Rant: United States Drinking Age

[catilda lily]

Saying that an eighteen year old isn't emotionally ready to drink alchohol is ridiculous.

The truth of the matter is that you've delayed their experience of alchohol for so long that by the time they get to learn how to deal with it, the mistakes they inevitably make - at 21, 25, or 38 - are crippling.

At 11, 14, 16, 17, and even 18, that's not so much a problem. A drunk kid is much easier to deal with than a drunk adult, and an adult who was a drunk kid at some point is far less likely to want to become a drunk adult - because they know what happens if they don't moderate.

Understanding succeeds knowledge when faced with curiousity. A kid who feels how much fire stings, won't jump into it as an adult. A kid who's told that "fire burns", might just be curious enough to want to learn what it's like as an adult.

Or to put it simply, your claim is the opposite of true.

Not every adult will make a mistake with alcohol because of the drinking age being 21. I know I wont because even though I do drink sometimes I never drink enough to feel the effects. It is probably due to the fact that I don't really like the taste even if it is mixed in something.

[Thatch]

Saying that an eighteen year old isn't emotionally ready to drink alchohol is ridiculous.

Emotionally AN ADULT. Eligable to MAKE DECISIONS. HE, PERSONALLY. Not ANY 18yo. Since you couldn't tell which part of the quote I was referring to, it was "should be my decision now that I am legally considered an adult."

Saying "I'm an adult, so I should be able to" is exactly what a truly mature person wouldn't utter. It's something said by childlish people, regardless of age, who think that just because they reached a certian age, they also hold the maturity associated with it and are previliged to respect and responsibility. I do not trust him to make an adult, informed decision about what he should or should not be able to do. I only see "I WANT IT. I DESERVE IT. GIVE IT TO ME"

Besides, an 18 year old can be as irresponsible with alcohol as a 14yo. Or a 40yo. Otherwise, drunks wouldn't be such a problem, because everyone would use it in moderation.

[Neuron]

smoke pot it doesn't have an age :V

[Sai_Wolf]

smoke pot it doesn't have an age :V

[Echo Wolf]

Emotionally AN ADULT. Eligable to MAKE DECISIONS. HE, PERSONALLY. Not ANY 18yo. Since you couldn't tell which part of the quote I was referring to, it was "should be my decision now that I am legally considered an adult."

Saying "I'm an adult, so I should be able to" is exactly what a truly mature person wouldn't utter. It's something said by childlish people, regardless of age, who think that just because they reached a certian age, they also hold the maturity associated with it and are previliged to respect and responsibility. I do not trust him to make an adult, informed decision about what he should or should not be able to do. I only see "I WANT IT. I DESERVE IT. GIVE IT TO ME"

Besides, an 18 year old can be as irresponsible with alcohol as a 14yo. Or a 40yo. Otherwise, drunks wouldn't be such a problem, because everyone would use it in moderation.

Taken out of context yes it does sound childish, however with everything else I said to back up my claim I don't believe it is. If I am now supposed to be responsible enough to gamble, get married, and even smoke how is it that I am not responsible enough to drink based on that logic. Also, if anything a high drinking age supports dangerous drinking because underage drinking is usually done at parties were binge drinking is common. In short having the drinking age lowered would promote much safer use of alcohol not only for persons under the age of 21 but those over it as well because it would allow them to become educated about drinking and its effects in a much safer environment.

[JArt.]

Taken out of context yes it does sound childish, however with everything else I said to back up my claim I don't believe it is. If I am now supposed to be responsible enough to gamble, get married, and even smoke how is it that I am not responsible enough to drink based on that logic. Also, if anything a high drinking age supports dangerous drinking because underage drinking is usually done at parties were binge drinking is common. In short having the drinking age lowered would promote much safer use of alcohol not only for persons under the age of 21 but those over it as well because it would allow them to become educated about drinking and its effects in a much safer environment.

Well you've convinced me.

18 year olds should not be allowed to gamble, get married, smoke, or drink alcohol.

