The Drinking Age Should be Lowered to 18

[NYBlue1]

Looking back again through this thread I do find it depressing the number of people who seem to equate drinking an alcoholic drink automatically with being drunk.

My son 16 regularly has a drink with dinner two or three times a week, this teaches him respect for drink, appreciation of flavour not affect, and takes away the rebellious attraction of drinking which can lead to illicitly getting drunk.

I completly agree with you, if you want to have a 16 plus year old have one drink with dinner a time or two a week , and teach him about drinking responsibly IN your home, I dont have a problem in the world with that. Im not sure why anybody would. Thats not why drinking laws are in place.

 

[NYBlue1]

If it is my life, and not yours, then it is really none of your business.

Should we make cigarettes and drinking completely illegal? Both are potentially life threatening. Why are we letting people drive motorcycles at all, that's pretty dangerous. Andy brought up guns and I guess no one should own one, because they are dangerous!

In comparison, letting my daughter have a drink once in a while is pretty safe.

I have no problem what so ever with a parent letting a child, I would hope not too young have a drink with dinner every now and again. That is not why the laws are put in place. Sometimes one cant paint things with such a borad stroke. I seriously doubt you will see law enforcement busting though the doors of your home arresting you for giving your child in your care a glass of wine at dinner.

 

[jenm2878]

I have a question to all of those who do not think a person should legally be an adult at 18. A person finishes highschool at 17/18, some go to college, some join the military, some do neither. What happens to those who are kicked out of their house after highschool and need to live on their own? They are going to have quite a hard time finding a full time job, signing a lease, getting a checking account, etc. if they are not an 'adult.' I know that they can file papers to become emancipated, but should every 18 yr old have to do that? If they're not allowed to join the military until 21 (as some suggested) there are that many more 'kids' waffling around for 3 or more years, many of which will not have parental support. What do you suggest for them? And why would a person not be 'intellegent' enough to vote at 18? I have always tried to stay informed about the candidates and am will to bet that I was more informed at 18 about the candidates and their issues then many adults were.

Personally, I think if a person can die for their country, they deserve to drink a glass of wine with dinner or have a beer at their going away party.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Looking back again through this thread I do find it depressing the number of people who seem to equate drinking an alcoholic drink automatically with being drunk.

My son 16 regularly has a drink with dinner two or three times a week, this teaches him respect for drink, appreciation of flavour not affect, and takes away the rebellious attraction of drinking which can lead to illicitly getting drunk.

I agree. While I don't agree with parents allowing underage kids to drink until getting drunk, I do agree that they should be allowed to teach responsibility with alcohol.

I have never understood the law of not drinking until you're 21. Hello! You can drive a car at 16. You can smoke, own a gun (in most places) and join the military and die for this country at 18.

In most European countries, you can drink by age 18 and in some at 16. Some European countries also allow smoking pot. These countries do not have near the problem with drugs and alcohol as we do. That's because they can teach kids responsibility at a younger age.

Why are parents not allowed to be parents in this country?

 

[Charade]

Typical Republican answer. Not crap to you so not crap that's just the way it is and no one should disagree.

You want less government when it concerns things that you don't want the government deciding for you, but have no problem deciding other things for everyone else.

This is why I can't vote republican.

Typical Republican answer??? Oy...

The only reason you vote democrat is because you feel the government should interfere in our lives in different ways than republicans do.

 

[Kath2003]

In most European countries, you can drink by age 18 and in some at 16. Some European countries also allow smoking pot. These countries do not have near the problem with drugs and alcohol as we do. That's because they can teach kids responsibility at a younger age.

Why are parents not allowed to be parents in this country?

Because clearly they can't think for themselves.

If kids aren't old enough to drink until they're 21, they're not old enough to take responsibility for their own actions until they're 21. That means driving, smoking, financially, legally etc. If they're not responsible adults old enough to make their own decisions until they're 21, then someone else needs to be legally, financially etc. responsible for their actions until they're 21. Any parents out there feel like being entirely responsible for the actions of their 20 year old?

Again it just needs to be across the board. Either you're an adult with adult rights and responsibilities at 18 and allowed to drink of you're a child without adult rights and responsibilities until you're 21 when you're allowed to drink.

 

[bluefairy13]

Typical Republican answer??? Oy...

The only reason you vote democrat is because you feel the government should interfere in our lives in different ways than republicans do.

Hey, we're not the ones always running on "less government" platforms. All I want here is for Republicans to stop lying and admit that they want HUGE government, not small government, and want to control everything.

 

[bluefairy13]

I have no problem what so ever with a parent letting a child, I would hope not too young have a drink with dinner every now and again. That is not why the laws are put in place. Sometimes one cant paint things with such a borad stroke. I seriously doubt you will see law enforcement busting though the doors of your home arresting you for giving your child in your care a glass of wine at dinner.

I've already said this in this thread. I think I should be able to have a drink with my 20 year old at JIKO, for example, and can't. That is ridiculous, and insulting to me as a parent.

 

[Charade]

Hey, we're not the ones always running on "less government" platforms. All I want here is for Republicans to stop lying and admit that they want HUGE government, not small government, and want to control everything.

Please...

Since you don't claim to want less government, I can only surmise you'd like more.

Like I stated in my last post. You guys want more government in certain areas that matter to you, we want more in others areas that matter to us.

We should ALL want AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE!

Would you admit that, as a whole, goverment is too big as it is?

 

[LisaNJ25]

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.

I agree..

