i dont understand why people can get tobbaco at 18, are legal adults at 18, and can sign up for the armed forces at 17 (18 without parental signature). somebody said it was because alcohal is bad for you, but not as bad as tobbaco
2007-12-06 14:25:25 · 8 answers · asked by Alex 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I wholeheartedly agree - why can an 18 year-old die for our country but can't enjoy a beer within it?
This was a result of the federal government in the mid-1980's threatening to withhold highway funding for states that didn't raise their drinking age to 21.
It affected me greatly - I turned18 the month after the law was implemented & then had to wait until my senior year of college to imbibe. Legally, that is!
2007-12-06 14:32:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hi Alex:
Yes....this has been a debate in our country for a long time. Actually it was 18 for a while. I was in high school then...in the 1970s. I COULD drink when I was 18.
The problem being...I was in HIGH SCHOOL!!! Just think...so I could "buy" so younger kids were drinking also! I think the statistics just really shot up with drunk driving deaths, so the government changed it back to 21. There were still a few states that took a while to come around...but I think it's 21 throughout the country now.
It's been a huge debate, yes, because our young men and women are going off to war...but they can't even have a drink!
I know it's 19 in Canada....has been for a long, long time.
2007-12-06 23:18:39 · answer #2 · answered by iloveweddings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The drinking age is set by each State. When you are on a border, student often drive across the line.
It was determined by many States that 18 is too close to high school age. The 18 year olds would buy booze for their younger friends.
Personally, I think the drinking age should be raised to 80 and other less dangerous drugs be made legal.
2007-12-06 22:40:46 · answer #3 · answered by Skeptic 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Military personnel can drink beer on base if they are under 21. Kind of makes up for the part about sending your butt to a third world country to fight and die.
Alcohol is treated differently in the US compared to European countries. There is a lot of alcohol abuse in the US due to people being immature. By making people wait until they are 21 to drink, the government hopes they are more mature and responsible and will not abuse alcohol.
Americans can drive when they are 16. Once they finally get behind the wheel by themselves or with friends....they do REALLY stupid things. Its all hope that with time, you will become mature enough to make rational decisions which will not result in people dying from your actions (drinking and driving).
Well, it probably makes the whole college experience just that much more fun.
2007-12-06 22:39:07 · answer #4 · answered by Auto Schlussel 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In some states, the legal drinking age is 18. I guess it's because by the time they're 21, they're presumably more mature being in college or out of high school, whereas high school kids tend to get immature. :)
2007-12-06 22:34:02 · answer #5 · answered by lipglossjunkie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its because of Drinking and Driving. Statistics show there are less Drunk driving deaths on the roads because of it. I think people still drink before age 21, most just do it at house parties, and stay off the roads, which is a good thing.
2007-12-06 22:30:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Neither are good for you....but smoke 5 cigarettes and drive a car.....you might be a little hyper with all the caffeine...but you can still drive. Now drink 5 beers and drive....more than likely you'll kill someone or yourself.
One kills you sooner than the other...but cigarettes will only kill you...not someone else.
2007-12-06 22:31:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
because the kids would all be wasted at 18 because americans are immature
2007-12-06 22:27:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 5⤋