[Voxx]

I was talking with my cousin about our drinking laws and she has traveled all over the world and the consumption of alcohol and the age laws sparked a conversation and I am just wondering how you all feel about it.

NOTE: This topic is NOT about if YOU drink so if you are underage or even above the age please don't state whether you are or are not a drinker.
..................................................

Personally I feel that if 16 year olds are 'mature' enough to be driving a car they can certainly dictate whether or not they can drink responsibily. There are plenty of people above the age that are irresponsible so why make the age limit? Also I believe that getting your license to drive is way too easy and should be more strict (random and off topic, kinda lol). I'm not saying it should be lowered to 16 though. -shrugs- So what do you think about this? Should it be lowered, abolished, changed, or stay the same?

[KirbyFanOne]

I can drive a 3 ton death machine on the roads of the USA at the age of 16, I can fill my lungs with tar/carbon/nicotine, purchase questionable publications of various qualities, and die in a foreign land for my bureocrats at the age of 18, yet heaven forbid I can't purchase one of mankinds oldest treats to impare my judgements?

This argument is used many times in these discussions but look at it this way; it makes sense doesn't it? Or is this a cruel joke involving the 21st Amendment of the US Constitution?

[Voxx]

KirbyFanOne, on Feb 22 2010, 11:14 PM, said:

I can drive a 3 ton death machine on the roads of the USA at the age of 16, I can fill my lungs with tar/carbon/nicotine, purchase questionable publications of various qualities, and die in a foreign land for my bureocrats at the age of 18, yet heaven forbid I can't purchase one of mankinds oldest treats to impare my judgements?

This argument is used many times in these discussions but look at it this way; it makes sense doesn't it? Or is this a cruel joke involving the 21st Amendment of the US Constitution?

You'd also think that they would want the extra cash+tax added onto the buying of more alcohol as well!!! But no. Honestly if you are old enough to smoke too which causes cancer why cant you have some alcohol? Its not like everyone will become alcoholics.

[EndlessKey]

Well, my little sister is currently 16, and seeing her behind the wheel makes me shiver lol, I can't even imagine seeing her drinking. I think the drinking age should be 18 though. If you can serve your country and vote for a president, why not drink? Not only that, once you go off to college, you are supposed to be on your own and supporting yourself (atleast expenses) so shouldn't you be of age to drink?

[Voxx]

Toushiro_H, on Feb 22 2010, 11:18 PM, said:

Well, my little sister is currently 16, and seeing her behind the wheel makes me shiver lol, I can't even imagine seeing her drinking. I think the drinking age should be 18 though. If you can serve your country and vote for a president, why not drink? Not only that, once you go off to college, you are supposed to be on your own and supporting yourself (atleast expenses) so shouldn't you be of age to drink?

Also it is quite scary with college. Since ALOT of incoming freshman are under the age there are parties and all that jazz that involve alcohol (not all) they will be around it and they try to regulate underage drinking...and honestly they fail but do catch some. You bring up a very good point. If the age was lowered it wouldnt be a 'taboo' and wouldnt be 'the cool thing to do' since you wouldnt be breaking a law and by that point it would be more of a social thing, not like a wooohoo we are being bad so lets get plastered kind of deal (which happens quite frequently for some). I look at how other countries view drinking and age limits. Almost everywhere else around the world has it limited to around 18-19. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drinking..._by_country.svg

[linlindesu]

It only works for different countries because it has been a part of their cultures for very long periods of time. If they changed the drinking limit, the first couple of years would be insane and riddled with silly teenagers doing stupid if not dangerous things. If this time period were to ever clear up, Teenagers would probably slow down if not stop drinking entirely ( If it's allowed by the public, it's not fun ). Changing the age may decrease the amount of incidents caused by drunken teens, but the question still remains whether the country could handle that period of chaos preceding peace. If they ever decrease the age, hopefully the economy will have cleared up in order for more law enforcement to be hired.

[Tiamat97]

Ska_Toranpetta, on Feb 22 2010, 11:07 PM, said:

I was talking with my cousin about our drinking laws and she has traveled all over the world and the consumption of alcohol and the age laws sparked a conversation and I am just wondering how you all feel about it.

NOTE: This topic is NOT about if YOU drink so if you are underage or even above the age please don't state whether you are or are not a drinker.
..................................................

