Why is the age limit for drinking in the US so high?

Question

Most other Western countries allow drinking at younger ages. I've heard the argument that drunk driving for 18-21 years was a major reason for the age limit, but is the American youth really more irresponsible than other nationalities? Drunk driving is probably not the reason for the gambling limit, which is also surprisingly high (21 yrs), so I'm leaning to believe that it stems from a distrust in young people.Thoughts?

mgctouch: I don't know about that gambling explanation. Why can't you ID at the tables, just like you ID at the bar? The government has decided that a 20-year old is too young to gamble, because they want to protect him from losing his own money? But what do they do if they catch him gambling? They fine him $5,000! I don't know about you, but I think that's worse than even a high-rolling 20-year old gambler with bad luck can lose on a weekend in Vegas! Apart from that, very good answer.

Answer 1

As an adult now, I think that it was the right decision changing the drinking age in the 80's. I was a 18 when they changed the age in the 80's and fell under the grandfather clause which allowed me to keep my rights.

Even thhough there might be many responsible teens at 18 who would not drink and drive, there a too many that would. I had a couple of friends who lost their licence because they were foolish enough to think they were invinsible. Luckily they didn't harm anyone or themselves. At that age we are young and full of life and still find it hard to avoid peer pressure.

I also believe that the American culture is brought up in a totally different way than other countires. For example, European children are exposed to wine with meals at a younger age, which teaches them that alcohol isn't just about getting drunk and being cool. This I believe cures the "mystery" feeling they would have had if not exposed to it.

I think it's fair based on the behaviour that a majority of teens have shown.

Answer 2

There is a huge difference in the maturity level of a 16 year old and an 18 year old. There is also a bug difference in the maturity level of an 18 year old and a 21 year old.

I believe that the legal age of alcohol laws are designed to protect society from the immature 18 year olds who want to drink and drive to impress their friends.

I believe that the 21 year old gambling laws are designed to protect the immature 18 year olds who might blow through all of their money in the casinos. Since most casinos, if not all, also serve alcohol at the tables and slot machines, they cannot risk an underage player getting drinks or they will face heavy fines and possibly lose their liquor license or their license to operate.

As a teenager, you will not appreciate these laws. As you get older, you will see them in a different light and, most likely, agree with them.

All the best to you!

Answer 3

I think in other countries, children are given more responsibility at a younger age, and therefore are able to handle alcohol at a younger age since they tend to live up to the responsibility given them. Drinking is downplayed in their societies, and children are used to having a little wine or beer with meals. It is not a big deal for them to hit 21 and go out and get plastered. Yes, I do believe that as a whole, American youth are less responsible than say their European counter parts. The majority are not given enough practice time to learn to be responsible at an earlier age.

Answer 4

Drunk driving was the reason, but it wasn't a considered policy decision but the result of a media scare, which stampeded state legislatures into raising the limits in the 1980s. We get those from time to time here.

The voting age was *lowered* from 21 to 18 (for equally irrational reasons, not that it was a bad decision) in the 1970s. So I don't think it's mistrust of young people so much as sentimentality and parental overprotection.

Answer 5

You ask: "is the American youth really more irresponsible than other nationalities?"

The drinking age is twenty-one, yet teens are drinking anyway.

Using phony ID to buy alcohol is against the law (sometimes even a felony), yet teens do it anyway.

Drunk driving is against the law, yet teens get caught doing it anyway.

And you want to know if they're more irresponsible....?

Answer 6

We are what's known as a quasi-Puritanical society. Thus introducing alcohol at a younger age would surely lead to sin...and drunk driving and a total addiction to the stuff, plus instant sexual desires and a need for illegal drugs.

That's a load of elephant crap, but that's the policy-maker's rationale. By introducing a healthy respect for tasty beverages younger, perhaps there wouldn't be so many issues with under-age drinking and binge drinking etc.

Welcome to America.

Answer 7

im canadian and ive been legal to drink sense i was 19 i have recently moved back to the us and now i have to wait a month before im 21 to legally drink but i have never felt the need to drink or drive if i have been out i have always got a cab or had a double d i think its on who is responsible enough to now right from wrong regardless if they have had 2 drinks or 8

Answer 8

Cause it's so easy to get your hands on a gun. Drunken youth and guns..... not good. Much easier for the Government to control Alcohol.

Answer 9

Because Americans are too stupid to drink responsibly. How long have we known drinking and driving can kill someone, yet we still do it.

Answer 10

Thats what happens when I country is founded with religion in mind...