drinking age

[tovaris]

Do you think is it to low or too high? Should it stay 18 should they raise it? Or maybe lower it?

[phuckphace]

in the US it should stay at 21 IMO. other countries might be able to keep it at 18, I think it depends on the culture really.

[tovaris]

in the US it should stay at 21 IMO. other countries might be able to keep it at 18, I think it depends on the culture really.

but not the entire us... And also you are able to vote at 18 jet not able to buy a beer?....?

[Dalcourt]

but not the entire us... And also you are able to vote at 18 jet not able to buy a bear?....?

well, I dunno if there are any age restrictions on buying bears in the us ;) , sorry couldn't resist...but if you mean beer it's basically right. Never thought about whether this is good or not...I mean most kids I know drink alcohol anyway, so I guess whatever the legal drinking age may be if you wanna drink you always find a way and if you don't drink it doesn't matter anyway, so basically you could just choose some age at random....

[ImCoolBeans]

I think the drinking age should be lowered 18 in the U.S. I think 18 is a good age for it, especially if the ages to join the military, get drafted, and vote are all 18. If the drinking age is going to be kept at 21 indefinitely (in the U.S.) then I think you shouldn't be able to get drafted into the military until the age of 21.

Many people believe that 18 year olds are not responsible enough to handle drinking at the younger age, but to be honest most 18 year olds I know have been drinking since before they turned 18, and would probably be a lot more mature about it if they weren't sheltered away from it until their early twenties.

Interestingly enough, I believe Vermont is considering lowering the drinking age in the state to 18. In the 1980's, when the age was raised to 21 rather than 18, the federal government told the states that if they complied with the national drinking age that they would get more highway funding. Vermont has discovered that they would likely make more in tax revenue from the 18 year old alcohol buyers than what they receive yearly from the feds for highway funding -- so they aren't very concerned about losing it. However, that's bound to be a long battle, who knows when/if that will actually happen.

[Miserabilia]

IMO it should be 21 everywhere.
God I hate alchohol and the things it does.

[Vlerchan]

In Ireland the 'legal age of consumptions' means 'age of entry (into pubs, etc.)' So, 18.

I don't want to drink with kids.

[tovaris]

IMO it should be 21 everywhere.
God I hate alchohol and the things it does.

yes but what wil raising the drinking age to 21 acheve?

In Ireland the 'legal age of consumptions' means 'age of entry (into pubs, etc.)' So, 18.

I don't want to drink with kids.

you have to be old enouth to go into a pub? Interesting...

[Sir Suomi]

If I'm allowed to fight and die for my country, it would be nice to be able to at least be able to enjoy a cold beer while I'm at it :P But seriously, it honestly should be lowered to 18. It's the age that most consider someone to be an adult, so I believe if I'm to be treated like an adult, I should be allowed to purchase items that are consumed by adults. Besides, it's pretty much a given that once you enter college, which is on average at the age of 18, that you're going to at least drink a little before you're at the legal age. Might as well try and make money off it if people are already doing it.

[conniption]

I definitely think it should be lowered to 18, in the U.S. You're legally an adult at 18, so why can't you decide for yourself if you want to consume alcohol or not?

[Lovelife090994]

Let those who drink do so at 18. if you can fight in war you can have a beer. Me? I hate alcohol, it's like the Devil's Milk, it burns.

[Sir Suomi]

Let those who drink do so at 18. if you can fight in war you can have a beer. Me? I hate alcohol, it's like the Devil's Milk, it burns.

If it doesn't burn all the way down, you're not drinking the right stuff :P

[Thatcarguy]

Im just about to turn the legal age which is 19 in ontario and trust me when i say this, if teens want alcohol they are going to get it. I was drinking beer at 15 pretty heavily but was never addicted i just liked to party now i maybe have 2 beers a week unless im at the cottage then its a different story lol

[Gamma Male]

The voting age, age of consent, age of bodily autonomy, and age of majority should all be the same. 18.

[Miserabilia]

yes but what wil raising the drinking age to 21 acheve?

It's a fact that adolescents untill about 21 have little to no realization of danger safety and consequenses and they are therefore more vulnerable to negative effects and indirect effects of alchohol.

