It seems like all other countries set it at 18 or 19. What's wrong with drinking when you're legally an adult (and that's if you're not an alcholic or binge drinker)?
2006-10-01 17:48:27 · 15 answers · asked by unaforce65 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I'm not a big drinker. Most alcholic drinks won't taste good to me unless it's mixed into food.
2006-10-01 17:54:39 · update #1
The legal age was 18 for a while and too many kids were dying on our roads. They raised it back to 21.
By the way, Japan has far more stringent drinking and driving laws. If you are in an accident and have ANY alcohol in your system, it's an automatic jail sentence. There is no appeal. And Japanese jails specialize in humiliation. They don't encourage repeat offenders.
2006-10-01 18:29:06 · answer #1 · answered by loryntoo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
FYI: In New Zealand it's 20. In Norway it's 18 or 20 depending. In Russia it's 21.
But you're right, other countries have 18 or 19; some even have as young as 16 as the legal drinking age.
2006-10-01 17:53:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone once determined that it would be safer for drinking ages to be 21. MADD put a great deal of pressure on congress.
Now remember, it is a state by state decision. Any state can set their drinking age at any level they want. But if they want highway funds from the feds, it must be at 21.
I agree, if you are old enough to fight for your country, you are old enough to drink. Even if you are an alcoholic or binge drinker.
2006-10-01 17:52:42 · answer #3 · answered by Are_You_Stupid? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
College binge drinking is the reason I suspect. When a person hits 21, they are most likely only a year or less from completing their post secondary studies. It's not that it keeps less young people from dieing of alcohol related causes, it's just lawmakers' C.Y.A. Get it?
2006-10-01 17:52:58 · answer #4 · answered by medellia1984 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you waiting to become 21? Can you not see around how the guys and gals enjoy everything (drinks included)? Who care the law anyway?
In the ideal world girls become pregnant after marriage too..
2006-10-01 18:07:31 · answer #5 · answered by Rammohan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess to prevent our young adults from making stupid mistakes (which we do do) and to prevent a country full of illnesses.
France and other places let children drink alcohol and hush their babies with it to lull them to sleep. These countries also have the highest cases of cirrhosis of the liver!!!!
I guess its 21 so we can have time to examine the full effect of what it can do to us and for us to hopefully make some decent decisions.
2006-10-01 18:05:20 · answer #6 · answered by Cam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They had the law here where you could drink at 18 they changed it too many teens were driveing and getting killed!
2006-10-01 18:19:36 · answer #7 · answered by starglowshady 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
politicians make laws and politicians need votes. each state decides the drinking age....the federal government gives states billions of dollars each year for highway construction. it is withheld if you don't have a 21 age limit
2006-10-01 17:54:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because America is a nation of p*****s. We have so many "save me from myself" laws, it's ridiculous. I imagine it's the insurance companies who are behind most of these laws. They grew tired of paying out zillions of $$$ over frivolous lawsuits.
2006-10-01 18:00:02 · answer #9 · answered by southeastside 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cause we have all these wierd repressed people in the USA. I mean, heck, we made alcohol illegal altogether for a decade (Prohibition). Our emphasis on christian morality and moral control is crazy.
2006-10-01 17:51:52 · answer #10 · answered by Charles D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