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Legal drinking age?

What should the legal drinking age be?

  • Bring back Prohibition.

    Votes: 4 4.3%

  • Older than 21. Raise it even higher!

    Votes: 2 2.2%

  • Leave it at 21 (in the USA).

    Votes: 17 18.5%

  • 20

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 19

    Votes: 1 1.1%

  • 18

    Votes: 44 47.8%

  • 17

    Votes: 2 2.2%

  • 16

    Votes: 4 4.3%

  • Below 16.

    Votes: 3 3.3%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 15 16.3%
  • Total voters
    92
LaMidRighter said:
Depends on the country.
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One of the studies I posted said every single European country had a higher level of teen binge drinking than America except Turkey.
 
ChrisL said:
One of the studies I posted said every single European country had a higher level of teen binge drinking than America except Turkey.
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But again, I've found the contrary. I look at it like this, I prefer dangerous liberty to "safe" regulation, if we trust an 18 year old with military service or the vote, or contracting, or marriage it's then hypocritical to say they aren't mature enough to make decisions on consumption of alcohol, gambling, etc.

I don't take my position to state that alcohol is a good or bad thing, it's actually both. I don't condone people being completely stupid when drinking, BUT, I heartily support the right to make the decisions.
 
LaMidRighter said:
I don't take my position to state that alcohol is a good or bad thing, it's actually both. I don't condone people being completely stupid when drinking, BUT, I heartily support the right to make the decisions.
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More to the point (for me, at least, as a parent), if it is indeed a dangerous decision, then I want them to learn how to make it where I can watch out for and guide them.
 
LaMidRighter said:
But again, I've found the contrary. I look at it like this, I prefer dangerous liberty to "safe" regulation, if we trust an 18 year old with military service or the vote, or contracting, or marriage it's then hypocritical to say they aren't mature enough to make decisions on consumption of alcohol, gambling, etc.

I don't take my position to state that alcohol is a good or bad thing, it's actually both. I don't condone people being completely stupid when drinking, BUT, I heartily support the right to make the decisions.
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That's why the age should be raised to 21 across the board for ALL of those things. I support the right for ADULTS to make these decisions. An 18-year-old is NOT an adult to me.
 
cpwill said:
More to the point (for me, at least, as a parent), if it is indeed a dangerous decision, then I want them to learn how to make it where I can watch out for and guide them.
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We have to think about society as a WHOLE and not just what is best for you and your children. AND you can still teach them to be responsible in their habits. The legal drinking age has NOTHING to do with that.
 
cpwill said:
More to the point (for me, at least, as a parent), if it is indeed a dangerous decision, then I want them to learn how to make it where I can watch out for and guide them.
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I am not a parent, however there is a life situation with me that could lead to step-parenthood. I would see it the way you do, I would rather sit down with the youngster and explain the topic, maybe allow her a sip at a later(much, she's young yet) age and explain that making the decision to drink means there are potential consequences so be safe with it. If later I should be a parent, same issue, I want children to get the full story first, and if they want to imbibe, do so responsibly.
 
ChrisL said:
That's why the age should be raised to 21 across the board for ALL of those things. I support the right for ADULTS to make these decisions. An 18-year-old is NOT an adult to me.
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That's fair, I don't care about either age but I think one should be picked. I also think it should be a state decision but once that age is decided upon it must be universal.

EDIT - Substitute "favor" for "care", I do care about people. LOL! :doh
 
LaMidRighter said:
I am not a parent, however there is a life situation with me that could lead to step-parenthood. I would see it the way you do, I would rather sit down with the youngster and explain the topic, maybe allow her a sip at a later(much, she's young yet) age and explain that making the decision to drink means there are potential consequences so be safe with it. If later I should be a parent, same issue, I want children to get the full story first, and if they want to imbibe, do so responsibly.
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Right, but we don't have to lower the drinking age to teach our children about responsible habits. Alcohol and children do not mix, and it should probably be discouraged as much as possible, but IF they are going to (which they probably will at some point) you give them advice, but really giving your child a sip of liquor is not "teaching" them anything. Like I said, kids are still going to WANT to drink at parties with their peers rather than at home with their parents. Don't you agree?
 