[Typhlosion]

Well, first learn how to drive and then you can drink (and drive)! :P

I think it should be lowered to 18.

[tovaris]

It's a fact that adolescents untill about 21 have little to no realization of danger safety and consequenses and they are therefore more vulnerable to negative effects and indirect effects of alchohol.

sure, but shouldnt i that case the draft age and voting age be also raised to 21? And your frontal cortex keeps deloping until the age of 25 so why not raise it to that age? Or even 30 like the first french republic and the roman enpire?

[Canadian Dream]

but not the entire us... And also you are able to vote at 18 jet not able to buy a beer?....?

It's not like very many people actually vote when they're 18...

Anyways, I do think 21 is a bit too strict, and that most 18 year olds are mature enough to handle it.

[Miserabilia]

sure, but shouldnt i that case the draft age and voting age be also raised to 21? And your frontal cortex keeps deloping until the age of 25 so why not raise it to that age? Or even 30 like the first french republic and the roman enpire?

Because most risky behaviour/unwarenes of danger ends at 21.

I think there's no point for waiting to vote untill 21; they may have a lack of sense of danger, but voting itself can't harm them and if they don't feel represented in democracy that might lead to riskier behaviour still.

In any case I think drinking should be kept out untill 21:
not just because alchohol's toxic effects but because the general incidents it leads to, like car crashes and other drunk accidents, from the small (and sometimes funny) to the tragic.

[tovaris]

Because most risky behaviour/unwarenes of danger ends at 21.

I think there's no point for waiting to vote untill 21; they may have a lack of sense of danger, but voting itself can't harm them and if they don't feel represented in democracy that might lead to riskier behaviour still.

In any case I think drinking should be kept out untill 21:
not just because alchohol's toxic effects but because the general incidents it leads to, like car crashes and other drunk accidents, from the small (and sometimes funny) to the tragic.

so ba your logic raising the limit to 21 would stop drunk driving...
But what about tobaco? Its just as toxic and efectes judgement, so lets also raise the smoking oimit to 25...

[JamesSuperBoy]

It varies around the world but UK has a lot still underage -

[Vlerchan]

I'd personally consider extending the right to vote to a group of individuals to be a lot more dangerous decision and pose a lot more danger to those about them than extending the right to consume alcohol to those same individuals.

[Plane And Simple]

I'd say it's just about the right age there, but people my age in here drink, even 13 year olds drink, so....

[CosmicNoodle]

In the UK the law is age 21 to buy alcohol of any kind. As far as I can see that's a good age to me.

[Miserabilia]

so ba your logic raising the limit to 21 would stop drunk driving...
But what about tobaco? Its just as toxic and efectes judgement, so lets also raise the smoking oimit to 25...

so ba your logic raising the limit to 21 would stop drunk driving...

No, what it would do is stop people under the age of 21 from drinking, as they are the group that is most likely to drunk drive and do other dangerous activities under the influence of alchohol.

But what about tobaco? Its just as toxic and efectes judgement, so lets also raise the smoking oimit to 25...

Yes, we should.

[Vlerchan]

No, what it would do is stop people under the age of 21 from drinking.
I don't know whether to put this statement down to:

Naivety, or;
Blind Idealism
I'm tending towards a mixture of both.

[Miserabilia]

I don't know whether to put this statement down to:

Naivety, or;
Blind Idealism
I'm tending towards a mixture of both.

It would *try to get people under the age of 21 to stop drinking by simply making it harder for them.
I'm talking about the purpose here,
the actual execution may be different.

[Vlerchan]

It would *try to get people under the age of 21 to stop drinking by simply making it harder for them.
It doesn't help that much, in my experience. It might make drinking more irregular but, on the occasions in which drinking does happen, binge-drinking is the norm.

The people I know who don't drink, and are under eighteen, don't drink because they don't want to, and not because there's a law against it. This applies to drugs, too.

[Irishperson15]

To be honest, I don't intend to drink alcohol. In my view, if someone is going to drink, they are going to drink anyway, whether it be at 12 or 18. Increasing the age wouldn't really make much difference because there will always be those that drink underage anyway.

