Age limit on alcohol...?

Question

I personally believe that the people of today's young generation are not mature enough to drink responsibly. I know that many people are, but majority rules, and most are not.

I can think of 8 different occasions (locally) where people have been killed by drunk driving in the past year. In 6 of those cases the drunk driver was between the ages of 20 and 24. The other two were teenagers.
The alcohol the ones who were under 21 were bought by someone between 21 and 25.
Apparently, the majority of people this age are not responisible enough to have this privelege.

I believe the drinking age should be raised to 25. (I am 23 and couldn't care less if it did.)

WHAT DO YOU THINK??????

Also, I know that people in Europe and such drink when they are like 13, but they also don't act like morons and drive drunk NEARLY as much as Americans do!!

Answer 1

I can certainly empathize with your concerns and applaud your intentions not to drink alcohol. I think you should consider that those who serve in our military are as young as 18 and, thus, should have the right to a drink.

I believe what would be a win-win-win -- for you/me, potential victims, and Constitutional rights -- would be to pass state and local "zero tolerance" laws. That is, if you get into ANY type of trouble (e.g. damaging life or property, etc.), THEN you lose the right to drink until you're 25.

And currently, if what you say is true, those who were between 21 and 25 and bought alcohol for those under 21 were guilty of breaking the law. People don't need to agree with the law but they need to follow the law.

Your European example is excellent! It illustrates how *not* having laws which limit the drinking age, *not* having the state become a "nanny", and the culture promoting built-in responsibility can be far superior to a mandates requiring failed enforcements and black markets.

Answer 2

This is a really sticky subject. I'm in the U.S. Navy, and I'm 22.
Many think that people in the military should be able to drink, no matter their age. They say "If they can die for their country, they should be able to have a drink."
I understand the sentiment, but I think it needs to be a little deeper than that. Pressures from the military, deployments, and family issues caused by the military are all factors that need to be weaved into the equation.

On the other side of the spectrum, I think 21 is a perfect age for alcohol consumption. You're out of high school, you're making more of your own decisions than ever before - it only makes sense to have the choice whether you will drink or not.

People at 25 drive as much as everyone else. Plus, as you said, under age drinkers are already getting others to buy them the alcohol. With 25 as the new age limit, many more people would then need to illegally buy alcohol to consume it.
Think about the strain on the police force - keeping up with the the considerably large amount of new illegal drinkers would be tough.

Answer 3

American kids act like morons when they drink because they are forbidden to do it and end up doing it in secret. It becomes the forbidden and much desired fruit. They have no responsible adult role models who are allowed to teach them at a reasonable age (early to mid teens IMO) how to drink in moderation. Instead they have to hide in the woods or go to parties at the kid's house who's parents are away - they learn to drink with other kids so they have an immature over-the-top mentality. By the time they're 21 and can legally drink, it's too late - the habits and attitudes are already set in and they have a harder time learning their limits. Getting rid of the drinking age altogether would greatly change kids atitudes about drinking for the better. It would no longer be such a big deal to score a six pack and get drunk. They would no longer have to hide behind closed doors without supervision to tell then when enough is enough. They would no longer have to drive around to keep it all hidden. It would be, overall, much LESS of a problem.
Raising the drinking age to 25 is not only illogical and would be inefficient by having the effect opposite to what you desire, but it is also unconsitutional. That's the worst idea I've heard of since Prohibition failed miserably.

Answer 4

I don't think raising the age to 25 will do anything. In some respects I agree with you but overall it should be how people overall see drinking & driving. There are older people who are have multiple DUI convictions and even have licenses suspended or revoked but somehow still get behind the wheel. I think we need to do more to get people to understand the horrible effects of drunk driving and how it effects not only the victims of a drunk driver thier own families & their community. There are drunk drivers of every age out there, not just the 16-25 year old crowd. Older people think they can drive impaired because they have more experience.

Answer 5

Drinking responsibly is a learned thing. I not sure age has as much an impact as teaching, as we see people of all ages getting DWI/DUI's. When I was younger, we were around adults that knew how Teenagers are. They been there, done that! They not be hypocrites as they knew, when there a will there a way. They did not mind buying alcohol for us, but, it came with the strict stipulation we not drink and drive. My buddy had/has an old 1954 Chevy (It sits in a field now and started regular, another story). We would jump in the car and go out to a place we could camp out. Build a fire and everyone was safe, maybe hungover the next day, but, safe!
I remember once a bunch of us were at the river and got looped. We stayed there as we had "Learned" not to drink and drive. We woke to flashlights in our eyes. Cops!!! Agggh! We explained we were drunk and decide it was best to sleep it off. The Officers were agreeable on this idea and say; "Just be sure you stay here and we will be Cool with your desicion , if, we see you driving we going to check you out". :-o

Answer 6

I agree, I believe the current drinking age was imposed largely because of the developing pituitary gland that is suposedly fully mature by that age. I believe that alcohol causes more trouble than these newly of age drinkers bargain for also, not just with the risk of driving drunk and hurting or killing someone but the affect it has on their lives.

Answer 7

In addition to raising the drinking age, suppliers need to be more careful about selling to underage drinkers. Many establishments do not check that carefully. Teens are also obtaining false ID's that anyone can plainly see is fake, but they don't look at the photo, just the date of birth. Commercials are running about how the majority of teenage deaths are do to alcohol. You would think that instead of being worried about Santa saying "Ho, Ho, Ho" everyone would be more concerned with the teenage drinking! Glad to see you have your priorities straight.

Answer 8

I am 18 and I think that the drinking age should be raised as well. Not to say that people wont still drink anyway but it would help some.

Answer 9

I'm 25 and part of agrees with you but another part of me wonders, if those number of those negative occurences would go down if we LOWERED the drinking age.

Sometimes I think that kids only drink because they know they should not. Sadly, the mindset of America is already set.

Answer 10

If it is not already, it should be 21 years old across the board.