the drinking age

[0=]

The drinkign age her ein the U.S. is 21, in every single state, although each state can have an independent dirnking age, the federal government forced the 21 age by threatening to take away intersate funds form any state that did not comply. When people are kept away form something, it becomes taboo, or a forbidden pleasure. As soon a speople turn 21, they start drinking like crazy getting drunk every night in college. If they are exposed to small quantities of alcohol when younger, it wouldn't be a forbidden pleasure. I know that personally, I've been allowed a bit of alcohol since I was 7, whenever my parents have a drink, they let me ahve a sip, I don't get tipsy or anything, just enjoy the taste, and at this point I have it so often that it's no big deal, even though it's in very very small quantities. There would need to be some laws on amounts, parental supervision, etc. etc., but what do you think about the drinking age and it's effects on society?

[Ravenous]

21 Seems like a ridiculously high age to me, it is 18 in the UK and I believe even that is too much. 16 Seems a much more reasonable age.
Like popo said, people who are allowed small quantitys of alcohol are less likely to start binge drinking when it is legal. I have heard of people who have been forbidden of everything for their whole childhoods, then they got straight into binge drinking and hard drug-use. Which is why we have the 5 years old in your own home law.

[redcar]

its 18 here in Ireland. but something i found out recently that in Ireland you can consume alcohol at any age in your own home, and its legal. but thats beside the point. well the thing about the whole 18 age is that its completly ignored. granted its very strictly used when buying it, but when it comes to people under 18 drinking they do it when ever they want, and even if their parents put the preasure on not to drink till their 18 it willl be ignored.

but i think its good to have the age limit of 18, i think 21 is a bit extreme, but 18 is good!

[MoveAlong]

Some people on this site are very mature for their age. See, most of the country (U.S) is very immature. Here- this might explain alot of things:

Since you were first born, what was the most enjoyable thing to do? Laugh.
Is laughing fun? Yes.
Now, do you like to masturbate? Couple of answers from different people: Yes, not alot, sometimes.
Is masturbating fun? Couple of answers from different people: Yes, Hell yes, when I do it yes.
Does that mean yes? ...Are you stupid?
Yes. Oh ok. Cool :)


Maybe that was a little too playful :P but still, here's the thing: fun. Why do people like their jobs (if they do)? Because their fun jobs (to them). Why do alot of people like funny movies? Because they laugh-- wait, flashback. Is laughing fun? Yes.

Our world revolves around fun. Sex is fun. Laughing is fun. Getting drunk, in turn, is fun. That's why people like to get drunk. But remember, alot of people are immature. People love fun, and you want some of it in teen years. In other countrys apart from the U.S, it's ok for somebody to be 16 and drink. But here, even if you're mature, you still have do what you did in the little classroom: Take the consequence of somebody else's action; i.e if somebody does something, it gets taken away from EVERYBODY.
21 is extreme, but most people are mature at that age so they won't get in trouble. Drunk driving is common. Even if you say YOU won't do it, somebody else would. So YOU can't. Suffer for other people's actions. It's sad, but it works.

Popo, you say that you drink alcohol in small amounts. Now, if drinking small amounts for everyone was allowed, then there'd have to be some way to meter it, to monitor it, to control it within your own home. Nobody can stop what happens in your own home; such as nudism. You can be naked and frolicing free in your house. But too much alcohol can cause poisoning; and that can be deadly.

So in my opinion, alcohol should not be allowed for anyone under the age of 18- 20 to allow maturity in
1, how much you drink
2, what you do after you are under the influence/how you handle yourself
3, how you monitor anyone else you're giving it to



Overall: People abuse fun. Maturity tames the urge.

EDIT: 18-20 (can't deside). Not under 18 to do anything with alcohol.

[Whisper]

18 in Alberta and Quebec
19 everywhere else

that dosent bother me

[Ravenous]

5 with your parents in your own home here. Thats good cos it gives your parents the chance to get you used to it and comfortable around it.
18 to Buy.

[Melchi0r]

I've had about two sips of alcohol in my life, but when I turn 21 I think I'll have a birthday beer but no heavy drinking. I mean, why get drunk? Hello?! Hangovers? So they should definately keep the drinking age. It's not stopping people from drinking, but when under-21-ers drink, it's illegal, and some of them get caught. But not enough.

