NationStates Jolt Archive

In our city, underage drinking laws are harsh to the extreme. If cops bust a party and you weren't even drinking, you still get the book thrown at you. If you are sober and are driving a drunk friend home - for their safety- and get pulled over, you get a DUI ticket.

Anyone have similar laws? Any thoughts? Let's keep the flaming to a minimum.

:headbang:

I think that the US (where I assume you are) should start rolling back the drinking age and eventually get rid of it anyways.

Having a big taboo on drinking simply encourages teenage and college binging and most likely increases the DUI rates in our country.

Now, as for driving a drunk friend home when you yourself are sober - I have *never* heard that. If they have open containers in the car, that counts for anyone, but if no one has an open container, the sober person is doing the responsible thing, and definitely should be let off lightly, if not altogether.

I know you don't wanna be caught sober at a drunken party, but a DUI for driving a drunk friend home?! Haven't heard of that yet. Sheesh.

I personally don't think there should be any age-related drinking or drug laws at all. I understand such an opinion probably places me in a very tiny minority of the population, and were I to run for elected office, I would be attacked mercilessly for holding such a radical idea.

we live in a city where drinking laws are very strict, even incorporated into the athletic code at the high school. we're one of the strictest drinking towns in the country.

at a HC after-party a friend of mine got pulled over on the way home (she was a designated driver) and was suspended from all school activities (outside of curricular school) for 5 months.

cross my heart and hope to die

I am really not too familiar with drinking laws, but I know that I think they're a little silly. If someone wants some alcohol, they're going to get it, and whatever the punishment is for underage drinking won't deter them too much, from what I've seen. This doesn't apply to drunk driving, of course, but I think that drinking laws should be pretty much gotten rid of. Though it'd be nice if minors drank less...as your brain is really not fully finished growing until your 20's.

Hmm... that city's laws need a crusading lawyer ;)

lol, one thing I always find interesting about drinking laws with the US... if its wars are going badly... then states start lowering the drinking age! lol something about the "You can die for you country but not drink a beer" arguement that carries weight when the US is failing aboard -.-

Hmm... that city's laws need a crusading lawyer ;)

lol, one thing I always find interesting about drinking laws with the US... if its wars are going badly... then states start lowering the drinking age! lol

That is because it is easier to recruit poeple into the army when they are drunk! :sniper: :mp5: :gundge: :sniper:

you get a dui for driving a drunk person home..? Where ever you are, that is fucked up. Really. Here they have ads encouraging you to take drunken people home so that they don't drive themselves have a crash and kill a bunch of people. Make sense at all?

here, its not illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 18, just buy it or supply it to someone under the age of 18. the police dont raid houses...you dont get done for driving a drunken friend home, in fact they encourage it so that your drunken friend doesnt end up driving or doing something stupid.

the worst thing our school ever did, was after we won a major inter school rugby competition, and everyone went out and got pissed in school colours and stuff...they just said dont do it again.

you get a dui for driving a drunk person home..? Where ever you are, that is fucked up. Really. Here they have ads encouraging you to take drunken people home so that they don't drive themselves have a crash and kill a bunch of people. Make sense at all?

amen- i'm moving to you. i hate living in a place where we can't just punish the small minority of freaks who mess it up for everyone else. why would we be reasonable?

here, its not illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 18, just buy it or supply it to someone under the age of 18. the police dont raid houses...you dont get done for driving a drunken friend home, in fact they encourage it so that your drunken friend doesnt end up driving or doing something stupid.

the worst thing our school ever did, was after we won a major inter school rugby competition, and everyone went out and got pissed in school colours and stuff...they just said dont do it again.

Here its illegal to drink in public if you are under 18, and illegal to buy or supply to under 18s. Police will bust up parties and accuse people of being on P, but thats more of their dislike of youths than alcohol. I think most schools have rules about drinking in uniform, but I went to a mufti school so I don't really know.

Thats wrong Nadkor =/ thats for cigarettes... consumption of alcohol under 18 is illegal... just not as strichtly enforced as buying for kids is punished...

Drinking in uniform? lol, the drunks in my school were soooooo much fun ^_^

In our city, underage drinking laws are harsh to the extreme. If cops bust a party and you weren't even drinking, you still get the book thrown at you. If you are sober and are driving a drunk friend home - for their safety- and get pulled over, you get a DUI ticket.

Anyone have similar laws? Any thoughts? Let's keep the flaming to a minimum.

:headbang:
You live in Naperville?

