NationStates Jolt Archive

I mean why shouldn't it. I believe that if you're old enough to be declared "Politically Aware" enough to vote at 18, why shouldn't you be able to drink.

If you're old enough to be forced to pay the government out of your paychecks, shouldn't you be old enough to drink.

In fact, if you're at the age where having sex with someone even just a year younger than you is perverted, you should definitely be able to enjoy some Kentucky Deluxe.

Another frustrating point is an obvious one. If you're old enough to actually kill, be killed, or watch killings of your friends in the name of your country, why shouldn't your country allow you to enjoy a few brewskies. In fact in most countries, The drinking age is 18. So why is it not here?

Well that's what I think, what about you?

I think it should be changed to the age at which everyone is actually responsible. Not legally, actually. The minute you realize that alcohol will kill you, drug you, make you look like a fool and impair your judgement to the point you think you can drive after a couple... you can have some.

Naturally, this will elimate 90% of the American population.

It wouldn't really help because in the end cultural values have a greater effect in deterring bad behavior than laws. For example, the US has the death penalty, but far more crime than western Europe which largely doesn't have it. If anything it would hurt because the younger one starts drinking the more likely they are to become addicted.

I got my draft card when I turned 18, but I can't buy a beer, WTF

The changed the drinking age partially for biological reason. Alcohol interferes with connections that are still being made at 18, but are largely finished by age 21. Not that I believe that the legality of it all has anything to do with preventing people from drinking, the only thing it even slightly impairs is the ability to by the stuff.

I hail from Australia where the drinking age is 18. It's ridiculous to treat young people like idiots while imposing responsibility on them in other areas. If a person is treated like an adult by a court, can drive, smoke, be drafted, be executed and is considered an adult, why on earth should the state ban them from doing something adults can freely do.

Frankly the suggestion that it lowers levels of alcoholism is bogus too. Most alcoholics become alcoholics not because they drank when they were young but because they are a) from a low socio-economic background b) go through a period of high stress like a divorce etc and turn to drinking or c) get addicted to other drugs and other drink a lot in conjunction with the other substances or drink a lot to try and get off them.

Besides people just flaunt the law anyway, why not make it 16 and legalise marijuana while you're at it.

I think the US should be like the rest of the world and not really have a drinking age. This is how it is all around the world and there are no problems because of it.

The changed the drinking age partially for biological reason. Alcohol interferes with connections that are still being made at 18, but are largely finished by age 21. Not that I believe that the legality of it all has anything to do with preventing people from drinking, the only thing it even slightly impairs is the ability to by the stuff.

And they don't think any thing will happen in your developing brain if you see your friend's legs ripped off by a roadside bomb? I think that that'll screw with your mind and body more than any drinking could possibly do.

I think the US should be like the rest of the world and not really have a drinking age. This is how it is all around the world and there are no problems because of it.

I thought countries like France have a higher alcoholism rate then the U.S. does.

I agree with lowering the drinking age. Make it 16. But no driver's licence 'til 21. That way, we'll have a better idea of who deserves one.

Why cant the world just deal with the fact that people like to drink and smoke and let them choose!!! restriction imposes greater problems than monitered and controlled healthy use. And as a smoker i also believe that if thier going to whack a warning label on my pack of smokes then put one on every car, gun and any thing else thats killed somebody it gtting pathetic.

I thought countries like France have a higher alcoholism rate then the U.S. does.

Well, that's more or less a personal stand point. Stupid Conservative bastards have decided that France has a higher alcoholism rate because the times they drink. I personally think you're only an alcoholic if nearly every day, you drink to the point of extreme intoxication. But I had to take a survey in school once that asked this question

"Are you or do you know someone that is an alcoholic? (has more than one drink a month)"

By that standard, then yes almost every frenchy is a drunk alcoholic. In France it is the norm to have a glass of wine with nearly every meal.

Well, that's more or less a personal stand point. Stupid Conservative bastards have decided that France has a higher alcoholism rate because the times they drink. I personally think you're only an alcoholic if nearly every day, you drink to the point of extreme intoxication. But I had to take a survey in school once that asked this question

"Are you or do you know someone that is an alcoholic? (has more than one drink a month)"

By that standard, then yes almost every frenchy is a drunk. In France it is the norm to have a glass of wine with nearly every meal.

Ah. Well I believe that many people are incredibly stupid when they drink but making it legal at 18 will not really increase problems. People under 21 already have no difficulty getting booze anyway and it can be drunk in moderation (even if young people don't seem likely to do that). I do believe though that along with this we shold drastically increase the penalties for driving drunk. In my opinion drunk drivers are in the category of murderers and child molesters. They should be put UNDER the jail. Bastards think they can mess themselves up then drive on the road? Assholes.

Well, that's more or less a personal stand point. Stupid Conservative bastards have decided that France has a higher alcoholism rate because the times they drink. I personally think you're only an alcoholic if nearly every day, you drink to the point of extreme intoxication. But I had to take a survey in school once that asked this question

"Are you or do you know someone that is an alcoholic? (has more than one drink a month)"

By that standard, then yes almost every frenchy is a drunk alcoholic. In France it is the norm to have a glass of wine with nearly every meal.

Yeah. The standards for what constitutes alcoholism are...interesting. I was classed as a moderate drinker just because I have a sip of wine at church each week.

Surely if you can't drink until you're 21 most of the population breaks that law. That makes them crazy assed lawbreakers, so they might as well break a few more. In for a penny in for a euro as they say.

If you're breaking the law with drink why not snort and pop and smoke.

Plus 21 is no age to start learning to drink. You should have gotten the puking falling off buildings and crashing while drunk badges by 21 or bad things could happen.

Yea, the drinking age should be lowered. To 11.