[Thatch]

Taken out of context yes it does sound childish, however with everything else I said to back up my claim I don't believe it is. If I am now supposed to be responsible enough to gamble, get married, and even smoke how is it that I am not responsible enough to drink based on that logic. Also, if anything a high drinking age supports dangerous drinking because underage drinking is usually done at parties were binge drinking is common. In short having the drinking age lowered would promote much safer use of alcohol not only for persons under the age of 21 but those over it as well because it would allow them to become educated about drinking and its effects in a much safer environment.

The part where I was mean on purpose aside, this argument IS pretty silly, mostly because the conclusion doesn't follow the premise. Who knows, maybe it IS true, but you completely failed to explain why it could be.
Anyway, the legal age has nothing to do with when you start drinking. I started getting drunk about 14-15, as did most of my peers. Yes, at parties. Because that's where it's SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE to get drunk. Being drunk anywhere else is frowned upon (or outright illegal) in most other places/situations, whether you're of drinking age or not.
And I did that AFTER I was 18 as well. The novelty worn off pretty quickly, because the only difference was that aqcuireing the alcohol was slightly easier. I didn't get that SPORADICAL embarrasement of being caught as underage. Well, I could also sit around a beer with friends at a pub. But it just grew a habit, not a neccesity, we all could have full well got a juice or someshit. Some did anyway.

So as much as I find the 21 drinking age ridiculous, all I see here is still "I WANNA ALCOHOL BECAUSE I CAN'T BE ONE OF THE COOL KIDS". If you CAN'T get alcohol before being legally able to, TOO BAD. You obviously fail at life.

Well you've convinced me.

18 year olds should not be allowed to gamble, get married, smoke, or drink alcohol.

Not nowaday's 18yo, anyway. It's pretty commonly accepted that, with highschool being as it is and easily-accesible college, we can be a teenager for another couple of years. We honest-to-god mature later. "18=adult" might have been true... 50 years ago, or so. But it's not the first time that law drags miles behind social changes.

[Echo Wolf]

Well you've convinced me.

18 year olds should not be allowed to gamble, get married, smoke, or drink alcohol.

I hate the idea some people have that they need to protect other people from themselves. It's such a ridiculous and counterproductive concept. If you just tell a child that the stove is hot a few times and then walk away of course the child is going to burn them self on the stove when you leave out of curiosity. But if you take the time and explain to the child that the stove is hot and show them the warmth coming off the stove and keep an eye of them they'd be less likely to burn them self. It's more important to teach kids the importance of safety and moderation in drinking than to say, yeah I don't trust you with this but when you turn 21 I will. Having a lower drinking age would allow for this important learning in a safe environment; ex. in a restaurant with family as opposed to a party at a friends house.

[Xaerun]

Taken out of context yes it does sound childish, however with everything else I said to back up my claim I don't believe it is. If I am now supposed to be responsible enough to gamble, get married, and even smoke how is it that I am not responsible enough to drink based on that logic. Also, if anything a high drinking age supports dangerous drinking because underage drinking is usually done at parties were binge drinking is common. In short having the drinking age lowered would promote much safer use of alcohol not only for persons under the age of 21 but those over it as well because it would allow them to become educated about drinking and its effects in a much safer environment.

Good idea, after all it's impossible to binge drink at a pub or bar.

I hate the idea some people have that they need to protect other people from themselves. It's such a ridiculous and counterproductive concept. If you just tell a child that the stove is hot a few times and then walk away of course the child is going to burn them self on the stove when you leave out of curiosity. But if you take the time and explain to the child that the stove is hot and show them the warmth coming off the stove and keep an eye of them they'd be less likely to burn them self. It's more important to teach kids the importance of safety and moderation in drinking than to say, yeah I don't trust you with this but when you turn 21 I will. Having a lower drinking age would allow for this important learning in a safe environment; ex. in a restaurant with family as opposed to a party at a friends house.

Most countries actually have provisions in place similar to this- in Australia, you're allowed to order alcohol for a minor at a licenced venue if they are with their parents and are ordering it with food. Also, the reason you want it lowered isn't so you can have a couple drinks with your family, it's so you can get blitzed at your house.

[Echo Wolf]

Good idea, after all it's impossible to binge drink at a pub or bar.

