The Drinking Age Should be Lowered to 18

[DawnCt1]

Because teenagers would then to be able to "party" at home with their parents (and friends) and not die because of alcohol intoxication or drunk driving. Furthermore, kids and their friends would be happy to be able to get drunk in the safety of a parental supervised party. What do you think?

 

[Christine]

I agree.

I grew up during the time of the 18 drinking age. Adults under 21 are drinking all the time. I never agreed when the changed it to 21. At 18, you are legally an adult and I'm not sure that upping the age does anything but encourage more harmful activity because of the "sneaking" aspect.

 

[NC State]

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.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Because teenagers would then to be able to "party" at home with their parents (and friends) and not die because of alcohol intoxication or drunk driving. Furthermore, kids and their friends would be happy to be able to get drunk in the safety of a parental supervised party. What do you think?

Who is stopping your kids from getting "drunk" in the privacy of your own home?

 

[DVCLiz]

I agree, too - although I'm not sure what you mean by alcohol intoxication. Was that supposed to be alcohol poisoning??

Anyway, I would rather be able to monitor that behavior the way I did with driving - with certain privileges at certain ages, and so on. I don't think 21 has really done all it was supposed to do. Although I do seem to remember recently when this was in the news that MADD had some good statistics about drunk driving teen deaths being reduced. And of course, no one wants those to reverse.

I'd rather have some sort of supervised/parental permission kind of thing, with a way to really keep drinking kids out of cars.

 

[Pop Daddy]

lowering the standard never solves the problem

 

[DawnCt1]

I agree.

I grew up during the time of the 18 drinking age. Adults under 21 are drinking all the time. I never agreed when the changed it to 21. At 18, you are legally an adult and I'm not sure that upping the age does anything but encourage more harmful activity because of the "sneaking" aspect.

I disagree with my own post. Alcohol is already very easy for teens to get with age at 21. We have already had the experience in our state, and other neighboring states of an 18 year old drinking age and it was a disaster. 18 year olds still have the neurons and synapses of teenagers. Legal drinkers attending high school, or knowing a lot of kids that attend high school and middle would make alcohol even more widely available to the underaged. Secondly, I can't imagine that a lot of 18 year olds would really want to get intoxicated while partying with their parents. Further more, those parents would still be civilly responsible for any disaster that occurred as a results of the ongoings in their home. Thirdly, alcohol is a substance of rebellion. The "job" of teens is to rebel. The job of parents is to limit the scope of rebellion. If alcohol is no longer a symbol of rebellion, what will be the next step? Increased drug use which is bad enough.

 

[DVCLiz]

What's stopping me from letting kids drink at home is that it's against the law. And there are stiff penalties I don't want to subject myself to. If it were legal, I'd feel differently, but that was the number one rule for my high schooler, along with don't ever get in a car if the driver has had anything to drink - don't ever put me at risk by letting anyone drink at our house.

 

[bluefairy13]

I agree completely. I don't even know where to start with all the reasons why, but for starters, they are old enough to give their lives for their country but not drink? Give me a break. And how about, it is my business and not the government's.

 

[bluefairy13]

Further more, those parents would still be civilly responsible for any disaster that occurred as a results of the ongoings in their home. .

So those parents should be punished, not me and my family.

 

[Christine]

I disagree with my own post. Alcohol is already very easy for teens to get with age at 21. We have already had the experience in our state, and other neighboring states of an 18 year old drinking age and it was a disaster. 18 year olds still have the neurons and synapses of teenagers. Legal drinkers attending high school, or knowing a lot of kids that attend high school and middle would make alcohol even more widely available to the underaged. Secondly, I can't imagine that a lot of 18 year olds would really want to get intoxicated while partying with their parents. Further more, those parents would still be civilly responsible for any disaster that occurred as a results of the ongoings in their home. Thirdly, alcohol is a substance of rebellion. The "job" of teens is to rebel. The job of parents is to limit the scope of rebellion. If alcohol is no longer a symbol of rebellion, what will be the next step? Increased drug use which is bad enough.

You know, when I was 18 and drinking, I just didn't see the problem. I still disagree that the age should have ever gone to 21. You can smoke at 18, you can vote at 18, you can do everything at 18. Why the scourge on drinking?

And, FWIW, I am a 100% tea-totaler. Don't drink at all.

 

[DawnCt1]

lowering the standard never solves the problem

I absolutely agree.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Because teenagers would then to be able to "party" at home with their parents (and friends) and not die because of alcohol intoxication or drunk driving. Furthermore, kids and their friends would be happy to be able to get drunk in the safety of a parental supervised party. What do you think?

I think the drinking age should be lowered. However, I don't think that will change the number of drunk driving cases.

I remember buying my first drink on my 18th birthday, January 17, 1986. A Bartle and James Wine Cooler.

As far as partying at home with your parents, that just seems so wrong to me.

I for one would not allow my son and his friends to drink in my home. I'd have no way of knowing if everyone was 18. I'm not ready to be responsible for an underage child drinking. I'm also not ready to be responsible for anyone drinking at my home then doing something silly afterwards.

 

[DawnCt1]

Who is stopping your kids from getting "drunk" in the privacy of your own home?

ME and DH.

 

[Pop Daddy]

ME and DH.

 

[salmoneous]

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.

 

[DawnCt1]

As far as partying at home with your parents, that just seems so wrong to me.

I for one would not allow my son and his friends to drink in my home. I'd have no way of knowing if everyone was 18. I'm not ready to be responsible for an underage child drinking. I'm also not ready to be responsible for anyone drinking at my home then doing something silly afterwards.

I cannot imagine it!

I would never allow it either. It is a catastrophe waiting to happen.

 

[barrett7890]

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

 

[OrlandoMike]

I disagree with my own post.

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

 

[MELSMICE]

I'm not sure if I understand whether you think the drinking should be 18 again or stay at 21.

That being said, I believe 19 is a more reasonable age to legally drink. At 19 most young adults are not in high school any longer, they are in college. While it doesn't stop high school students from being able to obtain alcohol, it makes it a little more difficult.

While I didn't turn 18 until the summer after I graduated from high school, most of my friends were already 18 & could legally get alcohol for all the parties we held. If they had been 19 it would have been a little more difficult. Not saying they couldn't/wouldn't obtain it, but not as easy.

The majority of college students do drink. It's no secret. My opinion is to make it legal at 19 & maybe there wouldn't be so many issues with underage drinking of college students.

While my oldest DD is not a partier, she legally can't drink until she is a senior in college (late birthday). We do allow her to have a drink at home occasionally if she asks. I'd rather she know how to handle drinking responsibly before she goes out & gets sloshed some evening (which I'm sure will happen some day!)