[0=]

Ah, don't get beer, have some kahlua or amaretto, maybe margaritas.

In reply to storm, if people had alcohol since they were little, then they would become accustomed to it, and eprsonally I don't think being drunk sounds very appealing. If you get used to something, you don't make a big deal of it. People make a big deal of sex because it's abn extreme taboo in this country. People make a big deal about nudity for the same reasons. People amkea big deal about alcohol ecause it is simply a forbidden pleasure, if you make it so minors have to get say some sort of I.D. to show that they are of an age where they can drink a certain amount of alcohol, that would be good. With those I.D. cards they could go ina bar and maybe get a shot of liquor, a small margarita, or a small bit of beer, that never got anyone drunk. the cards would be scanned into a computer telling a system allover that the particular minor could only have a certian amount more, or not any at all, and their card would be denied if they tried to get more, maybe have an account linked to it with a small amount of money. the cards would decide the amount allowed based upon age, height, and weight. There's your solution for keeping track.

[Ravenous]

I mean, why get drunk?
Because it is extreemly fun!! If you have never even had much alcohol, then you wouldn't understand.
It should be my choice if I want to abuse my body with alcohol.

[kolte]

ok first off, what the fuck is with people agreeing to let small children sip alcohol.
ok.
have we all lost our minds.
we do all reolize how ridiculas that is.
if your theory worked, I should be completly fine right.
because the theory is, I'll get to know this drink and I won't binge drink.
ok i knew the drink.
my father got drunk every night from the time I was born to the time I was 11 years old.
I know all about alcohol.
but that doesnt make a fuck of a difference.
I started getting drunk when I turned 12.
who says age restrictions make a difference.
me, and every single one of my friends, drinks, smokes or snorts regeardless of age my friend.
weather your 21 or 14 nobody in my crowed is gonna say shit.
because they were huffing, smoking, drinking and riding from 14 to 21.
its the teenage years.
its the seize this short, festering life by the troat and enjoy every fucking second.
because if your not happy.
what fucking point is there to life.
if I wanna smoke drink fuck or die its up to M.E. and theres not a god damn law, or restriction that will keep me from enjoying myself.
thankyou.
that is all.

[Fiending_the_freedom]

i think we should keep the drinking age at whatever it is where you are (well no or than 21 right?) and the teenagers will keeep fiding ways to get it, like its always been^^

[saucysister]

Lowering the drinking age would just lower the bar on underage drinking. But that doesnt matter to me. It' their problem.

[Ravenous]

my father got drunk every night from the time I was born to the time I was 11 years old.
I know all about alcohol.
Thats probably half the reason why you binge drunk. Sure you enjoy it, but why did you start? Because you learnt from your dad that was what you are sopposed to do? Possibly, possibly you just wanted to. Either way it doesn't really matter. The "in your own home" law does make a big difference.

[0=]

koler, that is obviously a special case, if you have problems like that you and your family need therapy, but most cases aren't like yours. Assuming people have some sanity and common sense, the lowering of the drinking age would help a lot. With the I.D. cards, kids would have to get the aslcohol illegally in order to overdrink, but from European models, they wouldn't have a desire to. Binge dirnking is far lowe rin Europe because they let kids get used to it in a safe environment. Sorry bout your family, but the majority of people don't have that problem.

[kolte]

koler, that is obviously a special case, if you have problems like that you and your family need therapy, but most cases aren't like yours. Assuming people have some sanity and common sense, the lowering of the drinking age would help a lot. With the I.D. cards, kids would have to get the aslcohol illegally in order to overdrink, but from European models, they wouldn't have a desire to. Binge dirnking is far lowe rin Europe because they let kids get used to it in a safe environment. Sorry bout your family, but the majority of people don't have that problem.

Well, I don't really have a family anymore, so no therapy needed.
and thats not a special case.
you got to remember, that there are allot of people in the lower classes.
and there are allot of people who have had to endure drunken fathers who beat the hell out of everone in the family.
there are allot of people who knew everything about the streets and about drugs and drinking when they were very young.
in fact......perhaps your the minority on this one.
if were speaking global?

[serial-thrilla]

i think that 19 is fine.