Personally I feel that if 16 year olds are 'mature' enough to be driving a car they can certainly dictate whether or not they can drink responsibily. There are plenty of people above the age that are irresponsible so why make the age limit? Also I believe that getting your license to drive is way too easy and should be more strict (random and off topic, kinda lol). I'm not saying it should be lowered to 16 though. -shrugs- So what do you think about this? Should it be lowered, abolished, changed, or stay the same?

personally i think i have to disagree with 16 year olds being able to decide whether or not they can drink responsibly, we see it a lot at acen, all sorts of underagers getting completely smashed, now sure thats acen and its kinda like a big party to them, but what stops them from making the same decision at a party? i think it should be lowered back to 18, we can do everything else but not drink, why not?

when you turn 18, legally, you are an adult, that doesnt actually make you an adult though. there are so many people who i know that are 18 or older who dont qualify to be called adults, but we have to have some age set aside to call our people adults. so you turn 18, you can buy cigarettes, get married, you can do hard time in jail, you are tried as an adult, you can buy porn, you can go to some strip clubs, you can gamble to an extent, you can buy property, you can own a gun, you can join the army, fight and die for your country, and if your male you have to sign up for the draft, so why cant we drink? i personally believe if you can fight and die for your country you should be allowed to drink. so im for lowering the age

[Lina]

I think it's the fact that it is assumed that you are more responsible if you are 21 or older and that those who are 16-20 are less responsible and are more immature. I cringe at the thought of 16 or 17 year olds drinking their butts off. At 16 you are fairly new to driving and I don't even wanna think about them driving drunk. Granted, it's basically the same at any age, but I'd rather not see 16 years being able to drink legally. Lots of people under 21 do anyways, hell, I remember being a freshman and sophomore in high school and the "popular kids" talking about all these parties they have or go to and how their older siblings supply them with alcohol. It's scary. I personally don't think 16 year olds are mature enough. I live with one. I think 18 is a good age for drinking though. I think that's more reasonable than 21.

I went to Europe for a band trip when I was 16 and I know plenty of kids went to bars and drank with their host families because it's legal to drink at the age of 16 (14 if you are with the consent of a legal guardian/parent). At least, that's how it is in Austria and Germany. Not sure how much different it is for other countries.

And as for the licenses, you can't get your license until 18 in Germany and it's a lot harder to get your license. It's more strict.

[KirbyFanOne]

linlindesu, on Feb 22 2010, 11:23 PM, said:

If they changed the drinking limit, the first couple of years would be insane and riddled with silly teenagers doing stupid if not dangerous things.

Actually, I never thought of that. I have no idea how many young people are aged 18-21 who are just itching to get alcohol along with their various maturity levels. This could prove to be disatrous o.o

But you're also right in saying if it doesn't feel like a vice, then the thrill is diminished. Some people see laws as things to be broken and challenged, and once the man tells you "Okay, you can haz beer" it's like "Oh... um... okay." Then they just sit there drinking their Miller going "Now what?"

"Now we play Rock Band..."

[Voxx]

@Tiamat- I honestly think that 16 year olds shouldnt drink either but with being able to drive a car, I think that those should coincide. The tests for driving should be much more strict and those that do drive should be responsible. I really feel that most of the 16 year old drivers shouldnt even be on the road. This isnt about being 'inexperienced' its about how responsible they can be and most at that age are not.

[Tiamat97]

kids always do things to impress others, theyll do stupid stunts just to make themselves look cool, so their maturity level isnt that high.

[Lina]

^Jackass (Jackass 3D comes out soon)

Inexperienced Driver + Alcohol =/= Responisble

[Voxx]

Tiamat97, on Feb 22 2010, 11:33 PM, said:

kids always do things to impress others, theyll do stupid stunts just to make themselves look cool, so their maturity level isnt that high.

Lol it isnt just children that do that.

(edit)- Lina just verified that -Jackass

[Tiamat97]

they are more suspect to do it though

[xvszero]

I think teenagers should be allowed to drink UNTIL they can drive a car.

Nah I'm kidding. I dunno. But seriously, teen drunk driving is one of the greatest killers in America.

[FlyingElf]

I've always believed that if you can make the choice to die for this country, you should be able to legally drink.

Its a tough topic though because people mature at different speeds and allowing people to drink younger could very well likely raise the number of DUI related deaths. I'm not sure...Honestly I'd want to check the stats of countries with similar rules.

[Tiamat97]

FlyingElf, on Feb 22 2010, 11:38 PM, said:

I've always believed that if you can make the choice to die for this country, you should be able to legally drink.

Its a tough topic though because people mature at different speeds

aint that the truth, i look at kids now, anywhere from 4th grade on up and they seem so much more immature than when i was a kid, maybe it was just me being alone most of the time that made me mature faster or it was cause my family was never very financially stable and i put it on myself to try and become more independant and help with bills and stuff

[Demon Slayer]

I think it should be lowered, maybe not to 16 but to 18 or even 19. If a kid who is underage really wants to drink, say at a party, they're going to do it if they can get someone to buy them alcohol. I saw it enough in high school, and enough in college. I think if you can be drafted and vote and buy cigarettes, you should also be able to drink. Why is alcohol so much more horrible than nicotine?