ChrisL said:
Right, but we don't have to lower the drinking age to teach our children about responsible habits. Alcohol and children do not mix, and it should probably be discouraged as much as possible, but IF they are going to (which they probably will at some point) you give them advice, but really giving your child a sip of liquor is not "teaching" them anything. Like I said, kids are still going to WANT to drink at parties with their peers rather than at home with their parents. Don't you agree?
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I do agree. Most of the professional analysis I have seen states that the body and brain are something around 98% developed at 18 which is why I personally think that's the best appropriate age, but again I don't favor 18 or 21 but rather a universal age. In my own opinion if they are going to drink at parties anyway(given I think) then we have to explain what to look out for, what can happen, and give an "out" to them if they over imbibe, like tell them to call us to pick them up, or explain safe options like a taxi, etc.
 
LaMidRighter said:
I do agree. Most of the professional analysis I have seen states that the body and brain are something around 98% developed at 18 which is why I personally think that's the best appropriate age, but again I don't favor 18 or 21 but rather a universal age. In my own opinion if they are going to drink at parties anyway(given I think) then we have to explain what to look out for, what can happen, and give an "out" to them if they over imbibe, like tell them to call us to pick them up, or explain safe options like a taxi, etc.
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Right, and I'm quite sure most responsible parents do that NOW. It just doesn't always work, and I don't believe that is because of the drinking age.
 
ChrisL said:
We have to think about society as a WHOLE and not just what is best for you and your children. AND you can still teach them to be responsible in their habits. The legal drinking age has NOTHING to do with that.
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What is best for society as a WHOLE is that we successfully raise children to make wise decisions. That is why as a WHOLE we teach teenagers to do dangerous things like drive under the adult supervision of their guardians. Society as a WHOLE will be better off if we reduce the appeal of the idiot-self-destruction culture that comes with treating alcohol like some kind of forbidden fruit.
 
ChrisL said:
Right, and I'm quite sure most responsible parents do that NOW. It just doesn't always work, and I don't believe that is because of the drinking age.
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It's not the drinking age, it's a judgement issue and at some point we just have to let go and trust them to make the right decision.
 
cpwill said:
What is best for society as a WHOLE is that we successfully raise children to make wise decisions. That is why as a WHOLE we teach teenagers to do dangerous things like drive under the adult supervision of their guardians. Society as a WHOLE will be better off if we reduce the appeal of the idiot-self-destruction culture that comes with treating alcohol like some kind of forbidden fruit.
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Are you serious? You think that lowering the drinking age is going to solve society's woes and teenage angst? :roll: This is NOT Candy Land.
 
LaMidRighter said:
It's not the drinking age, it's a judgement issue and at some point we just have to let go and trust them to make the right decision.
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I agree, but there is no need to lower the drinking age.
 
ChrisL said:
I agree, but there is no need to lower the drinking age.
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I think we should, if nothing more than to get the federal government out of at least one of the areas it has no power over. The argument for lowering it falls on the age of adulthood and what the government gains from the three years it declares someone a partial adult, the argument for keeping the age at 21 would be dependent upon a universal standard IMO, because again one is an adult or they aren't. Like I say though, pick one and stick to it.
 
LaMidRighter said:
I think we should, if nothing more than to get the federal government out of at least one of the areas it has no power over. The argument for lowering it falls on the age of adulthood and what the government gains from the three years it declares someone a partial adult, the argument for keeping the age at 21 would be dependent upon a universal standard IMO, because again one is an adult or they aren't. Like I say though, pick one and stick to it.
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I don't agree. Different people mature at different levels. So you must go with the oldest age in order to be sure. You always err on the side of caution. That is a good rule to follow.
 
ChrisL said:
Are you serious? You think that lowering the drinking age is going to solve society's woes and teenage angst?
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Nope. Got a counterargument that isn't a strawman?
 
ChrisL said:
I don't agree. Different people mature at different levels. So you must go with the oldest age in order to be sure. You always err on the side of caution. That is a good rule to follow.
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I don't agree with a society that puts caution above rights. I err on the side of where the age of majority is decided, it should be universal.
 
ChrisL said:
I don't agree. Different people mature at different levels. So you must go with the oldest age in order to be sure. You always err on the side of caution. That is a good rule to follow.
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So, raise the driving age to 21?

Or - heck - 30?
 