Thats wrong Nadkor =/ thats for cigarettes... consumption of alcohol under 18 is illegal... just not as strichtly enforced as buying for kids is punished...


really? i always knew you couldnt drink it in a licenced premises if you were under age, but i thought in your own home you could....

If you are sober and are driving a drunk friend home - for their safety- and get pulled over, you get a DUI ticket.

Simple answer: Take it to court. I don't believe that can be allowed. I wouldn't pay the fine. So take the law to court and if you're not satisfied, take it to a higher court. and maybe at some point the Supreme Court will handle it. ;)

In the US, if you're under 21 and drunk, yes, you're in trouble. You can't buy cigarettes under the age of 18, but you ARE allowed to smoke them (as they assume parental consent).

In our city, underage drinking laws are harsh to the extreme. If cops bust a party and you weren't even drinking, you still get the book thrown at you. If you are sober and are driving a drunk friend home - for their safety- and get pulled over, you get a DUI ticket.

Anyone have similar laws? Any thoughts? Let's keep the flaming to a minimum.

:headbang:

Where do you live. Because that doesn't sound right.

I'm not one of those Europeans who hates the USA just cos! But I think when it comes to alcohol your laws are stupid! I used to go drinking after school regularly, and sometimes my teachers would be there. One of them even bought me a drink once!

I'm not one of those Europeans who hates the USA just cos! But I think when it comes to alcohol your laws are stupid! I used to go drinking after school regularly, and sometimes my teachers would be there. One of them even bought me a drink once!
You're right, but there's no reason for hating the U.S. just because. I fully understand why people get so pissed at us and our nation building. Not to mention everything else.

underage drinking is zero tolerance in Michigan... and to top it all off, your body is a container under the law. So if you're caught coming home drunk (or even having had one drink), and underage, you get a minor in possession cite. 3's a fellony.

It's nice to be legal... :)

You're right, but there's no reason for hating the U.S. just because. I fully understand why people get so pissed at us and our nation building. Not to mention everything else.

I don't know if you miss-read that, but I did say I'm NOT one of those Europeans who hates the USA just cos

I know you don't wanna be caught sober at a drunken party, but a DUI for driving a drunk friend home?! Haven't heard of that yet. Sheesh.

I personally don't think there should be any age-related drinking or drug laws at all. I understand such an opinion probably places me in a very tiny minority of the population, and were I to run for elected office, I would be attacked mercilessly for holding such a radical idea.


I'd vote for ya. Hell, I'll even be your campaign manager, but I'm in that same tiny minority and thus we'd both be laughed out of the race. Oh well, so much for democracy.

AS far as underage drinking goes, I think we should go to the European model on this one. Drinking okay, it's just a bitch to get the drivers license. I say if you want to go out and get tanked you should have to ride a bicycle home. You (generally) won't hurt anyone but yourself and it'll be great comic relief for observers. Like that'll happen in car crazy America.

And the whole DUI for being the DD, I'll say it for the third time tonight - WTF?
Thought that was supposed to be a positive and comendable thing, not a ticketable offense? Good job law enforcement.

I'm not one of those Europeans who hates the USA just cos! But I think when it comes to alcohol your laws are stupid! I used to go drinking after school regularly, and sometimes my teachers would be there. One of them even bought me a drink once!
I'm an American and sometimes all I can do is shake my head at some of my country's rediculous policies.

I'd vote for ya. Hell, I'll even be your campaign manager, but I'm in that same tiny minority and thus we'd both be laughed out of the race. Oh well, so much for democracy.
Seriously. A candidate can't even support medical marijuana without being politically ripped to pieces as "soft on crime".

A candidate can't even support something as *radical* as lowering the drinking age BACK to 18.

I say destroy the Democrat and Republican parties, and only let Greens and Libertarians run. Then we might get some of our rights back.

Seconded!

I say destroy the Democrat and Republican parties, and only let Greens and Libertarians run. Then we might get some of our rights back.
That would be multiorgasmic. Unfortunately, the conservatives would no longer be able to try to restrict our civil rights...and who wants to live in that kind of world?!?

Seriously. A candidate can't even support medical marijuana without being politically ripped to pieces as "soft on crime".

A candidate can't even support something as *radical* as lowering the drinking age BACK to 18.

I say destroy the Democrat and Republican parties, and only let Greens and Libertarians run. Then we might get some of our rights back.

A candidate on the state level can't do it, because to do so means no more federal funding for the highways. The 21 year-old law is NOT a national one. It was enacted in each of the states because Congress, in using it's powers to regulate the interstate highways (which are a means for interstate commerce), said any state with a drinking age under 21 is not eligible for federal highway funding. No highway funding means taxes go way up to cover the difference... and no one wants that.

