If people can drive & vote at 18, aren't they adult enough to decide on drinking too?

Answer 1

CAN vote, but DON'T vote. That's why they got picked as an easy target for the morally pious Puritans. There are no political repercussions for picking on that demographic group.

Yes, drinking and driving deaths went down after the drinking age went up, but if we raised it to 85 and encased everyone in a kevlar bubble, accidental death rates would go down, as well. Just like if we imprisoned or executed everyone at birth, the crime rate would drop. However, there are fundamental issues of freedom of choice and quality of life that have to be weighed into the equation. No matter how much we safeguard society, each and everyone one of us will die, so it's a matter of looking at the value of life vs. length of time.

The more we make drinking some kind of grown-up forbidden fruit, the more we encourage irresponsible, binge drinking behavior. If we followed the European model, where having drinks in moderation from an earlier age is no big deal, we'd have less problems than we do with the current system.

Answer 2

Laws are made on the assumption that people of all ages are not capable of making good decisions without help, and inforcement of some kind. For instance, seat belts. People are not allowed to drink until they are 21 because the human body is still developing until around the age of 21. Drinking before this age will cause considerable more damage to the body than after the body is finished maturing. The government feels that in order to keep people from drinking before this critical stage of development, that a law must be passed. Or else those under the age of 21 would be drinking, and causing greater ruin to their bodies. So, it isn't about being adult enough to make decisions, technically the government doesn't ever deem anyone old enough for making decisions completely on their own (seat belts for instance).

Answer 3

No. The only people underage but over 18 that should be allowed to drink are people in the United States Armed Forces, and even that should be strictly regulated. If you are old enough to sacrifice your life at 18-as my best friend did back in 2005-then you should be able to have a drink. Other than that, absolutely not.

Answer 4

You are logical.
A medical study a few years ago concluded that people who do not drink or smoke until after age 21 have a much lower chance of becoming addicts to either booze or tobacco. Which might explain the odd laws?
Considering the candidates that mature adults vote for, and the nonsense they talk when sober, I can't see the problem.
Also, in UK, there is the 'Scoutmaster Paradox'.

Answer 5

It depends on what state you live in. Some set the age at 18 and others at 21. From driving past the exit to major university every day as well as past too many high schools, I agree with another poster - 16 is too young to drive.

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Answer 6

Drinking is just too dangerous for young people. Many if not most of us did it when we were underage. I was lucky to have a father that said we could only do it on the property we lived on. I knew many people that died before 21 in drinking related accidents. Drinking and driving most but not all of them.

Answer 7

No. And you're not adult enough at 18 to drive or vote either in my opinion.

Answer 8

You know they WERE able to drink for a long, long time at the age of 18...and that didn't work out, so they raised it to 21.

My generation is to blame for that, by the way. Sorry!

Answer 9

No, their minds are not mature enough to control their actions. In fact, I think they should take the vote back to 21 too.

Answer 10

The minimum driving age and voting age should be raised to 21, too.