[Kiros]

Eh, I remember hearing something that in France (or some part of Europe) anyone over the age of 14 can drink, though anyone under the age of 18 cannot drink hard liquor. I think that's because European people tend to take care of themselves more, instead of going all out and drinking outrageously. I know that if we had that same thing in the USA, there would be a lot more chaos and early deaths. I think that 18 was a good age, but evidently, Congress decided 21 would be better... :|

[0=]

The only reason we have the problem is because the government forced the high drinking age in the first place. Gradually lower it, and use advanced I.D. systems, and the lowering would go smoothly, having a good outcome in the end.

[Ravenous]

I'm pretty sure that is France and maybe a few other continental countrys Kiros. It seems like a good law really, in france children of all ages have wine with their meals and stuff. But if we had that in the UK, it would mess everything up, binge drinking is huge here. Not in mainland europe though.
Drinking is so relaxed there, I went to belgium a while back, and there was a giant vending machine, yes thats right an unattended vending machine selling beer, wine and spirits!

[TehBovril]

Drinking can seriously damage children if they start to young but i think 21 is a bit extreme. Drinking alcohol is fine as long as you do it properly, if people want to get drunk let them,instead of making them wait until they are older people should be told how to drink responsibly.

Most of my friends have been drunk now a bunch of times, most of us have been drinking since we were 14, we've just been taught to do it responsibly. None of us have ever had alcohol poisoning etc...

[check it]

21 Seems like a ridiculously high age to me, it is 18 in the UK and I believe even that is too much. 16 Seems a much more reasonable age.
Like popo said, people who are allowed small quantitys of alcohol are less likely to start binge drinking when it is legal. I have heard of people who have been forbidden of everything for their whole childhoods, then they got straight into binge drinking and hard drug-use. Which is why we have the 5 years old in your own home law.
16 IS WAY TOO LOW!!!!
I think like 19-1 years is a good ageit gives you at least teo years of being mature enough to drive and then if you do get in a car drunk I think you can be a bit more responsible...well as responsible you can be drunk...but yeah
plus...when you are 16 your not all the way through puberty and your liver and colon and stuff aren't fully developed and it can cause disease

I think that 21 is a fine age....I think in the home it should be like 18...or at like a party with parental supervision...
and I don't think 16 is a very mature age....


AND 5 IN THE HOME!!?!????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!

[MegPerc725]

I was actually talking to my mom about this the other day.

We both agree that in the US if you are allowed to vote and enlist in the military at 18, why shouldn't you be allowed to drink then too

Obviously, drinking at 18 could cause some problems, as far as 18-year-old friends supplying alcohol for parties and such, so it kind of makes sense for it to be older.

Also, most people who are 18 don't have the maturity to drink, and there are many 21 year olds who aren't mature enough.


In summation, I think the drinking age should be lowered to 18, simply because one is legally and "adult" at that age.

[Whisper]

I was actually talking to my mom about this the other day.

We both agree that in the US if you are allowed to vote and enlist in the military at 18, why shouldn't you be allowed to drink then too

Obviously, drinking at 18 could cause some problems, as far as 18-year-old friends supplying alcohol for parties and such, so it kind of makes sense for it to be older.

Also, most people who are 18 don't have the maturity to drink, and there are many 21 year olds who aren't mature enough.


In summation, I think the drinking age should be lowered to 18, simply because one is legally and "adult" at that age.

I agree if your old enough to be shipped off to war
old enough to "die for your country"
then you should be old enough to drink and vote
I think the voting and drinking age should be lowered in Canada to 16
we can enlist at 16
so why not

Stupid thing wont let me edit so i'm making another post

I think that the government of Canada should force all auto companys that sell there vehicles in Canada to have a breathalizer installed as a mandontory measure, no diffrent then the emergency brake
you can't drive drunk if you can't start the car while your drunk
they can design them however they want so that they fit in with the vehicle
just as long as there installed
and work right

and insurance companys should offer severe drops in the cost of vehilce insurance if one is installed on an older vehicle

[Ravenous]

16 IS WAY TOO LOW!!!!
I think like 19-1 years is a good ageit gives you at least teo years of being mature enough to drive and then if you do get in a car drunk I think you can be a bit more responsible...well as responsible you can be drunk...but yeah
plus...when you are 16 your not all the way through puberty and your liver and colon and stuff aren't fully developed and it can cause disease

I think that 21 is a fine age....I think in the home it should be like 18...or at like a party with parental supervision...
and I don't think 16 is a very mature age....


