Should the Drinking Age be Lowered?

[NewShooter78]

If there are going to be age limits, then there needs to be consistency in those limits. And I don't think that serving in the military should give you any special privilages either. Although, I do think if you are old enough to die for your country, then that is plenty old enough to do whatever any other "adult" can do.

 

[Art Eatman]

In my teen years, the legal age was 21. So, we were sneaky about drinking and worried about parents finding out, more than about the law. (Early-teen drinking was legal if you were with your parents.)

This forced us to learn a certain amount of self-control, to try to fake out both parents and cops. At age 21, one of two things happened: Some of us quit drinking, cause there wasn't any thrill of "getting away with something". The other was, we'd already learned how to deal with drinking.

Fast forward to the 1970s, when the drinking age was lowered to 18: My wife and I pretty much quit going to any nightclub. The noise levels and raucousness had dramatically increased. The clubs were full of teeny-boppers who'd get blithered if you slapped them across the face with a wet bar-rag. They didn't know how to hold their booze.

So, from the standpoint of overall behavior that I've observed, I tend to favor the Age 21 requirement...

Art

 

[Joe Demko]

No age limit on anything. Except wars. Those should be strictly voluntary with an age of consent of 21. Oh, and the President and legislature are required to serve in front-line combat slots.

 

[barqfox]

No offense to young or old, but... There's quite enough 21+ drunken jackasses at the bars I hang out at. I really hate to think of a bunch of teenyboppers invading.

But, hey, if you want to get a bunch of teenaged DUIs to augment the local law enforcement income, by all means..

-Tom

 

[erikm]

16 soft, with a concurrent raising of the driving age to 18 HARD (not even theory lessons, let alone behind the wheel). Let kids learn about alcohol and its effects looong before they learn about cars. And if they need to get someplace, that's what a bicycle or bus is for...

That's the situation in this country and it seems to work fairly well. Sure we have young people who drink themselves into a stupor, but even those generally know not to get into a car.

Cheers,
ErikM

 

[CMichael]

IMO if you are at the age that you can be drafted and fight for your country you are at an age where you should be allowed to legally drink alcohol.

 

[Ian]

So can y'all (with the exception of those who voted for no restrictions) explain just how you have the right to impose you views on this matter on everyone else, including both young people and their parents? Or is this just a matter of "if it saves even one life, it should be done"?

 

[No4Mk1]

So by logical extension of your question, we should have no laws? If you claim to be an anarchist, fine, but otherwise you should explain your position a bit more.

I think making a comparison between RKBA and the drinking age is more than a bit off the wall. One is a constitutionally protected right. The other is consumption of a mind-altering substance.

 

[Art Eatman]

Re the "If you're old enough to be in the military, you're old enough to drink."

Yup. IF you're in the military. I went in at 19. Drank a lot of beer at the PX. Heck, one kid in the outfit was still sixteen years old! Lots of 17 and 18 types, too. And stripes got you into the NCO club, where they sold hard stuff.

Art

 

[rock jock]

No. It should be eliminated. The states (and Feds indirectly) have zero business telling people what they may or may not drink.

Wrong. The people have every right to pass laws via their state govt. to restrict minors from drinking. We have established 18 to be the legal age for accountability as an adult for most actions with good reason.

Actually, you have no business telling the people of a community or state what they may or may not restrict as long as those restrictions are not prohibited by the Constitution.

 

[Futo Inu]

It should be 18, period. If you're old enough to be drafted and die for your country, then you should be able to get blitzed at your pleasure.

Or, leave it at 21 and raise the conscription age to 21 as well. Just be consistent.

There should be some age that you know from childhood that you're going to need to be very very responsible in all of your actions, whether it be 18, 20 or whatever - we should pick an age and stick with it.

 

[MeekandMild]

Enforce the laws against public intoxication and DUI then remove all drinking age barriers.

 

[six 4 sure]

I don’t know what the magical age is at which you become an adult. Is it 16, 18, 21, 25? Who knows? I think everyone is different, but I do agree there needs to be consistency. You can die for your country at 18, but can’t drink until 21. You have to wait till 21 to buy a beer, but can’t rent a car till you’re 25. And paying for college can become interesting especially if your parents refuse to foot the bill because they can still claim you on their taxes until your 24.

six

 

[Cellar Dweller]

Military age

18 to join voluntarily (or be drafted).

17 with parent/guardian signing off on your enlistment and witnessed by your recruiter.

 

[winstonsmith]

As a 15 year old, I have a unique slant on this situation.

Young people are going to abuse alcohol with or wiithout laws. If you think about it hard, they will probably abuse alcohol more if laws are in place. Forbidden fruit, and all that.

If I want to drink a little, to get goofy with friends, while staying inside a house and watching bad japanese television (Ahh the memories) this is none of the governments buisness. I am not a criminal for wanting to explore alcohol. In fact, this makes me normal.

Think about it. Would you rather have you kids get drunk with you, or with their buddies off where you can't supervise?

 

[Ian]

rock jock - Just because it might be legally allowable doesn't mean it should be done. No state government has a legitimate claim over my eating and drinking habits, period.

