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What should the drinking age be?

At what age should people be legally allowed to buy alcohol?

  • Total voters
    78
The feds should get out of the issue and stop punishing states for making up their own minds.
 
jackalope said:
Didn't I read somewhere that active duty service people can drink on base at age 18?
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This I didn't know: It says on wikipedia that in some states it's legal to drink at age 18 while in the presence of a guardian:

"most states still permit "underage" consumption of alcohol in some circumstances. In some states, no restriction on private consumption is made, while in others, consumption is only allowed in specific locations, in the presence of consenting and supervising family members as in the states of California, Colorado, Montana, New York, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming"
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In other words, it's illegal to purchase and possess but not to consume.
 
Taylor said:
This I didn't know: It says on wikipedia that in some states it's legal to drink at age 18 while in the presence of a guardian:



In other words, it's illegal to purchase and possess but not to consume.
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Interesting ! I'm not surprised Wisconsin's on that list, my husband is from there and tells me they have a resistance to alcohol laws. They have 'supper clubs' in Wisconsin which have something to do with the history of alcohol laws.
 
DrunkenAsparagus said:
So I can kill a man in war at 18, but not drink?
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I don't think 18 yr olds should be going to war anyway. I say if we have a war, enact the draft and start with 35 to 55 yr old single men first.

Anyway, back on topic, I say 19 is old enough to drink. Like Jackalope said, that would pretty much keep it illegal for most HS students.



reminds me of a joke:

"I like my women the same as my whisky - 19 years old with coke."
 
jackalope said:
Interesting ! I'm not surprised Wisconsin's on that list, my husband is from there and tells me they have a resistance to alcohol laws. They have 'supper clubs' in Wisconsin which have something to do with the history of alcohol laws.
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I moved to Wisconsin when I was 19 an was drinking legally without a guardian then.
 
Joe1991 said:
I don't think 18 yr olds should be going to war anyway. I say if we have a war, enact the draft and start with 35 to 55 yr old single men first.
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They're legally adults, their choice.

Joe1991 said:
Anyway, back on topic, I say 19 is old enough to drink. Like Jackalope said, that would pretty much keep it illegal for most HS students.
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They're adults, high schoolers can easily get alcohol currently anyway. Why should we treat a legal adult like a child?
 
Gardener said:
I moved to Wisconsin when I was 19 an was drinking legally without a guardian then.
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Wisconsin was one of the last states to move to 21, wasn't it?
 
jackalope said:
Didn't I read somewhere that active duty service people can drink on base at age 18?
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Nope. not legally anyway, just like anywhere else in America.
 
Kandahar said:
I think that's only if they're stationed in a country with a lower drinking age.
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No. US law applies, and is backed by the UCMJ (uniform code of military justice), which is heavily based on standard US law in such matters. Of course, the locals of the country won't refuse to sell it to you if you are under 21, the UCMJ doesn't apply to them.
 
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Teen drunk driving has declined by around 60 or 70% since the drinking age has been increased to 21 on the federal level. Thats reason enough to have a drinking age of 21.
 
nerv14 said:
Teen drunk driving has declined by around 60 or 70% since the drinking age has been increased to 21 on the federal level. Thats reason enough to have a drinking age of 21.
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Can we please get a link to those statistics?
 
I'm a strong believer in natural laws, where full self-ownership is something you either have or you don't. Young children, not-yet-emancipated teenagers, prisoners, and the mentally insane need their parents / legal guardians permission to buy anything, including drugs, tobacco, alcohol, sex-related products and services, and so on. Self-owning individuals don't need anyone's permission. That's all there is to it - no arbitrary laws or age limits required.

Furthermore, someone might be under contractual obligations not to drink alcohol under certain conditions, regardless of age. For example, a private defense agency might microchip their employees and get instant wireless data on what's in their blood.
 
jackalope said:
Wisconsin was one of the last states to move to 21, wasn't it?
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Yeah -- I think it was.

I'm glad I'm an old fart and so was able to enjoy it when I could!
 
nerv14 said:
Teen drunk driving has declined by around 60 or 70% since the drinking age has been increased to 21 on the federal level. Thats reason enough to have a drinking age of 21.
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Even if true and disregarding Obvious Child's statements about Western Europe, the same argument that I use against the Drug War remains. They're adults, their choice. As long as they don't get behind the wheel or do somethings else illegal, it's not the government's problem.
 
DrunkenAsparagus said:
Even if true and disregarding Obvious Child's statements about Western Europe, the same argument that I use against the Drug War remains. They're adults, their choice. As long as they don't get behind the wheel or do somethings else illegal, it's not the government's problem.
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When zombies are wandering the streets at nights, it certainly is the government's problem.
 
DrunkenAsparagus said:
Even if true and disregarding Obvious Child's statements about Western Europe, the same argument that I use against the Drug War remains. They're adults, their choice. As long as they don't get behind the wheel or do somethings else illegal, it's not the government's problem.
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So it's OK to you if drunk driving accidents increase dramatically just so that everything can line up neatly with the an arbitrary age? I'm not sure I understand your argument.
 
I think it should be Forty-two.

(that is, after all, the Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question.)
 
Goshin said:
I think it should be Forty-two.

(that is, after all, the Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question.)
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I love that answer! :mrgreen:
 
Frankly, if the goal is to reduce alcohol related crimes and deaths, the answer is not in legislation. It's in better parenting. Make alcohol mundane and scare the **** out of kids about drinking and driving. I favor putting totally trashed up cars on campuses as reminders of what happens when you drink and drive.
 
Goshin said:
I think it should be Forty-two.

(that is, after all, the Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question.)
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So long, and thanks for all the fish. :2wave:
 
I wanted to say 72 but it wasnt up there.
 
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