What was even worst was getting married at 18 and not able to legally drink.

 

[bluefairy13]

We should ALL want AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE!

Would you admit that, as a whole, goverment is too big as it is?

Why are you asking me. I'm not the one voting for candidates who "say" they want less government, you are.

When Republicans "say" they want less government, they mean "except with the stuff we want to force you to do".

This is your issue, not mine.

 

[Charade]

I've already said this in this thread. I think I should be able to have a drink with my 20 year old at JIKO, for example, and can't. That is ridiculous, and insulting to me as a parent.

Why is it insulting to you? You're not the one affected by the law. You can still drink. Is drinking that important to you?

If you don't like the law you can, fight to change it or break it. You're choice.

But if all you do is complain about it and you decide to break it, be prepared to suffer any consequences.

 

[bluefairy13]

If you don't like the law you can, fight to change it or break it. You're choice.

And that's what I'm doing. Both of those things.

It's insulting to me as a parent because I want should be able to decide this thing for my own adult child.

I want the government to stay out of my personal life in all ways, not just this one, but this is the one we are talking about now.

 

[Charade]

Why are you asking me. I'm not the one voting for candidates who "say" they want less government, you are.

When Republicans "say" they want less government, they mean "except with the stuff we want to force you to do".

This is your issue, not mine.

But the areas that we want less government in are the areas where you want more. And isn't that forcing things upon me that I may not want?

I'll ask once again, IYO, is government, as a whole, too big, too small or just the right size? Do you think that government, as a whole, reaches waaay too far into peoples lives? I do. But you (and I) have to admit that there are certain things that they should be regulating for the general well being of the people and to protect them. We just disagree on what those are.

And no, the Republicans don't want to control every aspect of people's lives just as I don't think the democrats want to either.

 

[Charade]

And that's what I'm doing. Both of those things.

Good for you.

It's insulting to me as a parent because I want should be able to decide this thing for my own adult child.

You want to make decisions for your adult child?

I want the government to stay out of my personal life in all ways, not just this one, but this is the one we are talking about now.

Does that include your wallet? Do you want to be allowed to own a gun?

 

[bluefairy13]

And that's what I'm doing. Both of those things.

Good for you.



You want to make decisions for your adult child?



Does that include your wallet? Do you want to be allowed to own a gun?

I'm making the point that at 20, my child is an adult and yet cannot have a glass of wine with me at a restaurant. But you knew that.

Again, I do not belong to the party that "says" they want small government, you do.

You know what the funniest thing was? When Republicans got all upset about "it takes a village to raise a child"? Hilarious how Republicans say this, and yet want to the village to tell me everything about how I must raise my child.

You are right that we disagree about the law, but you just refuse to admit that Republicans are the polar opposite of small government.

 

[Galahad]

I know I'll regret this, but what in the world does this have to do with political parties? Of the few folks on this thread that are opposed to a lower drinking age, I believe there are folks on all parts of the political spectrum.

 

[bluefairy13]

I know I'll regret this, but what in the world does this have to do with political parties? Of the few folks on this thread that are opposed to a lower drinking age, I believe there are folks on all parts of the political spectrum.

Are they?

Dawn started this thread, and I don't mean to make it personal, but I just want to know how a Republican can ever support something like this.

My experience is that it is usually the Republican who is trying to restrict my personal rights, and I (still asking) want to know why that is. When my daughter was in school, it was ALWAYS the republicans who wanted to ban books, change curriculum to suit their beliefs and make rules that affected me as a family. That village was constantly tryint to "help" me raise my child. I'm a libertarian at heart and will always vote for candidates with those values.

I would just love to know the answer to that question. How is this reconciled in Republicans' minds? I doubt if this will ever be answered, but I'll keep asking.

I would probably vote Republican if they were what they "said" they were.

 

[Galahad]

Are they?

Dawn started this thread, and I don't mean to make it personal, but I just want to know how a Republican can ever support something like this.

My experience is that it is usually the Republican who is trying to restrict my personal rights, and I (still asking) want to know why that is. When my daughter was in school, it was ALWAYS the republicans who wanted to ban books, change curriculum to suit their beliefs and make rules that affected me as a family. That village was constantly tryint to "help" me raise my child. I'm a libertarian at heart and will always vote for candidates with those values.

I would just love to know the answer to that question. How is this reconciled in Republicans' minds? I doubt if this will ever be answered, but I'll keep asking.

I would probably vote Republican if they were what they "said" they were.

So a question about drinking age expands to something a broad as this? Wow!

Cloe's Mom is not a Republican, for example, and she as weighed in as not supporting a lower drinking age. I suppose I generally vote for Republicans, but I am pretty moderate. I am not, however, a libertarian. Most people are not libertarians. I don't support a lower drinking age. I don't see it as intrusive into anybodies "rights". I just don't think a 20 year old is an adult - and that the age of those other thing, military service, etc. should be raised, not the drinking age lowered. I can't answer your broader broodings. I've never tried to ban a book or change a curriculum. I suspect that most people that are Republicans have never tried to do those things either.

 

[bluefairy13]

So a question about drinking age expands to something a broad as this? Wow!

Why is that surprising? It has to do with our rights as parents, and the rights of a young adult. While it is not personal experience to have seen democrats fighting to restrict what students study or read, I wouldn't be as surprised if it were a democrat telling me that they were passing a law "for my own good." Isn't that what Republicans "say" they don't like about democrats?

As I've said, I'd get on board with the Republican party if they weren't so full of it when it comes to "small government".