AND 5 IN THE HOME!!?!????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!
16 is fine, the more something is forbidden the more people will want it, make it accessable to people at a slightly younger age. That ties in with the 5 in your own home thing. I don't think you read what I wrote properly, either that or I didn't write it, I can't be assed to go back and look. But that law is with parental supervision. 21 and even 18 is way too high I think, seriously you can marry at 16 here with parental consent, but not even be able to drink at your own wedding?

[alissa123]

its tru though no 1 actually "follows the law" every1 i know drinks they jus get it from older friends i think that the age limit is pointless

[kolte]

it is, i drink, on occasion, and i have never had a problem securing alcohol. Its second nature to lure things out of people. n.n

[R&b_Boy]

21 Seems like a ridiculously high age to me, it is 18 in the UK and I believe even that is too much. 16 Seems a much more reasonable age.
Like popo said, people who are allowed small quantitys of alcohol are less likely to start binge drinking when it is legal. I have heard of people who have been forbidden of everything for their whole childhoods, then they got straight into binge drinking and hard drug-use. Which is why we have the 5 years old in your own home law.

It is also 18 in Spain too

[Ravenous]

Its 18 in lots of places, but in spain it is 16 to drink, 18 to purchase.
Like said above, it is really not hard to get hold of alcohol anyway. I've never had a problem, one way or another.

[KillYerParents]

I dont think 16 is too young at all.

I think that it's kind of like the opposite of how teachers used to say if you're going to act like a baby, i'm going to treat you like a baby. If you treat 16 yr olds (already physically mature even though they're not quite done mentally) like baby's and don't allow kids to do things like drink or other things, then they become more exciting and they also learn about drinking through friends instead of a parent who can help teach them responsible drinking. If you make it illegal, it won't stop kids from doing it, just make it more dangerous. The same with criminization of anything that's really not the gov't's bussiness like what people do to themselves as long as the don't harm or force anything upon other's.

i can make a smiley face::) :yes:

[MegPerc725]

i kind of agree with that.
i almost think that there shouldn't be a drinking age, because then kids will grow up with alcohol around, and it won't be forbidden, and hence, won't be as exciting or thrilling. i think that if we all grew up being allowed to drink alcohol, then we wouldn't use it to get drunk.


unfortunately, if the drinking age were to be lowered or eliminated, then america would be stuck with a generation of complete drunks, because most high schoolers would be getting drunk everyday simply because they could.

[Broken_Record]

That statement Meg, actually has some truth to it. I grew up in the Philippines, a third-world island nation in Pacific-Asia. And, especially in the area that I lived in, there was never a lack of alcohol. And growing up around it with all of my other siblings, and relatives, we never really thought much of it. We knew that it could get you drunk and that kids weren't supposed to drink it (even though you could go to any local store and buy some even at the age of seven), but we always thought of it as just a drink, like water or soda pop. And we did have a couple chugs of the stuff every now and again.

But, I'm not quite sure if that kind of use and "abuse" would work in a higher society like the UK or the USA. There might be more chaos because of how the society is much higher and advanced, than that of my community in the Philippines.

[Whisper]

Broken record how old are you?

[kolte]

you know actually im pretty torn about alcohol.
you see I'm not actually a big fan of it. though i personally consume it on a regular basis.

alcohol is addictive, just as addictive as other drugs.
people lose their marriages, jobs, families, even their lives because of alcohol.
a large majority of homeless people are homeless because of alcohol.
alcohol is distructive and addictive and therefor should be limited.
statistics from a global perspective show that 60-70% of violent crimes, including child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and murder link to alcohol as a contributing factor.
to be short, alcohol is a leading cause of crime and violence, therefor putting it in the hands of our chlidren is not a good idea.
thousands of people are hurt and killed because of drunk driving.

because of these facters, and as a responsible young adult, i must say that any age restriction on alcohol that is less then 18 years old, would be somethign that I disagree with.

nuff said.

[babysmilesalot]

Lowering the drinking age would just lower the bar on underage drinking. But that doesnt matter to me. It' their problem.

I agree :yes:

[Bobby]

This is old.

Locking.