The Drinking Age Should be Lowered to 18

[NYBlue1]

Raising the drinking age to 21 saves lives. If you want your 18 year old to have a glass of wine at home, fine. My parents allowed us to drink wine at home starting at 16. However, the fact that your 18 year old can't order a glass of wine in a restaurant does not warrant risking the lives of others. Your 18 year old might be responsible about drinking and driving. However, there are many more 18 year olds who wouldn't think twice about getting drunk at a bar, and driving. http://www.why21.org/history/

Your so right, when I was a kid the drinking age was 18 and every year someone was killed in the senior class in the area HS's or injured in drunk driving related accidents, when it when up to 21 , not the case anymore, certainly not claiming it solves all problems, but it does not hurt.

Certainly not talking about a glass of wine with parents at dinner either. In fact it may even teach them some responsibility.

 

[DawnCt1]

Raising the drinking age to 21 saves lives. If you want your 18 year old to have a glass of wine at home, fine. My parents allowed us to drink wine at home starting at 16. However, the fact that your 18 year old can't order a glass of wine in a restaurant does not warrant risking the lives of others. Your 18 year old might be responsible about drinking and driving. However, there are many more 18 year olds who wouldn't think twice about getting drunk at a bar, and driving. http://www.why21.org/history/

You are so right. I have met too many parents who say;
1. I have an open relationship with my kids. They would never drink and drive.
2. My kid would never binge drink.
3. I want my kid to drink in a bar where the bartender can supervise! That is the worst! They want the bartender to be a babysitter??
4. How many kids can afford a $5 beer in a bar when a six pack is $5?

The bottom line is; laws are not made for your kid or my kid but for most kids and it has been proven beyond a doubt, that raising the drinking age to 21 has saved countless lives and reduced the rate of alcoholism.

 

[jessaboo]

I have two reasons why I side on the 21 limit.

One: My best friend, on November 24 (a year ago today) was killed in a car accident by being hit a drunk driver who was 19, and just kept driving. I miss him a lot. He was my future husband too.

Two: Took some friends to a party as the DD. Met another close friend there, and he had gotten into a spat with one other guy, and decided to take him and his best friend home. Zack put Brad into the passenger seat, and buckled his seat belt, and not his own. He was drunk, and claimed his own life.


I loved these people, and I knew they were responsible.


I don't know, It's just something to think about.


[rip bobby coleman and zack cable]
I love you and miss you both.

 

[bluefairy13]

Your so right, when I was a kid the drinking age was 18 and every year someone was killed in the senior class in the area HS's or injured in drunk driving related accidents, when it when up to 21 , not the case anymore, certainly not claiming it solves all problems, but it does not hurt.

Certainly not talking about a glass of wine with parents at dinner either. In fact it may even teach them some responsibility.

Either you want to give parents the right or you don't. You can't have it both ways. I will continue to advocate my rights. Yes there are sad stories, but those sad stories are not going to go away in any case until parents start parenting.

 

[mark&sue]

Surely these are two completely different topics. drinking age limits and drunk drivers.

I drink alcohol a lot but have never ever got into my car even with just a sip of alcohol. And as I live in the UK could legally drink at 18.

Strangely I have noticed that a lot of older people drink and drive.

I think 18 is fine and as previously said we can also let our older children drink with meals etc if they want.


susan

 

[NYBlue1]

Either you want to give parents the right or you don't. You can't have it both ways. I will continue to advocate my rights. Yes there are sad stories, but those sad stories are not going to go away in any case until parents start parenting.

I agree with you, parents need to take responsibility for there kids, that will never happen, just being realistic, so if we cant have that 21 is the next best thing.

 

[mjkacmom]

I agree with you, parents need to take responsibility for there kids, that will never happen, just being realistic, so if we cant have that 21 is the next best thing.

Exactly - and I agree 100% that 18 year olds should NOT be fighting a war.