ChrisL said:
I don't agree. Different people mature at different levels. So you must go with the oldest age in order to be sure. You always err on the side of caution. That is a good rule to follow.
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I've known 40 year olds that haven't matured yet, I guess we should make the legal adult age 40 just to cater to the lowest common denominator.
 
Kreton said:
Parents, not the government, should decide when their kids can drink.
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That's a terrible idea. Some people are prone to becoming alcoholics. In general at age 21 a person can make a rational decision to take on the risk of being a life long dependent of alcohol. The parent shouldn't be the one to introduce their kids to alcohol. That's really disturbing. Your parents shouldn't be allowed to make a bad decision on your behalf. You should be allowed to make a bad decision like that on your own.

I think adulthood should be 21 for all types of legal matters. I think defining adulthood at age 18 had a more practical motive rather than defining biological adulthood. Perhaps they wanted the votes of 18-20 year olds. Perhaps they wanted people marrying younger to have more kids. I think most people in the mental health field would agree that 21 is a more accurate age to define adulthood than 18. I think anybody who can think far enough back to being 18, they would agree too.

Although I voted for option 1. Bring back prohibition. Alcohol isn't some magical great thing. People use it as entertainment and destroy their body over time. People use it to enhance their capability to engage socially which destroys any opportunity to develop socially. Alcohol isn't some magic potion that makes our world a much more harmonious place to live. Alcohol is destructive to many people throughout our country. Prohibition was a great long term solution to a widespread problem that was way worse in the early years of America. Prohibition reduced the portion of the population that was negatively affected by alcohol. The only reason alcohol is legal today is because prohibition could not be enforced. It is not legal because it is a great thing for soldiers to drink while on leave. Nobody can sing the praises of alcohol. It is only managed at a level that is practical and functional. Alcohol cannot be managed based upon it's virtues and merits. That makes little sense.
 
vasuderatorrent said:
That's a terrible idea. Some people are prone to becoming alcoholics. In general at age 21 a person can make a rational decision to take on the risk of being a life long dependent of alcohol. The parent shouldn't be the one to introduce their kids to alcohol. That's really disturbing. Your parents shouldn't be allowed to make a bad decision on your behalf. You should be allowed to make a bad decision like that on your own.

I think adulthood should be 21 for all types of legal matters. I think defining adulthood at age 18 had a more practical motive rather than defining biological adulthood. Perhaps they wanted the votes of 18-20 year olds. Perhaps they wanted people marrying younger to have more kids. I think most people in the mental health field would agree that 21 is a more accurate age to define adulthood than 18. I think anybody who can think far enough back to being 18, they would agree too.

Although I voted for option 1. Bring back prohibition. Alcohol isn't some magical great thing. People use it as entertainment and destroy their body over time. People use it to enhance their capability to engage socially which destroys any opportunity to develop socially. Alcohol isn't some magic potion that makes our world a much more harmonious place to live. Alcohol is destructive to many people throughout our country. Prohibition was a great long term solution to a widespread problem that was way worse in the early years of America. Prohibition reduced the portion of the population that was negatively affected by alcohol. The only reason alcohol is legal today is because prohibition could not be enforced. It is not legal because it is a great thing for soldiers to drink while on leave. Nobody can sing the praises of alcohol. It is only managed at a level that is practical and functional. Alcohol cannot be managed based upon it's virtues and merits. That makes little sense.
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You don't have to like alcohol but the government doesn't really need to be dictating who should or shouldn't drink it. That person makes a choice and should have the freedom to decide if that is what they want to do.
 
RabidAlpaca said:
I've known 40 year olds that haven't matured yet, I guess we should make the legal adult age 40 just to cater to the lowest common denominator.
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Did you purposefully ignore the word "generally." We use the age when the majority of people are matured. You are talking about outliers, and no one is talking about them. There are outliers with everything.
 
shrubnose said:
Quite simply wrong.

Raising the drinking age to 21 lowered traffic accidents and related deaths all over the USA.

No one is forced to join the USA's all-volunteer military.

Allowing young people to drink alcohol is a totally unrelated issue which impacts everyone who uses our nation's highway's and roads.

Case closed as far as I'm concerned.
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Natural Selection works great if we would only let it. We should stop wasting government's time legislating ways to protect us from ourselves
 
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