It's possible but its not nearly as likely. In a party people encourage drinking excess amounts of liquor; ex. I constantly hear people talking in school about them finishing a bottle of liquor off by themselves and getting completely trashed and blacking out.

Most countries actually have provisions in place similar to this- in Australia, you're allowed to order alcohol for a minor at a licenced venue if they are with their parents and are ordering it with food. Also, the reason you want it lowered isn't so you can have a couple drinks with your family, it's so you can get blitzed at your house.

I am more talking about learning responsible drinking, I was luck enough to have someone teach me this. And I don't like to get "blitzed" I know my limit, 4 beers will get me drunk 2 will get me buzzed (yeah I know I'm a lightweight, I weigh 130 pounds), I would like the age lowered because I feel that it is counterproductive to safety and because, if done responsibly, it can enhance social interactions and help with relaxation. And no, I don't think you need to have alcohol to talk to someone, have fun or relax just that it can help sometimes.

[JArt.]

It's possible but its not nearly as likely. In a party people encourage drinking excess amounts of liquor; ex. I constantly hear people talking in school about them finishing a bottle of liquor off by themselves and getting completely trashed and blacking out.



I am more talking about learning responsible drinking, I was luck enough to have someone teach me this. And I don't like to get "blitzed" I know my limit, 4 beers will get me drunk 2 will get me buzzed (yeah I know I'm a lightweight, I weigh 130 pounds), I would like the age lowered because I feel that it is counterproductive to safety and because, if done responsibly, it can enhance social interactions and help with relaxation. And no, I don't think you need to have alcohol to talk to someone, have fun or relax just that it can help sometimes.

If you're that desperate for alcohol you won't stip at just a few. Also knowing many kids at my school their parents couldn't care less about them, the argument that it parents can better educate their kids rests on the thought that parents care when in fact most of them really don't.

[Echo Wolf]

If you're that desperate for alcohol you won't stip at just a few. Also knowing many kids at my school their parents couldn't care less about them, the argument that it parents can better educate their kids rests on the thought that parents care when in fact most of them really don't.

I'm not desperate for it alcohol is something that if I really want I can get somewhat easily and it's for that reason that I can learn moderation. And to the final party you are assuming that over half the parents don't give a crap about their child, I find that simply impossible to believe. The fact of the matter is making something more available allows people to better learn about moderation since it isn't scarce to them anymore.

[Xaerun]

I'm not desperate for it alcohol is something that if I really want I can get somewhat easily and it's for that reason that I can learn moderation. And to the final party you are assuming that over half the parents don't give a crap about their child, I find that simply impossible to believe. The fact of the matter is making something more available allows people to better learn about moderation since it isn't scarce to them anymore.

You won't learn moderation simply by easily being able to buy all the alcohol you want quickly and cheaply.
There are plenty of materials out there to help people learn to drink responsibly, parents can teach their children without the drinking age being lowered...

What age do people typically start drinking in America, anyway?

[Mojotaian]

I've been drinking legally since I was 18, I am now 19 turning 20...
F***YEAHAUSTRALIANDRINKINGLAWS

[Aleu]

You won't learn moderation simply by easily being able to buy all the alcohol you want quickly and cheaply.
There are plenty of materials out there to help people learn to drink responsibly, parents can teach their children without the drinking age being lowered...

What age do people typically start drinking in America, anyway?

Well the law is 21 generally.

If you want to count the idiot high schoolers that use fake IDs to get booze...probably around 16-18

[Xenke]

Well the law is 21 generally.

If you want to count the idiot high schoolers that use fake IDs to get booze...probably around 16-18

The age is inevitably whenever a student enters college.

[Echo Wolf]

You won't learn moderation simply by easily being able to buy all the alcohol you want quickly and cheaply.
There are plenty of materials out there to help people learn to drink responsibly, parents can teach their children without the drinking age being lowered... why do you need it lowered again?

The age should be lowered because even though parents can talk to their kids now about the dangers of alcohol its not applicable to them so most of them wouldn't listen, yes they would hear it but they wouldn't really retain it. If the age was lowered it would allow a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult to monitor the kids alcohol consumption and show them first hand what is safe and what isn't. It is through lessons such as this that you learn moderation.