I know a big problem is drinking and driving, but I also think that the system to get a license should be reworked, or somehow make it a bit more difficult to get a license. I went for my test and the driver basically just asked me to do about three things. I think that if the way you could get a license were changed a bit, it might prevent so many DUIs and deaths because people who aren't really prepared to drive wouldn't necessarily be behind the wheel, especially if impaired by alcohol.

[Scott]

I'd say 18 sounds reasonable. Although I have to say, less young drivers being not legally able to drink isn't a bad thing when it comes to problems like drunk drivers...

[Suigetsu]

I've seen 16 years old "mature" enough to drive, thinking "mature" enough to drink, and surely, "mature" enough to look like hamburger wrapped around a lightpole.

This post has been edited by Suigetsu: 22 February 2010 - 11:49 PM

[Voxx]

Demon Slayer, on Feb 22 2010, 11:43 PM, said:

I think it should be lowered, maybe not to 16 but to 18 or even 19. If a kid who is underage really wants to drink, say at a party, they're going to do it if they can get someone to buy them alcohol. I saw it enough in high school, and enough in college. I think if you can be drafted and vote and buy cigarettes, you should also be able to drink. Why is alcohol so much more horrible than nicotine?

I know a big problem is drinking and driving, but I also think that the system to get a license should be reworked, or somehow make it a bit more difficult to get a license. I went for my test and the driver basically just asked me to do about three things. I think that if the way you could get a license were changed a bit, it might prevent so many DUIs and deaths because people who aren't really prepared to drive wouldn't necessarily be behind the wheel, especially if impaired by alcohol.

^This. My test was ridiculously easy and I passed but I felt like I still needed to learn more. All they basically did was make sure I didnt do any rolling stops and could park. A lot of people take driving for granted and are not ready to do so. I really think this could help instead of just focusing on drinking ages. It shouldnt be about a specific age because everyone is different. If you can get a license to drive, you should be responsible enough to drink.

[Tiamat97]

i was given the driving bypass test so when i went in for my license all i had to do was turn in my 25 hour sheet and permit and get a picture taken

[Lina]

A lot of kids make up hours to put on the sheet and their parents actually don't care and initial the sheet. Seriously!? Sigh.

[Tiamat97]

Lina, on Feb 22 2010, 11:54 PM, said:

A lot of kids make up hours to put on the sheet and their parents actually don't care and initial the sheet. Seriously!? Sigh.

and those are the kids that are normally our casualties

[Voxx]

Lina, on Feb 22 2010, 11:54 PM, said:

A lot of kids make up hours to put on the sheet and their parents actually don't care and initial the sheet. Seriously!? Sigh.

Yeah, just about everyone in my driving class did that. Then I read in the police reports in the papers about how many tickets they have. (But mommy and daddy usually pay for a lawyer so their kid never learns about responsibilites )

[Lina]

Mommy and Daddy give them everything. Give them a car and then a new one every time they damage it and what not.

[KirbyFanOne]

Mom and dad suck! Always making me drive with them in the car, driving hand-me-down old vehicles, paying my insurance. It's a wonder I only purchased my first car last summer! God, they do everything!

[Neko_master_Luna]

I was thinking that for driving, They should be allowed with permitt to start at the age of 14, but have tons of of hours of practice required & maybe 8 with a professional instrucor. I mean kids can drive legally for months & screww up with weather or some one else's mistake, because they do not know how to react. It's not intinct for them

As for the drinking. I think it should be 18, but that they can not buy it or drink in public liike a resturant or bar. I'd say a wedding, funeral or party would be ok. Because like driving, kids should learn when to stop or weither or not to drink at all. How can they learn if they can find out. Then again, it would be hard if they can not leagally buy it, I just don't want them drinking in public, because they would not yet know how to stop long enough in order to drive safely. Then again, what about the D&D?

[Ein]

There are people who are above 30 years old that shouldnt drink. I think people who drink need to take a test at 18 an re-evaluate each year to see if they deserve to drink, since it is just a privilege.

[wrexness]

Ein, on Feb 23 2010, 02:06 AM, said:

There are people who are above 30 years old that shouldnt drink. I think people who drink need to take a test at 18 an re-evaluate each year to see if they deserve to drink, since it is just a privilege.

Hey now, society in general is already becoming too "big brother" like for my liking as is, the last thing we need is someone telling a full grown adult what they can and can't drink.

Anyway, simple answer: lower it to 18. As was already said, you can smoke, you can drive, you can vote, you can go join the military, you damn well should be allowed to drink. 16 though is out of the question. Drunk driving is a bad enough problem for adults who have a clue what they're doing on the road when sober, it would only get worse if you have a drunk 16 year old fresh out of drivers' ed without a clue how to 'really' drive.