 

[ASFCurly]

How about more education for teenagers on drink driving and harsher penalties? I've heard that the US isn't particularly strict on drink driving offenses. The UK has an automatic minimum 12 month ban (and you have to resit your test again after the 12 months). There's a fine of $500-$1000 minimum automatically too. It's a criminal conviction (which you must confess on job applications etc.) and you're lucky to get insured on a vehicle again. If you get caught DUI again within 10 years or are 2.5 times over the limit, it's an automatic 3 year ban and a whole lot of hassle (e.g. seeking medical advice that you don't have an alcohol problem etc.) to even be allowed to hold a provisional license again.

There's also a very broad overview of what classes "attempting to drive" such as sitting in your vehicle with the engine off or accessing the trunk which can cost you money and an awful lot of points on your license. Basically, caught anywhere near your vehicle after drinking = big trouble.

Sounds good to me. The main reason that I personally have a problem thinking that the drinking age is the attitude of the 18-21 year olds that I know, including my 20 year old sister. They do drink, I can tell you that. But more people that age that I know have trouble figuring where the cut off should be. Both with the drinking in general, and when they should no longer drive. They say, well I am not drunk, so it's fine. Just because you aren't drunk doesn't mean you haven't had enough that your driving skills aren't impaired.

 

[Cool-Beans]

If you don't want the government interfering with your life then move to a remote island.

There is no land left. People moved to this country to have a place where the government didn't interfere in their lives. Their first winter, there was nothing but cold, hard ground covered with snow. A lot of them died - but they believed in what they were doing. And it worked out pretty well. They and their descendants built the biggest, strongest, smartest, healthiest, wealthiest democracy that ever existed. It was also the most fun place to live.

Then the government, and people who like their lives being run by others, came along and ruined it.

It won't happen again, because there is no land left for people who prefer freedom (enough to risk and give their lives for) to move to. But there are still people left who like the old idea of freedom.

I'd be fine with the drinking age being dropped to 18...or no drinking age at all.

 

[Lady V]

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

thanks you-I was wondering the same thing! Why start a thread and then just go the opposite direction? which way do you stand on this?

 

[DawnCt1]

thanks you-I was wondering the same thing! Why start a thread and then just go the opposite direction? which way do you stand on this?

I think that the legal age of 21 is appropriate. 18 is not for reasons that I have included in this post. I started the thread the way I did because that was the argument presented to me at a relative's house. Those were her reasons, not mine.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I just learned something new on this thread. I had always thought it was illegal to serve alchohol to anyone under 21 even your own child.
Apperantly it's not in most states
Since the argument I hear the most for lowering the drinking age is to be able to teach a child to drink responsibly the law won't stop you

 

[bluefairy13]

It won't happen again, because there is no land left for people who prefer freedom (enough to risk and give their lives for) to move to. But there are still people left who like the old idea of freedom.

You know literally for as long as I can remember Republicans have been telling people like me that if you don't like how the government is, you can leave ( America - Love it or Leave it ).

No thanks, I love this country and I'm not retreating to any desert island any time soon. I I like the old idea of freedom too!

 

[jessaboo]

This won't be on the ballot in Ohio.
I just found this out today.
Thank god.


All it will do is bring an uproar to our HS.
Seriously, Groveport is FILLED with drugs and alcohol.
It's bad.


Sorry, I do have to represent.


EDGE FOR LIFE!

 

[golfgal]

There is no land left. People moved to this country to have a place where the government didn't interfere in their lives. Their first winter, there was nothing but cold, hard ground covered with snow. A lot of them died - but they believed in what they were doing. And it worked out pretty well. They and their descendants built the biggest, strongest, smartest, healthiest, wealthiest democracy that ever existed. It was also the most fun place to live.

Then the government, and people who like their lives being run by others, came along and ruined it.

It won't happen again, because there is no land left for people who prefer freedom (enough to risk and give their lives for) to move to. But there are still people left who like the old idea of freedom.

