The Drinking Age Should be Lowered to 18

[N&B'smom]

lowering the standard never solves the problem

Shelby

 

[DawnCt1]

In many places, 18-year old can drink at home with their parents. Overall, I do think we need to re-examine our laws. Absolute prohibition until 21 just doesn't work and breeds contempt for the law.

The one issue I have with your post is that it seems to equate drinking alcohol with getting drunk. The two are very different. In fact, one of the best things about allowing kids to drink at home is that they can learn the "skill" of drinking without getting drunk in a safe environment.

In a discussion that I was involved in at a relative's home, they equate"partying" with drinking to excess. Thus the equation.

 

[bluefairy13]

lowering the standard never solves the problem

But why does the government get to set that standard.

They should stay out of my family business.

 

[Metro West]

We don't drink at all so I have no say. However, if they are at home drinking why would anyone know? If they're at home and STAY at home without getting on the roads, who's to say "no" you can't do that? The real problem is getting on the roads after you have been drinking.

I agree and if the parents want to have a supervised party at home, that's fine. BUT...they MUST not let anyone driving to be allowed to drink. There are too many drunks on the roads now and I don't think 18 is mature enough to deal with the ramifications involved...JMHO.

 

[Chuck S]

18 year olds can enter into legally binding contracts, they get credit cards. They are legally able to enlist in the military, they are able to make the decision to put their lives on the line for our country, but society has deemed they are unable to make a personal decision as to whether to drink wine with a nice dinner in a restauant or not. It really doesn't make sense to me.

 

[salmoneous]

In a discussion that I was involved in at a relative's home, they equate"partying" with drinking to excess. Thus the equation.

I think part of the problem is that we've created a system where kids (and adults too apparently) think

drinking alcohol = partying = getting drunk

Prohibition alone doesn't work to keep kids from getting drunk. I think we need to rely less on the government and more on parents. Make it OK to have kids learn from the parents how to deal with alcohol in a way that doesn't mean partying and getting drunk.

 

[DawnCt1]

So why did you start this post the way you did?

For the purposes of discussion. It was the rational that was offered last night at one of DH's relatives. This is a parent who unfortunately has looked the other way with her teens and drinking. It has spilled over to other teens who have dropped in at family barbecues and feel very comfortable popping open at beer or more at their house. Their DD has passed out in the driveway at the age of 14 and her DS, now 20 has gained over 60 pounds from frequent beer consumption. (her words, not mine). She feels that if the drinking age were 18, she wouldn't have to "worry". 18 or not, they are doing exactly what they want to do anyway. I do not argue with my hosts in their home. When I disagree, I change the subject so DH and I changed the subject.

 

[bluefairy13]

Question, Dawn, Why do republicans say they want less government and then support crap like this?

 

[mjkacmom]

I have no problem lowering the drinking age to 18, provided the legal driving age is 21.

 

[OrlandoMike]

But why does the government get to set that standard.

They should stay out of my family business.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

In many places, 18-year old can drink at home with their parents. Overall, I do think we need to re-examine our laws. Absolute prohibition until 21 just doesn't work and breeds contempt for the law.

The one issue I have with your post is that it seems to equate drinking alcohol with getting drunk. The two are very different. In fact, one of the best things about allowing kids to drink at home is that they can learn the "skill" of drinking without getting drunk in a safe environment.

I agree. I don't understand why a person is an adult at 18, but they can't make a decision to drink (legally).

In my family, it wasn't a big deal to have a small amount of alcohol when we were younger. My parents taught us to be responsible while drinking (don't drink too much, NEVER drive after drinking, etc). DH's parents were the same way.
Neither DH or I drink much (if we do have a drink with dinner, it is only on a special occassions and we split the drink).

Also, just because my parents didn't make a huge deal out of drinking, didn't mean that I needed to move on to other substances to rebel. That is just silly.

 

[DawnCt1]

this thread got me interested in legal drinking ages round the world

quite an interesting read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age

cami
x

I can't comment on the third world countries, Asia and Africa because I have no information on those countries. BUT there are extremely high rates of alcoholism in Russia and the Eastern European countries, and higher rates of alcoholism in Western Europe as compared with the United States. Exposure to alcohol at an early age, or any addictive behavior, drugs, gambling, etc creates addiction at higher rates.

