Should the drinking age be lowered to 18 ?

Question

I figuere we can join the army and go fight for our country at 18 the least our country owes us is the ability to drink once were adults .

Alcohol doesnt lead to accidents morons behind the wheel lead to accidents. furthermore if my country can tell me to not drink alcohol because its bad for my health then why dont they just stop me from eating at BK or mcdonalds or stop me from working in hazardous enviroment .

Answer 1

I don't see the problem.

Answer 2

When I was younger the drinking age was 18 in some states, 19 in a a few and 21 in others. The original rationale of 21 in all states was to have a consistent age to cut down on deaths among 18 to 21 year olds along the borders of states with different ages (kids would drive often long distances to other states to obtain alcholol and many would die on the way home). The interesting thing is that the Federal government, which has no authority to make a national drinking law (under the 10th Amendment) more or less forced the holdout states to change their laws by threatening to with-hold Federal highway funds. My feeling is that it should be up to the individual states as to what their drinking age is since nowhere in the Constitution does it specify a national drinking age and the 10th Amendment says all areas of law making not specifically assigned to the Federal government elsewhere in the Constitution are left to the individual states.

But saying that everyone under 21 is drinking anyway is not sound arguement - just because everyone is acting irresponsibly is no reason to change the law. The irresponsible behavior might be an arguement to keep it where it is, since a lower drinking age might result in more irresponsible behavior (DUI, unintended sexual encounters, etc). Also, current thinking is that the human brain is not fully develope until around the age of 25 and ethanol is a neurotoxin. Maybe they should raise the drinking age for health reasons?

But strictly on a legalistic basis and the basis of fairness - the 10th Amendment, as well as other legal rights that are conferred at the age of 18, it seems that it would make more sense to be consistent and permit alcohol consumption at 18. If you are mature enough to vote, to be convicted as an adult, enter into legal contracts, join the military, etc, it should follow that you are mature enough to drink.

Answer 3

Well, currently, states have exclusive control over the drinking age, except on federal bases or installations.

However, if the states do lower the drinking age, Congress withholds millions of dollars in federal highway funds. So, to get those funds, the states must agree with the preferences of Congress.

As far as policy reasons, the numbers were set based on statistical studies that showed people between 17-20 were more likely to get into fatal or near-fatal accidents because of drinking. And by raising the drinking age, many of those accidents were averted. That provided the link Congress needed to make the highway funds conditional upon state's setting the age to 21.

Assuming those studies are accurate, then reducing the drinking age will result in an increased number of fatal or near-fatal vehicle accidents.

Answer 4

I am a thirty eight right wing conservative, I believe that all rights should be extended to all citizens. I do believe that the drinking age should be 18. I believe that if you are eligible to vote and to be drafted there should not be restrictions on your rights.

At the very least I believe anyone serving in the military or honorably discharged should be granted the right to buy alcohol. If I owned a bar or liquor store it would be a cold day in Hell before I would refuse service to any member or Veteran of the Armed Service regardless of their age.

Answer 5

I think acohol needs to be introduced at a young age. In countries like france, young children are given watered-down wine and are exposed to alcohol at a fairly young age. It may seem appalling to many americans, but france actually has a much lower acoholism rate than america. The reason for this is fairly clear: when people are introduced to alcohol at a young age, they have a much easier time learning to understand the responsibilities that go with it. In america, teen aren't used to alcohol, so they get this idea in their heads that their goal is drink as much as possible in one sitting without dying. So, basically, I think americans who are raising children need to educate their children about alcohol in a way that makes more sense.

Answer 6

Then don't join the Military until you are 21. Studies have shown that people in the age group of 18-21 rise dramatically when alcohol is involved.

Answer 7

OF COURSE IT SHOULD!!!

Look, if you are responsible enough to die in some foxhole half-way around the world, fighting some politician's war for god-knows-why, then why are you not responsible to buy booze???

At 18, you are responsible enough to vote, enter into legal contracts, buy porn, and oh yes... buy cigarettes. But you can not buy a drink?

Who the F*&! came up with that one???? If that's the case then raise all the other stuff I just mentioned to 21, including enlisting in the military.

Answer 8

Only active duty military personnel located on a military base. If you can die for this country at 18, you sure as heck should be able to drink a beer in this country.

Answer 9

At 18 you are mature enough to vote, join the military, smoke, buy porn, etc.....How are you not mature enough to drink. Most people do all of their drinking before 21, because it is illegal then. That just adds more fun to it. If we say that it is 18, then we will half less drunk teens on the road killing theirselves/other people. That is just my personal opinion. I am already 21.

Answer 10

The age of consent should drive all of your "leap to adulthood". Pick an age - 18, 20, 21 - it should be the date you can vote, be drafted, sign a contract and legally consume alcohol. If society deems you adult enough to do any of these things, you should be deemed adult enough to do all of them.

Answer 11

No matter what age people are whe they start drinking there will be many who abuse it because ti is novel and new, it has little to do with chronological age and more to do with mental maturity and knowing where your limits are. I believe that people should be taught how to drink responsibly from a younger age (as it is in Europe) so that when they start driving they'll know better than to drink and drive.