[BuryYourFlame]

No, what it would do is stop people under the age of 21 from drinking, as they are the group that is most likely to drunk drive and do other dangerous activities under the influence of alchohol.
I agree with your concept. That drinking is generally damaging and the brain is still developing and it's generally better to not drink alcohol at this stage but...
If people are adults after they turn 18 (which I haven't seen you deny yet, I may be wrong though) then they have the right to bodily autonomy. That means they can do what they wish with their bodies as long as it doesn't harm others because they are adults. The fact that some 18 year olds might not be able to drink responsibly does not negate bodily autonomy.
The only way you can change the drinking age anywhere is by redefining the legal age at which a person becomes an adult.

[Giando]

In Italy you can drink only if you are 18 or more, but shops often sell alcoholic beverages to anybody

[Miserabilia]

It doesn't help that much, in my experience. It might make drinking more irregular but, on the occasions in which drinking does happen, binge-drinking is the norm.

The people I know who don't drink, and are under eighteen, don't drink because they don't want to, and not because there's a law against it. This applies to drugs, too.

I still think we should try.

I agree with your concept. That drinking is generally damaging and the brain is still developing and it's generally better to not drink alcohol at this stage but...
If people are adults after they turn 18 (which I haven't seen you deny yet, I may be wrong though) then they have the right to bodily autonomy. That means they can do what they wish with their bodies as long as it doesn't harm others because they are adults. The fact that some 18 year olds might not be able to drink responsibly does not negate bodily autonomy.
The only way you can change the drinking age anywhere is by redefining the legal age at which a person becomes an adult.

If people are adults after they turn 18 (which I haven't seen you deny yet, I may be wrong though) then they have the right to bodily autonomy. That means they can do what they wish with their bodies as long as it doesn't harm others because they are adults. The fact that some 18 year olds might not be able to drink responsibly does not negate bodily autonomy.

That's ridiculous,by that reasoning we should legalize all drugs.

Merged double post. -Cygnus David

[Vlerchan]

That's ridiculous,by that reasoning we should legalize all drugs.
You'd be surprised how many people have no problem with this.

[everlong]

Lots of things happen once your 18. So many more privileges including being able to vote. Plus, in many cases, you're considered an adult at that age. If you're old enough to have so many privileges, I think you should be able to drink a beverage.

[Miserabilia]

You'd be surprised how many people have no problem with this.

I meant that if that is really the reason people can drink alchohol from 18, than all drugs should be legal and they are not so either the argument is false or all drugs are irrationaly illegal (which just leaves to wonder why alchohol isn't)

[Vlerchan]

I meant that if that is really the reason people can drink alchohol from 18, than all drugs should be legal.
And I meant that an expanding number of individuals support the legalisation of all drugs.

[Miserabilia]

And I meant that an expanding number of individuals support the legalisation of all drugs.

lolk

[tovaris]

No, what it would do is stop people under the age of 21 from drinking, as they are the group that is most likely to drunk drive and do other dangerous activities under the influence of alchohol.



Yes, we should.

actuly most drunk drivers are old dudes, since a yound driver betveen the ages 18-20 has to be 0.0 alc.
And also than why not raise the wote if 18 yearolds are inconpotent blubering idiots...

[Miserabilia]

actuly most drunk drivers are old dudes, since a yound driver betveen the ages 18-20 has to be 0.0 alc.
And also than why not raise the wote if 18 yearolds are inconpotent blubering idiots...

Like I said, because they still need to be represented; even if they have no sense of risk and danger, they still have a right to be represented as a group with limited sense of risk and danger.
After all, they aren't hurting themselves with it.

