws are far too strict. Here it's possible to get served at 16 and I've never felt preassure to turn into a binge drinker

[Drikke]

At 6/9/05 12:57 PM, LeapOfFaith wrote:
That's true actually, not as bad as it was but it still could be better.

As for alcohol, well I think that the Yank drinking laws are far too strict. Here it's possible to get served at 16 and I've never felt preassure to turn into a binge drinker

That's right! Altough you can drink in bars here when you're 16 according to our law, we don't have many problems with alcoholabuse with children.

[SchiesterSpear]

That and when people reach 21, they feel they need to make up for all that time not drinking and heavily intoxicate themselves. Since I live in a college town, booze isn't hard to find, but it'd be nice if 3.2 beer was still legal for 18+ rather than everything being 21+.

[Ravens-Grin]

At 6/9/05 09:01 AM, CSI671 wrote: ive been reading up alot on the effects of the raise of the drinking age and if people havent noticed in some places it just made it worse.

What about most of the places?

[LordoftheBengal]

Just remember that alcohol IS a type of slow poison to the body. It really isn't good for you. Its what it makes us feel is what we like about it.

Maybe the age limit to drink is 21 because it isn't an age where we JUST reach adulthood. At 21 the body and mind is well beyond mature (or should be) and the healthiest it will be during one's lifetime (proven fact). There should be no excuses for the things we do. We must face consequences and decide what we want to do.

I feel that if I can die for my country at the age of 18 for war or whatnot, then I deserve to drink. Yet what about all those that don't go to war and just sit at home or do nothing but get wasted? They may be prone to mischeif, become an alcoholic, become a danger to themselves and others, etc.

If we do drink, regardless of age, we sshould drink responsibly.

[Faille]

yeah it makes absolutely no sense 21 being the law why not 18... or better yety why ot 5 itd be hilarous seeing a drunk 5 year old!

[ChibiChii]

The problem with lowering the drinking age over here, while it may help in the long run, comes from the fact that a lot of parents are too lazy to teach their kids how to drink responsibly. In Europe, no one cares if mummy or daddy lets junior have a little sip of wine with dinner.

Which, also brings up another problem: who the hell in the US would prefer wine over harder liquors? It takes a LOT of wine to get drunk, where as tequilla (a favorite among some of my stupid friends) gets you there in almost no time at all.
We need to introduce the idea of casual drinking into the states before we can lower the drinking age. (Both of which, in my opinion, need to be done. And soon.)

[SilasDarko]

Alcohol is so easy to get, should there be a drinking age at all?

[Sazanku]

People react to alchohal in there own way no matter what age they are. A 13 year old getting drunk responsibly (as in not riding his bike or going bowling afterwords) will still be getting drunk responsibly when he is 25. And ... yeah, no law stopped me from getting booze when I was a minor. Oh wait, I am a minor. I am unstoppable... Ph33R M3

[Sazanku]

People react to alchohal in their own way no matter what age they are. A 13 year old getting drunk responsibly (as in not riding his bike or going bowling afterwords) will still be getting drunk responsibly when he is 25. And ... yeah, no law stopped me from getting booze when I was a minor. Oh wait, I am a minor. I am unstoppable... Ph33R M3

[SpiffyMcPerson]

Of course there should be a minimum drinking age - but only to keep kids from hurting themselves with alcohol.

I think by age 16 most people are responsible enough not to kill themselves, and at age 18 one should have all the rights of an adult including the right to drink. A high drinking age only means that until age 21 people have to keep it secret, and as a result are getting hammered in much more dangerous situations and without sober supervision.

[Samuel-HALL]

At 18, I'm old enough (and trusted enough) by my government to drive a car.
At 18, I'm trusted enough to purchase property, stocks, and lottery tickets.
At 18, I'm 'mature' enought to buy porno.
At 18, I'm old enough to join the Air-Force, and fly bombers over foreign countries.
At 18, I'm old enough to drive tanks for the military, and fire M-16's, and drive tanks, and kill enemy combatants.
At 18, I'm old enough, and mature enough, and trusted enough, to get married.

And, you're telling me I can do all that, at 18...but I can't legally drink a beer?

In this aspect, on this topic...America is old fashioned and ignorant.

[SpiffyMcPerson]

At 6/10/05 02:35 AM, _FLAGG wrote: In this aspect, on this topic...America is old fashioned and ignorant.

Relative to whom? There are plenty of countries quite a bit more old fashioned than the old US of A.

But when it comes to drinking age I agree.

[Samuel-HALL]

At 6/10/05 02:41 AM, SpiffyMcPerson wrote:

At 6/10/05 02:35 AM, _FLAGG wrote: In this aspect, on this topic...America is old fashioned and ignorant.

Relative to whom? There are plenty of countries quite a bit more old fashioned than the old US of A.
But when it comes to drinking age I agree.

Well what the fuck do you think I'm talking about, genius?
What is the name of this thread? Go ahead....take your time, and read it.

God. You people don't even try to use cognitive logic.

[ChibiChii]

At 6/10/05 02:35 AM, _FLAGG wrote: At 18, I'm old enough to join the Air-Force, and fly bombers over foreign countries.
At 18, I'm old enough to drive tanks for the military, and fire M-16's, and drive tanks, and kill enemy combatants.

One plus to joining the military: if bartenders see a Military ID, they usually don't check to see if you're over 21 or not.

[SpiffyMcPerson]

Well what the fuck do you think I'm talking about, genius?
What is the name of this thread? Go ahead....take your time, and read it.

God. You people don't even try to use cognitive logic.

I'm sorry I thought you were talking about America's Value Added Tax.