I'd be fine with the drinking age being dropped to 18...or no drinking age at all.

Actually, the 'pilgrims' came so they could have a SAY in their government, not that they didn't want them interfering all together. Our healthy democracy starts a couple hundred years AFTER the pilgrims landed. No, it isn't perfect but anarchy is much worse. If everyone just makes their own laws to suit their needs then what is the point?? There is plenty of remote, vacant land left around the world it just isn't a nice place to live.

 

[bluefairy13]

If everyone just makes their own laws to suit their needs then what is the point?? There is plenty of remote, vacant land left around the world it just isn't a nice place to live.

Laws change, you know, because people challenge them and work for reform. This law suits you and so you like it. I would never presume to tell you that you should move away because of a law that you didn't like. That is insane.

No, I'll just work within the system and try to get laws I disagree with changed. That's the American way, not telling people to move away. Ya gotta love Republicans!

 

[Nancy]

Surely these are two completely different topics. drinking age limits and drunk drivers.

I drink alcohol a lot but have never ever got into my car even with just a sip of alcohol. And as I live in the UK could legally drink at 18.

Strangely I have noticed that a lot of older people drink and drive.

I think 18 is fine and as previously said we can also let our older children drink with meals etc if they want.


susan

Me too! All you have to do is go to any football game on a Sunday and afternoon and see who is out in the parking lots drinking all morning, then all afternoon in the games. I see way more older drunks at those games then I see younger people. Last game we went to (Sunday night) I was there with my DH, my 17 year old DD and my SIL. My 17 yr old was getting hit on by drunk men that could barely stand. They are in line to get into the game with beers in their hands offering her their beer. One of the guys was groping her butt! I was livid and kept saying.."ummm guys, parent right here would you leave her alone" My DH ended up in back of her and I was in front to protect her. She was getting nervous and a bit freaked out by these so called adults. (I would say mid to late 30's in age). My DD was saying how she couldn't beleive adults would get so drunk and act so stupid.

Drinking age was 18 when I was younger. Yes I was going into bars while still in highschool, but because we never had to sneak or have fake ID's we didn't overdrink. (not saying I never did, just not at that age). I worked with a lot of younger adults between the ages of 18 and 21 and guess what? they all still went to bars...they have fake ID's, I was told they are very easy to get. I had 2 kids I went to school with killed by drunk drivers, not while in school but when they were mid 20's, guess how old the drunk drivers were? One was 42 and one was in his 60's. I have also been told by some of my friends that have kids in college just how bad the drinking is in college. Raising the drinking age hasn't had any affect on underage drinking from what I see.

I still say that the age should be the same for voting, smoking, military service and drinking. Whether that means lowering the drinking age or raising the others .

 

[Uuaww]

wouldn't solve my fraternity's problems... you still can't take open containers of alcohol outside, and we'll still get noise viololations.

 

[MELSMICE]

Even 21 sometimes is not "responsible" enough. I think there would be even more irresponsible college drinking/partying if the age was lowered to 18.

Unfortunately, there are irresponsible drinkers of any age.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

Unfortunately, there are irresponsible drinkers of any age.

I totally agree. I am 35 and scared to death of all the other irresponsible people on the road. You hear about people getting chance after chance. I think it was drilled into my head that you don't let friends drink and drive so when i went away to college I was the one that always stayed sober. I didn't mind and I didn't want to put the responsibility of getting me home safe on anyone else. I can honestly and proudly say that I have only been buzzed one time in my life and I was 32. That was after not having one drink in 10 years. yeah, very true. I have rarely ever drank. I can't undersatnd why people like the feeling of not being in control. I do not believe the drinking age should be lowered, i don't beleive that it would stop kids from drinking and driving. I am scared for my children now for when they become teenagers and i hope by that time they will also have it drilled inot their head not to let friends drink and drive and that if they ever do, CALL ME, no matter what time. I would rather be able to try to knock sense into them on the way home then to not at all.