Poll: Lower the drinking age to 18?

[crzyc]

<< Hell yeah! Screw them, I'm one day away from 21 and I had to suffer though that wait. It's only fair that they have to also. >>



thats the exact philosophy that perpetuates hazing in fraternities

 

[crzyc]

<< OK..how about this:

How many people who are ALREADY over the age of 21 think that the legal age should be lowered to 18? >>



me

 

[Urinal Mint]

<< thats the exact philosophy that perpetuates hazing in fraternities >>



My guess is that your mommy and daddy handed you everything in life and you don't know what it means to &quot;earn&quot; a privelege.

 

[crzyc]

<< i'm for repealing the drinking age entirely. i think making it illegal leads more people to binge drinking than otherwise. you don't learn to be responsible with it your whole life. i'd like to see some cross sectional studies on the subject, i think they'd back up what i'm saying. >>



exactly, thats why teenages in italy don't even drink to get drunk

 

[Red Dawn]

<< exactly, thats why teenages in italy don't even drink to get drunk >>

They get their frustrations out rioting at Soccer games.

 

[Urinal Mint]

<< They get their frustrations out rioting at Soccer games. >>



You forgot to add that they relieve stress by cracking people's skull as a goon in the Mafia.

 

[GasX]

bleeding jawa - if you are looking for a reason to lower the drinking age supported by a 32 year old, read my above post.

The debate has two sides. It is not a right or wrong issue.

Side #1 - Teenagers are immature and as a group are unable to drink responsibly. Lowering the drinking age would lead to more DUIs and more fatalities. We need to protect ourselves from this eventuality.

Side #2 - An 18 year old is considered an adult in every sense of the word. He/She can sign a legally binding contract, buy pornography, smoke cigarettes, get drafted, be sentenced to death, go to war... Society has an obligation to guarantee the same rights to all of its citizens. Drinking is another one of these rights.

Yes, there are other issues, but these dominate...


Counterargument to side #1 <credit: Linflas> As for those who say teenagers are irresponsible I say you reap what you sow. If you treat them like they are irresponsible, tell them they are irresponsible, pass laws to treat them like they are irresponsible then do not be surprised if they live down to your expectations.

Counterargument to side #2<cr3edit: bigd480> the only thing that will happen if the drinking age is lowered is that more teens will die and more 16-year olds will be trying to drink illegally... as much as i'm for survival of the smartest, i don't want my teenage kid to be out w/ some dumbass who drives drunk or to get hit by some other reckless teenager... there are enough 21+ drunks out on the roads...

Consider the issues folks:

Personal Freedom / Double Standard

or

Maturity / Protect Society

Which is it?

 

[crzyc]

<<

<< thats the exact philosophy that perpetuates hazing in fraternities >>



My guess is that your mommy and daddy handed you everything in life and you don't know what it means to &quot;earn&quot; a privelege. >>




how is turning 21 earning the privelege.

i've worked since i was 13, and going to state school because my dad works there and i get a tuition waver, so i guess he is handing me that, sorry i couldn't afford a better college. I DID earn my 3.7 gpa though. I am in a fraternity and we do not haze, have sober brothers at every party and never let underage brothers drink. Just thought I would try to show you your guess was wrong?

 

[Red Dawn]

The moment being able to buy alcahol is not important to them is the moment they are mature enough to drink.

 

[Red Dawn]

The moment being able to buy alcahol is not important to them is the moment they are mature enough to drink.

 

[OutHouse]

Mwilding

Good points

 

[crzyc]

Mwilding: don't forget that 18 year olds can marry, bred, abort their unborn children, pay taxes, and even appear in pornographic films.

 

[Urinal Mint]

<< Mwilding: don't forget that 18 year olds can marry, bred, abort their unborn children, pay taxes, and even appear in pornographic films. >>


99 out of 100 times alcohol causes all of those problems.

 

[crzyc]

<< 99 out of 100 times alcohol causes all of those problems. >>



yea...think those should be illegal till 21 also?

 

[zimu]

I honestly think there would be less abuse of it... look at most of Europe, its all 18... they're no worse than the US, probably better in fact cause its controlled better... i mean 21 is just stupid.

 

[GasX]

<<

<< Mwilding: don't forget that 18 year olds can marry, bred, abort their unborn children, pay taxes, and even appear in pornographic films. >>


99 out of 100 times alcohol causes all of those problems. >>


I don't remeber getting drunk and writing out a check to the IRS lately...

 

[TripleJ]

Lower it to 18. Here in Australia it's 18 and there don't seem to be any more problems than places with the age at 21. Man, I feel sorry for you. Is the leagal age of 21 applicable to the whole of the US?