This issue has a far greater direct effect on me than on most posters here, as I'm 20 years of age. For me, this thread might as well be titled "when should we 'allow' Ian do have a beer?" As if I need the state's (or anyone else's) permission to imbibe alcohol. Any of y'all who think that you have some authority over my choices in this matter are welcome to come down here and try to enforce you opinions. It happens that I don't drink, but I'll make an exception for you guys.

 

[No4Mk1]

Well, Ian, I think you are taking this a bit too personally, but here is how I see it....

There must be an age at which society deems individuals to be responsible adults. Persons capable of making rational informed decisions, entering into contracts, going to war, etc. For most things in our country that age is set at 18. I voted "18 Hard" because I am of the opinion that if a person is to be treated as an adult in most things, he or she should be treated as an adult in all things.

You can make an argument that each individual reaches this age of "reasoned consent" at a different age, but as a society we have to draw a line in the sand somewhere, and somewhere in the range of 18 to 21 seems pretty reasonable to me.

Once we have drawn this line, it is then reasonable for society to designate (through laws) that people below this age of reasoned consent are not capable of making the decision to either engage in or abstain from certain behaviors, and for this reason should be prohibited from engaging in them. Should parents have the freedom to make this decision for the child? In some regards yes, and in others no. There are some activities that, despite the opinions of the parents, are so dangerous or unhealthy for children below a certain age they should be prohibited. Lets face it, the world is full of really bad parents.

I am of the school that thinks an informed person should have the right to stick any substance in their body that they please, as long as they aren't doing it in public or harming anyone else in the process. You want to kill yourself with chemical enhancements? Go for it! But children are not able to make an informed decision on this subject, nor should their parents make it for them.

Don't take this the wrong way, Ian. If I had my way you would be drinking right now (if you chose to). However, I do think it is important as a society that we protect minors from certain dangers.

 

[Monte Harrison]

Um, guys, this is a GUN forum.

Anyone know of a good, general political forum?

 

[Sean Smith]

18. Juveniles do not have full rights of citizenship by definition (otherwise, all parenting would be a civil rights violation ), so I have no heartburn about prohibiting drinking for those under 18.

 

[Art Eatman]

Aw, winstonsmith, bein' fifteen ain't all that unique. I wuz fifteen, once upon a time. 1949, it was. Turned fifteen about the time of my first airplane ride, from Austin, Texas, to Manila, Philippines.

But I still remember my mother's comment to me, around age thirteen: "If you're going to drink, do it at home. At your age, you'd look foolish, drinking in public." The comment always stuck in my mind, not wanting to look foolish, and I passed it on to my son. Having tacit permission, I never bothered to raid the refrigerator. (Which, of course, was the whole intent of my mother's comment. Sharp old gal.) I did have the occasional glass of beer with my parents at a Mexican-food restaurant, occasionally. That's another thing that's stuck with me.

The whole idea of learning about drinking, though, is how to pace yourself so you don't get goofy. It's the getting goofy that can easily come under the heading of "Stoopid". (Which I ain't gonna say I never did. I just never fooled myself that it was all that smart.)

, Art

 

[AZ Jeff]

I lived in Illinois when the drinking age was changed from 21 to 18, back about 1974, I think.

Shortly thereafter (within 1-2 years) the insurance industry started lobbying for the age to revert back to 21. They were able to cite an increased number of auto accidents among young drivers where alcohol was involved. The evidence was pretty compelling as I remember, and was gleaned from accident reports from law enforcement.

The law was rescinded by about 1980, and has remained 21 ever since.

I would suspect that, if we looked at other states with similar histories, we would probably see similar rises in motor vehicle accidents & deaths following lowering the drinking age.

That alone would make me feel that 21 is a better age limit than 18.

Of course, there are plenty of persons who should not be allowed to drink at 21, because they endanger others when they do so, but that's a whole 'nuther issue.....

 

[cordex]

I would suspect that, if we looked at other states with similar histories, we would probably see similar rises in motor vehicle accidents & deaths following lowering the drinking age.

That alone would make me feel that 21 is a better age limit than 18.

Good point!
Now lemme see, 21 is better than 18 so ... anyone up for going to 23? What about 25?
Any votes for 30?
Why, I bet if we made the limit "curmudgeon or older" there'd be some pretty happy curmudgeons. Well ... they'd find something else to complain about, anyway. *grin*

 

[AZ Jeff]

Hey, most CCW laws have age limits on their issuance. I would suspect the reasons are the similar to those for drinking limits.

Are you saying those are wrong, too?

While in priniciple, the idea of not setting artificial age limits and restrictions on personal behavior is commendable, the fact is that plenty of people have no business doing certain activities at certain ages. The devil if figuring out WHEN and HOW to draw the line, and WHO should do it!

 

[Ian]

Yeah, I probably am taking this too personally. But what really gets to me is seeing so many people who believe that they somehow have some authority to make other people do what they decide is best. That's the polar opposite of the idea of individual freedom.

AZ Jeff - Yes, I am.

Now lemme see, 21 is better than 18 so ... anyone up for going to 23? What about 25? Any votes for 30?

Aw, heck - let's just ban it for everyone, so that drunk driving will go away completely!

 

[WonderNine]

Law here states 21, I was binge drinking already when I was 12. I still remember my first experience waking up in a puddle of my own puke. Those were the days.