 

[jodifla]

18 year olds can enter into legally binding contracts, they get credit cards. They are legally able to enlist in the military, they are able to make the decision to put their lives on the line for our country, but society has deemed they are unable to make a personal decision as to whether to drink wine with a nice dinner in a restauant or not. It really doesn't make sense to me.

ITA!

At 18, your should be an adult, or not.

Lowering the drinking age hasn't stopped anyone from drinking between the ages of 18 and 21. It's just allowed the cops to arrest a lot of 18 year olds.

I remember an earlier thread about if folks had started drinking before they were legal....and pretty much everyone had.

 

[Andy B]

If I can make a comment from the UK, we have a legal age to purchase alcohol in bars and shops at 18 but with meal in a restaurtant you are allowed to order a drink at 16. There is no formal age at which you are prohibited to drink if in private and supplied by an adult.

My son is 16 and has an occasional beer or glass of wine with us, two or three times a week at dinner. We believe this teaches him appreciation of drink and responsible use. He does not drink illegally on his own.

 

[Kath2003]

It need to be a consistent line.

If you're old enough to have a say in the way the country is run, you're old enough to drink

If you're old enough to drive a potentially lethal vehicle, you're old enough to drink.

If you're old enough to go to war and die for your country, you're old enough to drink.

If you're old enough to be legally responsible for your own actions (criminally, financially etc.), you're old enough to drink.

Whatever age you decide, ALL of those things bear huge personal and societal responsibility. I'm really not fussed what the drinking age is, but it needs to be the same age as all other adult rights and responsibilities.

ETA: I agree with Andy B that the regulations on alcohol with meals in the UK are a positive introduction to alcohol for young people. It's not illegal to serve alcohol to minors (above age 6) in the UK on private property, but you cannot get them intoxicated!

Before you ask: yes, I fully support the driving age in the UK to be raised to 18 (currently it's 17)...but that's going through the courts as we speak.

 

[DawnCt1]

Question, Dawn, Why do republicans say they want less government and then support crap like this?

I happen to be a Republican but the history of my very blue state, which has been controlled in the House and Senate for years by democrats, changed the law from 18 to 21 years ago. I think you will find this issue is really non partisan. I doubt you could find a democratic legislature in any blue state that would even introduce a bill and expect to get it passed in any state.

 

[bluefairy13]

I happen to be a Republican but the history of my very blue state, which has been controlled in the House and Senate for years by democrats, changed the law from 18 to 21 years ago. I think you will find this issue is really non partisan. I doubt you could find a democratic legislature in any blue state that would even introduce a bill and expect to get it passed in any state.

Since the only people I personally know that support the 21 drinking law are republicans I just can't help but wonder. You'd think it would be Dems, the way Republicans paint us as being so big government.

Please don't skate around the question. How do you personally justify this as a republican? Why are you republicans so constantly trying to control our lives and our families?

 

[Galahad]

ITA!

At 18, your should be an adult, or not.

I vote not.

 

[LindaM]

Where I live in Canada the legal drinking age is 18. Both of my kids are now legal to drink but very rarely do they go out to clubs/bars. They would rather have their friends over to our house and have a get together there, and DH and I are totally fine with that. One thing we do make sure is that whoever is going home they do not drive, if they cannot get a cab they are welcome to find a spot in our home to sleep or DH will wake up to drive them home. Our kids know at any time if they are somewhere and they have been drinking, if they don't feel comfortable with how they had planned to come home we will go pick them up regardless of the time.

 

[salmoneous]

I happen to be a Republican but the history of my very blue state, which has been controlled in the House and Senate for years by democrats, changed the law from 18 to 21 years ago. I think you will find this issue is really non partisan. I doubt you could find a democratic legislature in any blue state that would even introduce a bill and expect to get it passed in any state.

Just to remind folks, CT raised the drinking age to 21 because a federal law (signed by Ronald Reagan) forced them to do so or have their highway funds cut back.

While I fully agree that both Democrats and Republicans vote for these government-as-nanny bills, it would be nice if the Republicans who claim to believe in small government, "states rights", etc. acted that way.