I suppose I can't talk, I drink quite a bit, but only when having fun, and that's the way it should be. I first got really drunk at the age of 11, because my friends mum put all her alcohol on a rack and we just couldn't resist having a drink to find out what it was all about.

 

[Tripleshot]

Jails,cemetaries,recovery centers,hospitals,AA rooms across the globe are full of people much older on average than 18 who cannot drink responsibly.

I do not see this as an age issue.It is more a responsibility issue.Drinking and signing a fudiciary contract do not seem to be in the same catagory. Society has determined that the legal age is 21,and the legal limit is less than .1.0 blood/alcohol level or less.

I'm sorry.I am somewhat mixed on this. I was introduced to drinking as a right of passage when I enlisted during the Viet Nam war. At 18,I was allowed to drink beer in the states,and over seas,the hard liquor was legal and THE social outlet endorsed by the military. As I remember,I believe alot odf senior NCO's where blithering alchys that didn't belong in uniform. But thats not what we are talking about now.

Confesssion:...
That is how it started for me.Sounds innocent. But by the time i was 36,I was full blown black out drinker. AA saved my life. I haven't had a drink of alcohol by my choice and Gods Grace inover 15 years. The last years of my drinking where not pleasent. I would not wish that kind of hell on anyone. And it all started from being allowed,no, encouraged,to drink at 18.

Until a more sensable solution is put on the table for discussion,I vote to maintain the status quo.

I truly think pot is safer. But thats another subject.

 

[Urinal Mint]

<<

<< 99 out of 100 times alcohol causes all of those problems. >>



yea...think those should be illegal till 21 also? >>


I'm just trying to hide the fact that I'm a stumbling drunk.

 

[crzyc]

i think we should all go get a drink

 

[Red Dawn]

<< I drink quite a bit, but only when having fun, and that's the way it should be >>

I bet most of those who were drunk driving and ended up wrapped around a tree were having fun prior to the accident too.

Tell me, what is the big deal being able to buy Alcahol at 18?

 

[Urinal Mint]

<<

<< I drink quite a bit, but only when having fun, and that's the way it should be >>

I bet most of those who were drunk driving and ended up wrapped around a tree were having fun prior to the accident too.

Tell me, what is the big deal beoing able to buy Alcahol at 18? >>


Don't you fvcking get it by now dude? Being able to buy alcohol at 18 is a big deal because they can die for their country! They don't realize that they can die for their country at any time in a terrorist bombing. I don't think McVeigh carded everyone in the Murrah Federal Building when he parked the Ryder truck outside.

 

[Bleeding Jawa]

My 16th birthday came &amp; I was old enought to legally drive.
My 18th birthday came &amp; I was old enough to buy cigs &amp; porn, vote, get drafted, etc, etc, etc.
My 21st birthday came &amp; I was old enough to drink alcohol.

However, at this point in my life, I am still not legally old enough to run for president. I am not old enough to withdraw social security money that I paid into the system myself.

What is so &quot;magical&quot; about the age of 18? There are other things that you must legally wait for. It isn't a simple matter of ADULT or NOT-ADULT.

Fact is, if I smoke cigarettes, the only person I really hurt is myself (2nd hand smoke aside).
Fact is, if I buy porn &amp; jerk off all night long, that hurts no one.
Fact is, if I DECIDE to go into the military and end up fighting &amp; dying, I am not hurting anyone else by my decision. I will join as a low-ranking member of the organization &amp; will have no real decision making power until I am much older. (Forget about the whole &quot;Draft&quot; thing...it isn't gonna happen and it's just a weak argument)
Fact is, if I make an uninformed decision &amp; vote for the &quot;wrong&quot; person, in most cases, I hurt no one...and for the most part I am doing the same as the rest of the uninformed (&amp; generally apathetic) public.

FACT IS:If 18 year-olds are allowed to drink:
- Significantly more 18 year olds will die.
- Significanyly more 12-17 year olds will drink (getting alcohol from their High School friends) &amp; will also die. More teens will also get pregnant, raped, abused, etc, etc, etc.
- Significantly more innocent bistandards will die.

Is it UNFAIR that 18 year olds can't drink...maybe.
Is it better for society in general that 18 year olds can't drink...YES.

 

[RossGr]

Many states did lower the drinking age to 18 in the '70s. I was pretty universal, states with the lower drinking age saw auto accidents/deaths in the 18-20 age groupe sky rocket. It was rationalized that learning to drive and drink at the same time was a fatal combination. This is what led states through the '80s and '90s to reinstate the 21 yr old drinking age. Accident rates have reflected the change. I am very surprised to hear that they are again considering reducing the drinking age. Perhaps we should raise the driving age to 21?

 

[GasX]

Bleeding Jawa - I should revise my above post and quote your post as the reasoning for Side #1.

well said, even if I do still feel differently than you.