No wait... I was only trying to say that while I agree the drinking age is a poor choice, there are countries much more ignorant and old fashioned than America. Even when it comes to drinking age.

[Samuel-HALL]

At 6/10/05 03:12 AM, SpiffyMcPerson wrote: I'm sorry I thought you were talking about America's Value Added Tax.

I'm not even sure I know what the fuck that is. Elaborate, for me.

And then dance, monkey. Dance!

No wait... I was only trying to say that while I agree the drinking age is a poor choice, there are countries much more ignorant and old fashioned than America. Even when it comes to drinking age.

Bullshit. Almost every other country has a lower drinking age, than America. Almost all of Europe has come to their senses, as far as drinking ages go.

[Kings-Cant-Fall]

Underage drinking in America is such a problem because we make alcholol out to be this restricted, mysterious thing. It's natural for kids to be curious and want to get trash, for the simple fact that they are not allowed to. A parent should have the responsibility to sit down the child, and explain that acholol isn't a big thing, and when drank at home with proper supervision it can be 100% safe. I know it seems alittle far fetched, but a simple idea like that could solve a big portion of our problem. As far as the drinking age goes, I say 18. At the age of 18, you are an adult, period. As an adult, you are faced with responisibilities and it is your job to make the right choice.

[fli]

At 6/9/05 09:01 AM, CSI671 wrote: ive been reading up alot on the effects of the raise of the drinking age and if people havent noticed in some places it just made it worse. Come on! Did they honestly think that if they make someone wait 3 more years to drink beer that the person would be more responsible. Please voice opinions here

I like the 21 year age drinking thing.
Because I'm an asshole.

No seriously.
If you can score you're own beer and liquer via parent's locked cabinet. Fine.

But if drunkeness could be prevented by a bar. Why the Hell not?
It's not about teaching responsibility.

It's about decreasing numbers of accidents and violence associated with drinking amoung young adults.

[iWalker]

At 6/10/05 07:09 AM, senor_aztlan wrote:

But if drunkeness could be prevented by a bar. Why the Hell not?
It's not about teaching responsibility.

over here in belgium drinking age is 16, but you can go into a bar and order a beer at 14 as well, the age isn't really controled. What is controled however is drunkenness. if you leave a bar in drunk (and you got drunk in that bar obviously) and you have a car crash or are simply pulled over by the cops it's not only a problem for you but also for the bartenders. and you know what it works... of course not perfectly but it works.

[Maus]

The drinking age was raised in 1984 so that states could receive federal highway funds. You can thank MADD for pushing it so hard. Nice way for the feds to blackmail states into complying.

They don't NEED to have the drinking age at 21, just if they want money to fix up the highways.

More reading on H.R. 5504 and 4616

[BadBit]

Interestingly enough, before I turned 21 it was easier for me to get drugs than to get alcohol, so I used massive amounts of drugs instead. I wonder if that's very common.

[Maus]

At 6/10/05 11:43 AM, BadBit wrote: Interestingly enough, before I turned 21 it was easier for me to get drugs than to get alcohol, so I used massive amounts of drugs instead. I wonder if that's very common.

I know it was always easier to get marijuana, acid, ecstacy, and cocaine. I wasn't much of a drinker until I turned 21. But I was a major drug hound from 18 until 20. So...perhaps.

[Samuel-HALL]

At 6/10/05 12:34 PM, Maus wrote:

At 6/10/05 11:43 AM, BadBit wrote: Interestingly enough, before I turned 21 it was easier for me to get drugs than to get alcohol, so I used massive amounts of drugs instead. I wonder if that's very common.

I know it was always easier to get marijuana, acid, ecstacy, and cocaine. I wasn't much of a drinker until I turned 21. But I was a major drug hound from 18 until 20. So...perhaps.

I'm the same way.
I mean, I drink a lot now.
But up until about a year ago...it was 90% drugs, and ten percent drinking.
It was always easier to find everything from pot, to scripts, to acid...even when I couldn't find someone of age to buy me some beer.

That's what parents need to realize. If your child chooses to 'get fucked up'...he/she's going to. Even if you lock your liquor cabinet up, and hide your beer, and give your kid a curfew...they're still going to do it.
I know that's touch medicine for parents to swallow. I'm not even saying it's right, that teenagers do that. I'm just saying that's the reality of the situation.

[MortifiedPenguins]

At 6/10/05 12:34 PM, Maus wrote:

At 6/10/05 11:43 AM, BadBit wrote:

.

I know it was always easier to get marijuana, acid, ecstacy, and cocaine. I wasn't much of a drinker until I turned 21. But I was a major drug hound from 18 until 20. So...perhaps.

Maus i'm ashamed of you. no joking. But your yank laws are way out of date. i get served in scotland when i was thirteen and when i was 10 my dad gave me drinks while were watching football games. Who cares if you got trashed, it's only brain cells.

[Samuel-HALL]

At 6/10/05 05:21 PM, fenrus1989 wrote:

At 6/10/05 12:34 PM, Maus wrote:

At 6/10/05 11:43 AM, BadBit wrote:

I know it was always easier to get marijuana, acid, ecstacy, and cocaine. I wasn't much of a drinker until I turned 21. But I was a major drug hound from 18 until 20. So...perhaps.

Maus i'm ashamed of you. no joking.

Why? Because she used drugs?
You do know that some of the most intelligent, well-spoken, creative people in any society have been drug users/drinkers, right?

[MortifiedPenguins]

Maus i'm ashamed of you. no joking.

Why? Because she used drugs?
You do know that some of the most intelligent, well-spoken, creative people in any society have been drug users/drinkers, right?

no i mean that i was joking as in sarcasm man. sorry for the problem.