Furthermore, it's not an issue because 18-21 year-olds don't vote in large enough numbers... and under 18 can't vote. As you get closer to 21, the incentive to try and change anything just gets lost. And there just aren't enough desperate 18 year-olds to offset the rest of the nation.

18 is just unrealistic anyway... maybe 19. 19 puts you out of high school, so you wouldn't have Seniors buying for the frosh.

Frankly, i had to wait 21 years... so the rest of you can wait too! Or you can just go to New Orleans, where there's an understanding that the 21 year old law doesn't apply there.

A candidate on the state level can't do it, because to do so means no more federal funding for the highways. The 21 year-old law is NOT a national one. It was enacted in each of the states because Congress, in using it's powers to regulate the interstate highways (which are a means for interstate commerce), said any state with a drinking age under 21 is not eligible for federal highway funding. No highway funding means taxes go way up to cover the difference... and no one wants that.
Yeah, it's frankly a disgusting abuse of federal power. Dangling highway money to coerce the states to restrict freedoms.

Furthermore, it's not an issue because 18-21 year-olds don't vote in large enough numbers... and under 18 can't vote. As you get closer to 21, the incentive to try and change anything just gets lost. And there just aren't enough desperate 18 year-olds to offset the rest of the nation.
That is EXACTLY the problem. If 18-21 year olds voted, we could really get some things changed. Instead, we are marginalized, mocked, and disregarded.

Or you can just go to New Orleans, where there's an understanding that the 21 year old law doesn't apply there.
I believe there is an understanding across America that anyone who wants alcohol can easily get an older cousin/friend to buy it. It's the biggest farce...I don't see how any politician can say with a straight face that raising the drinking age has changed anything...except expand the power of the police and divert them from doing their real jobs.

I say if you want to go out and get tanked you should have to ride a bicycle home. You (generally) won't hurt anyone but yourself and it'll be great comic relief for observers.
now that would be amusing

I would just like to know if anyone's opinion here is of an underage person

I would just like to know if anyone's opinion here is of an underage person
I am 15, and although I wouldn't drink much, I think that there should be very lax drinking laws.

I'm 18, first year college student.

I think that the laws here in Victoria, Australia are sensible. It's illegal for people under 18 to buy alcohol, but they can drink it with parental permission and supervision in private homes and restaurants. A drinking age of 21 is ridiculous: I'm 21 now, and I've been perfectly capable of responsibly drinking alcohol for years now. Another difference here is that you can't get a drivers' license until you're 18 (although you can start learning when you're 16), and you have to drive with zero blood alcohol for the first three years that you have your license. To me, this seems like a far more effective way of discouraging young people from drink driving than raising the legal drinking age.

I think that the laws here in Victoria, Australia are sensible. It's illegal for people under 18 to buy alcohol, but they can drink it with parental permission and supervision in private homes and restaurants. A drinking age of 21 is ridiculous: I'm 21 now, and I've been perfectly capable of responsibly drinking alcohol for years now. Another difference here is that you can't get a drivers' license until you're 18 (although you can start learning when you're 16), and you have to drive with zero blood alcohol for the first three years that you have your license. To me, this seems like a far more effective way of discouraging young people from drink driving than raising the legal drinking age.

That does seem a good idea. However I think zero blood alcohol when driving should be a life long requirement.

That does seem a good idea. However I think zero blood alcohol when driving should be a life long requirement.
No, although I don't know much about levels of intoxication, a zero blood alcohol level seems a little silly. A single glass of wine will not make you drunk. Though you'd have to forego tolerance issues with that, because someone can drink a lot with very little effect. So I guess the only way to really test it is to test their fine motor skills, balance, whatever they do to test you if you're drunk. I don't know, but just remember that there is a certain level when someone is considered truly "intoxicated".

There should be a signicantly lowered drinking age (say, 16). Driver's liscences, on the other hand, should not be issued to anyone under the age of 24.

Driver's liscences, on the other hand, should not be issued to anyone under the age of 24.
Prepare for hordes of angry adolescents to come to your house and burn you in effigy. Or perhaps settle for the real thing.

No, although I don't know much about levels of intoxication, a zero blood alcohol level seems a little silly. A single glass of wine will not make you drunk. Though you'd have to forego tolerance issues with that, because someone can drink a lot with very little effect. So I guess the only way to really test it is to test their fine motor skills, balance, whatever they do to test you if you're drunk. I don't know, but just remember that there is a certain level when someone is considered truly "intoxicated".