[tovaris]

Like I said, because they still need to be represented; even if they have no sense of risk and danger, they still have a right to be represented as a group with limited sense of risk and danger.
After all, they aren't hurting themselves with it.

i just said there are much les wiolation in that age grup dude... No represiin necesary due to age, more due to tradition

I meant that if that is really the reason people can drink alchohol from 18, than all drugs should be legal and they are not so either the argument is false or all drugs are irrationaly illegal (which just leaves to wonder why alchohol isn't)

alcohol is considered to be a hard drug but is not ilegal since it has a traditionaly strong presence in most coltures

[backjruton]

I wish it were lowered in the UK because I want to drink WKD and other things in pubs :lol: and I don't want to wait 7 months to be able to do that when I've already had to wait 17 years :whoops:

[killer_queen]

The thing is that once most kids go to college at 18 they drink. It's just kinda a weird situation because legally some college kids can drink and others can't.

[Miserabilia]

i just said there are much les wiolation in that age grup dude... No represiin necesary due to age, more due to tradition



alcohol is considered to be a hard drug but is not ilegal since it has a traditionaly strong presence in most coltures

Which I think is ridiculous. I have always thought alchohol is too embedded in culture, and by far way to promoted.
I always laugh at the hypocrisy of my society teaching all the bad things about smoking and drugs, but alchohol just seems to be a part of life.
Maybe one day people will learn...

[Bull]

well, I dunno if there are any age restrictions on buying bears in the us ;) , sorry couldn't resist...but if you mean beer it's basically right. Never thought about whether this is good or not...I mean most kids I know drink alcohol anyway, so I guess whatever the legal drinking age may be if you wanna drink you always find a way and if you don't drink it doesn't matter anyway, so basically you could just choose some age at random....

Good answer. I think culture and family have a lot to do with developing a respect for alcohol. My family is very Christian oriented, but not crazy radical with it. Wine is a staple with dinner. My brother and I have had wine with dinner with each of us starting around age seven. At first it was just plain grape juice, then little by little it became more real wine and less grape juice. Along with this came many discussions about drinking responsibly and not abuse. I think my parents have done us a favor by setting an example of the pleasure of drinking and the appropriate attitude that goes with it. I started drinking beer while on a hunting trip with my dad. We are cool. I have set my own limits and I am good with it.

[bob97]

The entire drinking culture sucks here in the US. 21 is way too late of an age and everybody drinks at 16 anyway. I find that people drink more because its illegal and they feel "badass". They should lower it and have drinking be not such a big deal and more of an everyday a glass of wine instead of the "Lets get shitfaced!!" attitude.

[Miserabilia]

The entire drinking culture sucks here in the US. 21 is way too late of an age and everybody drinks at 16 anyway. I find that people drink more because its illegal and they feel "badass". They should lower it and have drinking be not such a big deal and more of an everyday a glass of wine instead of the "Lets get shitfaced!!" attitude.

I think that is a bit of a dillema;
it's true that prohibiting it will only make people feel baddas if they do it anyway,
but is that sufficient reason to make it available to that age group?
The age group that is most likely to cause accidents under the influence of alchohol?

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/more_btn6/traffic/traffic.htm

[tovaris]

I think that is a bit of a dillema;
it's true that prohibiting it will only make people feel baddas if they do it anyway,
but is that sufficient reason to make it available to that age group?
The age group that is most likely to cause accidents under the influence of alchohol?

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/more_btn6/traffic/traffic.htm

not realy, the most likely age gruptocause alvohor related acciednts is in fact 30-40

[Miserabilia]

not realy, the most likely age gruptocause alvohor related acciednts is in fact 30-40

Do you have any statistics to back that up?
Because I'm seeing otherwise

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/imageserver/dmv/images/teenweb/charts/drinking_10k.jpg

[Faolan]

I think 21's a good age for America; we're crazy enough as it is. In France it's 18, but my friends and I all grew up drinking wine with our parents, so it really isn't as big a deal being the drinking age there as it is in the US.

[AbigailBM98]

The drinking age is 18 where i live but i think it should be lowered to 16 or removed all together

[tovaris]

The drinking age is 18 where i live but i think it should be lowered to 16 or removed all together

why do you think that?

[Vlerchan]

The drinking age is 18 where i live but i think it should be lowered to 16 or removed all together
But alcohol is a harmful drug?!

[Miserabilia]

The drinking age is 18 where i live but i think it should be lowered to 16 or removed all together

You're strongly against marihuana but you think there should be no legal drinking age?
You kiddin'???