should the drinking age be lowered or maybe no age limit?

Question

i know some of you are probably ready to tell me all about how immature teenagers are, but look at it through my eyes for a second.

1st, we can join the army and die for our country at 18, but we can't have a beer?

2nd, we can drive a car and endanger the lives of everybody on the road, but not have a beer and and experiance the effect before we try it while driving?

3rd, kids want what they can't have, if they can have it, it loses its thrill

4th, do you really think it's better to have drinking responsably dropped on someone at a certain age, or slowly introduced?

just curious to see if anybody else thought like me, and if someone had a different view that isn't the traditional "responsability/immaturity" argument

Answer 1

My wife grew up in Quebec where the drinking age is more like a suggestion rather than a law. Kids were routinely drinking at an early age. She also lived in Denmark for a year where the attitude was similar but not exactly the same.

In both of these societies she saw less alcohol abuse than where we live now. Here the law states you must be 18 years old and it is strictly enforced.

The difference she saw was that in the lenient societies young drinkers didn't sneak off to get drunk therefore were under the observation of adults who would limit excessive drinking.

Where we live now kids who drink are surrounded by other kids who can't recognize drunkenness. Even if they do they ignore the implications and they permit their friends to drink until alcohol poisoning occurs or someone tries to drive.

Kids are going to drink before they are 18, let them drink legally so someone with common sense can keep an eye on them until they learn what their limits are.

Answer 2

Well then why have laws? People are going to break them anyway, whether or not it's illegal. Why have speed limits? People want to go the speed they want to go. Why not lower the age for smoking? Most people START as teenagers. Maybe if they wouldn't be breaking the law they wouldn't start. I could really use your argument to say let's say you could buy smokes at 12. Seriously even before I was 21 I wasn't supporting lowering the age. I don't know what this big push for it is now. When I was a kid we did it if we wanted, didn't say oh the age should be lowered so we won't have to be doing it illegally. For the record I didn't drink before I was 21. Even if it had been legal I wouldn't have. I still don't drink. I just don't have much interest in it.

Answer 3

In the UK you can buy drink at 18. If you are having a meal with your parents they can buy you beer or cider with your meal from 16.

You can give your kids drink at home from the age of 5, but traditionally babies got a nip of whisky in their bottle when they were teething.

In France and Germany too there is a differential between beer/wine and hard liquor.

I was brought up in France and drank watered down wine with meals from the age of 2. Most children drink wine regularly in France without it causing any problems.

The age you are allowed to drink has nothing to do with problems caused by alcohol. It is all down to culture.

In the UK there is now a binge drinking problem among young women who apparently think that getting plastered and flashing your breasts then throwing up at the roadside shows how they have achieved "equality"!

In France where there is a relaxed atmosphere with regard to drinking hours/age there are far fewer problems.

I think it's crazy here that you can get married or smoke at 16 but can't watch an x movie or buy drink until you are 18. To have the restriction of 21 seems outlandish to say the least!

The USA is virtually the only place where the limit is higher than 18, yet the level of alcoholism is one of the highest globally. That seems to suggest that the extra restriction is valueless.

Answer 4

Well, I joined the Navy when I was 17. I could not drink in the States...however, when I got overseas (Japan, Phillipines, Hong Kong) no problem.

I know that being in the Military taught me responsibility. I know that because I am the father of six kids, and I am a single Dad.

However, I may have a bit of "leeway" with my boys.

But, there is NO WAY I am going to let my kids (at 18) drink.
I love them too much for that, not as long as they are under my roof.

Answer 5

I do believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18 based soley on the military age cut-off. I think it's bullsh!t that legal adults @ 18 can be held accountable for crimes being tried as an adult, can join the military, & are responsible for taking care of themselves, but cannot drink. I'm 24 & i've felt this way for awhile. I don't necessarilly agree with all of your statement but props for making a good argument.

Answer 6

I liked your idea of the "kids want what they can't have, if they can have it, it loses its thrill". However, the government will never make this legal. Still it might work, but there are some people that will abuse it and bad things will happen. A lot of people like drinking because of the buzz, or just being drunk. That's the bad part about drinking.

Some wise person told me "there is never anything good that comes out of drinking" After I heard that, I could not think of one thing that is good about it! Why should anyone even be introduced to it, when there is nothing positive about it? Honestly whats the point?

Answer 7

Nope maybe goes a bit higher, in the case that drinking is also a responsibility and you now your limit of course... Even do it gives too much thrill to all (young or old) people should also be aware of each consequenses if you dose more of alcohol. I'm not plastic or something but a bit practical..

Answer 8

the age limit everywhere else is usually 18 but usas gotta be different man thats really stupid u go get shot lose a leg in iraq and cant come back and drink a ******** beer really dumb

i agree with everything else u said

Answer 9

You can draft me and send me in harm's way at 18, but I can't have a beer because it might be harmful to me? That's absolute rubbish!

True responsibility begins when one recognizes how arbitrary and capricious the law really is. Go ahead and have a beer and the hell with the authorities.

Answer 10

I highly agree with your 3rd point. I have visited many countries outside of the US where there have been lower or no drinking age limit. You said it exactly. People want what they aren't supposed to have. Underage kids want to drink. You let them do it, it will be less "cool". Why do you think the US has so many young people with alcohol issues?