inspired by 'where would you set the driving age'

[KidGoofy]

I would keep it 21 here. Some people just arent mature enough to handle drinking. I would even raise the age. You have to realize that a lower drinking age would equal a higher death by drunk drivers (whatever its called) percentage. We already have too much of it. IMO.

How do you know that will happen...because kids from where Im from always have a designated driver or sleep-over...and if it was 18 parents wouldnt be mad about picking their kids up if drunk because they werent doing something bad, just accidentally drank a little too much.

 

[DramaQueen]

i guess i'll answer my own question and say I agree that it should be 18, most kids I know start drinking well before 18 though.

Every party I've ever been to there has been a DD, it's just the thing that happens, or when I go to a bar or club, we cab it or take transit home.
Drinking & Driving is a huuuuuuge issue, but within my group of friends from HS and beyond, it was never ever an issue.

I agree that at 18 you can go overseas and be given a gun and some ammo in order to defend your country, you can vote on who runs your country and you will have been able to drive for at least a year. SO i don't see why 18 isn't a reasonable drinking age as well.

 

[Sparx]

in european countries with a low drinking age, isn't the drunk driving rate very low? becuase they are used to drinking and don't act like wild animals whenever alcohol is put in front of their face?

people drink themselves drunk because its "bad." they're breaking rules, and frankly, that feels good. but if alcohol wasn't so forbidden (and forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest) we wouldn't have a huge problem with it.

 

[imabrat]

There's a lot of public transportation. There are very few people that drive, and pretty much everywhere is within walking distance or within public transportation. And they are used to drinking. I can't tell you how shocked I was when my family kept cheering me on to drink red wine. I was 7.

 

[Disney.Ears]

18.
Having it at 21 is just too high. Like a previous poster said, it's just ASKING for people to drink underage? I personally hate alcohol and I'm not into the whole "getting drunk" thing. I think it's stupid.

 

[Pecobill]

I say 18 for the USA. Because if you are able to serve for your country you should be able to drink.

If you are on base you can legally drink no matter what your age.Also you can join the military at 17 in the US.

 

[Sparx]

If you are on base you can legally drink no matter what your age.Also you can join the military at 17 in the US.

you're not deployed until 18 though. only training happens between 17 and 18, right?

 

[Pecobill]

you're not deployed until 18 though. only training happens between 17 and 18, right?

Nope you get deployed at 17 now.And I hear that the national guard will be able to take you at 16 in a few years.Though I don't know if thats true.

 

[Sparx]

Nope you get deployed at 17 now.And I hear that the national guard will be able to take you at 16 in a few years.Though I don't know if thats true.

i dated three or four guys in high school who enlisted in the guard when they were seventeen. they did their training during the summer because of high school, so the first summer they did boot camp, then ait/jump school. (correct me if i'm wrong, but i think thats the order right?) they weren't done with training until they were 18, so i guess thats why i didn't think they would deploy before that.

 

[Pecobill]

i dated three or four guys in high school who enlisted in the guard when they were seventeen. they did their training during the summer because of high school, so the first summer they did boot camp, then ait/jump school. (correct me if i'm wrong, but i think thats the order right?) they weren't done with training until they were 18, so i guess thats why i didn't think they would deploy before that.

That is the correct order for most jobs.For Infantry and a few other jobs you do OSUT(One Station Unit Training).Which for Infantry like me it would last 13 weeks and after that you go to air assault school(jumping out of helicopters) and if you have it in your contract jump school(jumping out of planes).From there the majority of Infantry soldiers are deployed witih 2 weeks.So depending when your birthday is you can go at 17.Also this is Active Duty Army not the national guard.In order for this to happen you have to be out of high school.

 

[Sparx]

That is the correct order for most jobs.For Infantry and a few other jobs you do OSUT(One Station Unit Training).Which for Infantry like me it would last 13 weeks and after that you go to air assault school(jumping out of helicopters) and if you have it in your contract jump school(jumping out of planes).From there the majority of Infantry soldiers are deployed witih 2 weeks.So depending when your birthday is you can go at 17.Also this is Active Duty Army not the national guard.In order for this to happen you have to be out of high school.

i think they were infantry. (i don't remember their mos) neither of them were out of high school when they joined, so i guess thats why they didn't deploy so soon.

last i heard one just finished one of the training sessions, and he's deploying later this year.

 

[Pecobill]

i think they were infantry. (i don't remember their mos) neither of them were out of high school when they joined, so i guess thats why they didn't deploy so soon.

last i heard one just finished one of the training sessions, and he's deploying later this year.

Is he going to A-stan or Iraq? Either way I wish him good luck.

 

[Sparx]

Is he going to A-stan or Iraq? Either way I wish him good luck.

honestly, i have no idea. i've not talked to him in a very long time. i heard that from a mutual friend. he's been gone all summer at training. where are they sending more infantrymen?

 

[DramaQueen]

18.
Having it at 21 is just too high. Like a previous poster said, it's just ASKING for people to drink underage? I personally hate alcohol and I'm not into the whole "getting drunk" thing. I think it's stupid.

ya i agree with that.
i'm 20 now and i can't even IMAGINE getting in trouble with the law for drinking underage!!!!!!

 

[Pecobill]

honestly, i have no idea. i've not talked to him in a very long time. i heard that from a mutual friend. he's been gone all summer at training. where are they sending more infantrymen?

A-stan most likely.He'll see a lot of action there.

 

[Sparx]

A-stan most likely.He'll see a lot of action there.

would it be any different because he's in the guard?

 

[Pecobill]

would it be any different because he's in the guard?

Once your deployed your treated like the Active Army.As a matter of fact when I was deployed we had a few guard guys go with us.So he will see plenty of combat.

 

[bananda]

the drinking age in australia is 18. i think thats pretty reasonable. but for L-plate and P-plate drivers (pretty much anyone under 21) the blood-alcohol limit is 0 if your driving.

 

[Sparx]

the drinking age in australia is 18. i think thats pretty reasonable. but for L-plate and P-plate drivers (pretty much anyone under 21) the blood-alcohol limit is 0 if your driving.

should bac be 0 for any driver?

 

[WickedPlans]

It always struck me as quite odd that the US was so uptight about not being allowed to drink until you are 21.
It just doesn't seem to make sense that you are considered responsible enough to own a gun but you can't have a cold beer on a hot day.
I'm glad it's 18 in the UK. I have never struggled with enjoying a drink without having the need to get drunk.
Being made to wait until you are 21 would make it so much more tempting.