Why is the legal drinking age so high?

Question

The drinking age is 21.......Why is is so high? Im an 18 year old college freshmen and the reasons i drink vodka and beer every weekend are because i love to get buzzed, and because i want to break the so called legal drinking age....The highest legal drinking age in the world i might add...every other country is 18, or lower...maybe all the fun would be taken out of drinking if the age was lowered...

Answer 1

Alcohol has a higher age limit than almost any other activity in the US except becoming President. You can die in Iraq first, smoke tumors into your lungs first, drive into a brick wall first, and become addicted to porno and scratch tickets first. Safety obviously doesn't compute. The reason is simple, YOU SPEND MORE MONEY THIS WAY because it becomes a status symbol of fun and maturity. Almost every malt beverage is targeted at young adults, no alcohol flavor and the likes. Every funny beer commercial is targeted at young adults. If you would like to see an example, check out wine commercials in some of you parents magazines. Your age group will find them boring as hell. America's alcohol problems stem from the fact that keg parties is how we introduce our children into drinking, instead of merlot at the dinner table.

Answer 2

A lot of times, an 18 year-old cannot make adult choices. Granted, at 18 you're considered an adult, but drinking is an adult choice that you're too young to make.

That being said, I know people 21 and older who should NEVER be considered "adult". Some of the 18 year-olds I know, are WAY more mature than they are.

Generally, at 18, you're not quite old enough to make an informed decision about most things in life. You haven't really had the experiences needed to make the right choices. It doesn't matter what choice you're being given, either. It can be about sex, drugs, alcohol, politics, child rearing.... what ever. At 18, you haven't seen enough or experienced enough to make good choices in those areas.

Maybe you're more mature than most 18 year-olds. I can't say, as I don't know you. However, I have a feeling that's why a lot of politicians (and parents) much prefer the drinking age be higher. Believe it or not, 3 years can, and often do, make a difference.

Answer 3

There was a lot of publicity around drunk driving in the late 70's, and the drinking age was raised as a simple solution to a complex problem. I would rather have a legal age of 18, but with clear sanctions for drunk driving or other clearly irresponsible behavior under the influence. I would also like compulsory education on responsible drinking (without preaching) in high school.

Drinking age in many countries is about 18. In Canada it is 18 or 19, depending on the province.

Answer 4

There was a grand experiment back in the 70's and 80's where many states lowered the drinking age to 18. What happened is that kids in the 18 to 21 age group proved that in the United State at least, they couldn't handle their liquor.

The number of acolhol related injuries and deaths skyrocketed for this age group. That lead every state that has lowered it's drinking age to raise it back to 21.

Answer 5

its 21 here...new york....its that everywhere in the U.S i believe its too high...even my mom agrees. She thinks this because when she was younger it was 18 and she was allowed to drink and have fun with her friends there...honestly...teenagers are going to drink anyway...theres not really a big difference between 18 and 21 so they should lower it back to 18 i know drinking and driving is a problem but once ur 16 MOST teenagers have drank soo either way there will always be drunk driving no matter what...as horrible as that seems. im 15 and i drink sometimes...15 might be young but 21 is way too old. they should def lower it oh and i agree with the second persons answer....if we are allowed to vote, & fight for our country then why shouldnt we be allowed to drink until 21? thats insane.

Answer 6

I myself feel that if I can legally join the army, buy and smoke cigarettes, draw on and pierce myself without adult consent, buy porn, live on my own without filing emancipation, pay mucho bills, and decide the fate of this country by voting for the president and other such offices of power... I should be able to have a drink at the end of the day to ease my nerves!!!!

Of course, I'm 23 years old, and I don't drink (I stopped once I reached the legal age...lol)

Answer 7

the age is 21 because the government refuses to fund roadwork and construction if the age is lowered.. they believe that if 18 year olds are legal to drink.. that there will also be more drunk drivers on the road.. and the government is not going to promote drinking and driving.. this is all according to my social studies teacher.. i'm 17 and often debate the legal drinking age as well... if you don't wanna wait.. move to europe.. lol.

Answer 8

I went to Europe this summer, and the legal drinking age in Germany was TWELVE. LOL. I'm almost 19 and we could drink in London, Paris, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany...and guess what!, WE DID!

Answer 9

it used to be 18, before the mid 70's. The gov changed it to 21, prob because 18 year olds can not be responsible drinkers. and personaly, although I myself like to drink, think that sometimes 21 is not old enough to be responsible with drinking.
if you don't want to wait, go to canada-you can drink there at 18.

Answer 10

It was a bribe by the federal government in exchange for money to build freeway's or at least that's the story in California