Any amount of alcohol will effect ability to drive, you do not have to be drunk to be impaired. Perhaps if someone can demonstrate there ability to drive is not affected by the alcohol they have drunk then it would be ok, by the only way to effectively do this is to drive! perhaps best not to take risks!

There should be a signicantly lowered drinking age (say, 16). Driver's liscences, on the other hand, should not be issued to anyone under the age of 24.

Deal. You can come up here and drive my brother and sister around.

...and me, for that matter.

My idea on the matter is that they should raise the drinking age to 25, an age at which it would be hoped that you've got some responsibility under your belt. The laws against underage drinking, and drinking and driving should be harsher. By driving an underage drunk home, you're giving their actions your approval. Suck it up.

My idea on the matter is that they should raise the drinking age to 25, an age at which it would be hoped that you've got some responsibility under your belt. The laws against underage drinking, and drinking and driving should be harsher. By driving an underage drunk home, you're giving their actions your approval. Suck it up.
I say we just ban alcohol again, go back to prohibition, cause that worked so wonderfully. ;)

I say we just ban alcohol again, go back to prohibition, cause that worked so wonderfully. ;)

Well, making it illegal didn't work, making it legal again isn't working either. What do you suggest? I'm getting sick of drunk drivers killing others or themselves, or as seems to be the case, living forever and just killing other people.

A candidate on the state level can't do it, because to do so means no more federal funding for the highways. The 21 year-old law is NOT a national one. It was enacted in each of the states because Congress, in using it's powers to regulate the interstate highways (which are a means for interstate commerce), said any state with a drinking age under 21 is not eligible for federal highway funding. No highway funding means taxes go way up to cover the difference... and no one wants that.

Furthermore, it's not an issue because 18-21 year-olds don't vote in large enough numbers... and under 18 can't vote. As you get closer to 21, the incentive to try and change anything just gets lost. And there just aren't enough desperate 18 year-olds to offset the rest of the nation.

18 is just unrealistic anyway... maybe 19. 19 puts you out of high school, so you wouldn't have Seniors buying for the frosh.

Frankly, i had to wait 21 years... so the rest of you can wait too! Or you can just go to New Orleans, where there's an understanding that the 21 year old law doesn't apply there.

There is a very good reason why people from New Orleans are contemptuous of outsiders.... if you guys had reasonable laws in your own cities you wouldn't act so irresponsible by over-indulging and doing so much *utterly stupid* shit in ours.

In our city, underage drinking laws are harsh to the extreme. If cops bust a party and you weren't even drinking, you still get the book thrown at you. If you are sober and are driving a drunk friend home - for their safety- and get pulled over, you get a DUI ticket.

Anyone have similar laws? Any thoughts? Let's keep the flaming to a minimum.

:headbang:
i believe all drugs, including alcohol, should be legal for all people, at any time, for any reason. personal responisibility, not governmental parenting, is what needs to be the standard.

also, to punish a designated driver is a horrible injustice, and shame on any cop who actually writes a ticket for such a "crime." it is similarly disgusting to punish kids who stay sober at parties, especially if they are in the presence of those who are drinking but still resist the temptation...those kids should be rewarded, not punished.

America is so freaking stupid about drugs and alcohol. DID WE LEARN NOTHING FROM PROHIBITION?!

Well, making it illegal didn't work, making it legal again isn't working either. What do you suggest? I'm getting sick of drunk drivers killing others or themselves, or as seems to be the case, living forever and just killing other people.

More education on the actual effects of alcohol (beyond drinking and driving=bad) might be a good start. Many people are of the notion that one has to be noticeably impaired before it will affect one's driving, when in fact, the motor skills needed to drive safely are among the very first things to be affected.

The more something is restricted or made taboo, however, the more people will _overindulge_ when they do partake. That is why there are so many problems with younger people driving drunk. It is not that they are over-all less responsible, it is that they are over-indulging in a new behavior. Relaxing the drinking age to an age prior to getting a driver's license will in effect make young drivers less fond of overindulging in the first place (having already been allowed to) and more aware of their limits.

The more taboo _any_ socialbehavior is the more the dangers and risks rise. Just look around. Drinking isn't the only example of this.

And for whoever asked, I am old enough that in the state I lived, it was legal for me to purchase and drink at age 18, although this was not so for the people born the year after me.

I can understand your point. If all substances were legalized, then maybe people would accept that there has to be education, but they're unwilling to do that because it would seem to encourage substance use and abuse.

Me, I don't really like to drink that much. That's because I know what it does, and I don't care for myself that way. I'd much rather get stoned. I'd much rather they'd just legalize pot, and then people would have a safer alternative to getting drunk.