[Xenke]

The age should be lowered because even though parents can talk to their kids now about the dangers of alcohol its not applicable to them so most of them wouldn't listen, yes they would hear it but they wouldn't really retain it. If the age was lowered it would allow a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult to monitor the kids alcohol consumption and show them first hand what is safe and what isn't. It is through lessons such as this that you learn moderation.

Parents. Can. Currently. Do. This. Within. Current. Laws.

They just don't because parenting in America is retarded, like most of it's citizens. :v

[Aleu]

The age should be lowered because even though parents can talk to their kids now about the dangers of alcohol its not applicable to them so most of them wouldn't listen, yes they would hear it but they wouldn't really retain it. If the age was lowered it would allow a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult to monitor the kids alcohol consumption and show them first hand what is safe and what isn't. It is through lessons such as this that you learn moderation.

I didn't need to underage drink in order to learn moderation. I just wasn't an idiot.

[Xaerun]

I've been drinking legally since I was 18, I am now 19 turning 20...
F***YEAHAUSTRALIANDRINKINGLAWS

Be quiet, you dishonor our country.

Well the law is 21 generally.

If you want to count the idiot high schoolers that use fake IDs to get booze...probably around 16-18

Figured as much, here it's 14-16.
I haven't got any statistics or nothin' (what, I look like some ack-a-demmik to you?), but who's to say that the age where kids can buy it for younger kids dropping won't, y'know, drop the age where kids actually start drinking?

The age should be lowered because even though parents can talk to their kids now about the dangers of alcohol its not applicable to them so most of them wouldn't listen, yes they would hear it but they wouldn't really retain it. If the age was lowered it would allow a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult to monitor the kids alcohol consumption and show them first hand what is safe and what isn't. It is through lessons such as this that you learn moderation.

That really has nothing to do with drinking age. I'm pretty certain 18-year-olds can take in information, such as that pertaining to responsible drinking, and if they aren't going to listen, the legal age isn't going to change that. Only absolute morons disregard information because it's not relevant RIGHT THIS SECOND, and legislation don't stop 'em from being morons.

And hell, some parents don't really mind their 18+ year olds going to a party, they'll buy 'em a few drinks and whatnot. Some parents will let their kids host parties and be vaguely around to make sure nothing goes horribly, horribly wrong, because their kids aren't total dickweeds. If you're hanging out with the wrong crowd, that's your beef not the US governments.

edit: Oh and this

Parents. Can. Currently. Do. This. Within. Current. Laws.

They just don't because parenting in America is retarded, like most of it's citizens. :v

Very much this.

[Echo Wolf]

I didn't expect this to get this many replies lol. I just posted this as more of a non serious rant and nearly 200 posts later here we are. Didn't really realize this was that much of a hot button issue for some reason. Anyway I am saying this because I will not be on this forum for around 5 days, with work school and exercising, and also because I kind of expect this thread to be dead by then. Anyway I like intelligent arguments so this has been relatively interesting for me. Anyway whoever still wants to continue with this is welcome. O' and I couldn't help but be thinking of this the entire time I came back to this thread:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrlOsSLlj-E

[Xaerun]

I didn't expect this to get this many replies lol. I just posted this as more of a non serious rant and nearly 200 posts later here we are. Didn't really realize this was that much of a hot button issue for some reason. Anyway I am saying this because I will not be on this forum for around 5 days, with work school and exercising, and also because I kind of expect this thread to be dead by then. Anyway I like intelligent arguments so this has been relatively interesting for me. Anyway whoever still wants to continue with this is welcome. O' and I couldn't help but be thinking of this the entire time I came back to this thread:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrlOsSLlj-E

"Well, I lost this argument, so um... I was trolling the whole time! I got you guys so good- now I'm gonna leave because I was totally playing you all from the start. Lol. Rofl. I was... yeah, I was joking. Just getting you guys all worked up with intelligent arguments, lmao."

Thanks for playing.
Thread locked.