What Should the Legal Drinking Age Be?

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Curly J's avatar

Curly J

Self Pwner in Training.

7,282 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:16 PM
Ok I'll go out on a limb with the whole 'if you are old enough to fight and die for your country' thing...18, but only if you are in the Military. All others 21 or join the Military.

It's hard to fight and die for your country if you're not in the Military, seeing that there isn't a draft on going.
Jan 26, 2010 10:16pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:16 PM
DeyDurkie5 wrote: don't you mean a zuma, fag
ernest_t_bass wrote: Don't YOU mean a Zima? lol
sonofsam wrote: Don't YOU mean "zima"? Drink another one... lol

HA! BEAT YOU TO IT! LOL
Jan 26, 2010 10:16pm
Flash's avatar

Flash

Senior Member

1,035 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:17 PM
I've felt strongly about this for years. If you can die for the country, you can drink. Of course back in the day they at least let you drink 3.2% beer at 18. LOL
Jan 26, 2010 10:17pm
E

eersandbeers

Senior Member

1,071 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:17 PM
How did this country survive for more than a century without all these "great" laws protecting us from ourselves?
Jan 26, 2010 10:17pm
Bio-Hazzzzard's avatar

Bio-Hazzzzard

Senior Member

1,027 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:17 PM
I agree with others if you can go to battle you can drink. You can be incarcerated at a younger age than you can consume alcohol.....somethings fishy here.
Jan 26, 2010 10:17pm
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:18 PM
i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
Jan 26, 2010 10:18pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:21 PM
18 I can tell you back when I was in the Navy (94 - 98), I had no problem getting served at most places when under 21 with my military ID.
Jan 26, 2010 10:21pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:21 PM
I have a feeling this is going to get moved to the politics forum. It was not my original intention, but I'm seeing how it's impossible to NOT make this political. My apologies.
Jan 26, 2010 10:21pm
mexappeal12's avatar

mexappeal12

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489 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:24 PM
eersandbeers wrote: How did this country survive for more than a century without all these "great" laws protecting us from ourselves?
they can definitely benefit and protect you... ppl criticize the law and then call up a lawyer as soon as it benefits them
Jan 26, 2010 10:24pm
E

eersandbeers

Senior Member

1,071 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:24 PM
j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
Jan 26, 2010 10:24pm
Bio-Hazzzzard's avatar

Bio-Hazzzzard

Senior Member

1,027 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:25 PM
ernest_t_bass wrote: I have a feeling this is going to get moved to the politics forum. It was not my original intention, but I'm seeing how it's impossible to NOT make this political. My apologies.
Crack open a beer, drink it, don't worry about it, there's nothing political about it.
Jan 26, 2010 10:25pm
E

eersandbeers

Senior Member

1,071 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:26 PM
mexappeal12 wrote:
eersandbeers wrote: How did this country survive for more than a century without all these "great" laws protecting us from ourselves?
they can definitely benefit and protect you... ppl criticize the law and then call up a lawyer as soon as it benefits them

If I infringe upon your rights then you have every right to take legal action against me. That is not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about actions that do not infringe on the rights of others.
Jan 26, 2010 10:26pm
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:27 PM
eersandbeers wrote:
j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
You realize that 90% of laws police 10% of people, right?
Jan 26, 2010 10:27pm
mexappeal12's avatar

mexappeal12

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489 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:28 PM
eersandbeers wrote:
j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
drinking isn't a right... you have a right to free speech and those other inalienable rights in the constitution.... drinking is just an extra in life... the line must be drawn somewhere
Jan 26, 2010 10:28pm
End of Line's avatar

End of Line

It's Clobberin Time!

6,867 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:29 PM
DeyDurkie5 wrote:
mtrulz wrote: 15, so gimmie a beer.
don't you mean a zuma, fag
He probably doesn't even know what that is.....

18, if you can die for your country why can't you drink some alcohol.
Jan 26, 2010 10:29pm
Bio-Hazzzzard's avatar

Bio-Hazzzzard

Senior Member

1,027 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:30 PM
mexappeal12 wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
drinking isn't a right... you have a right to free speech and those other inalienable rights in the constitution.... drinking is just an extra in life... the line must be drawn somewhere
So, if I might ask< whre does this line start?
Jan 26, 2010 10:30pm
E

eersandbeers

Senior Member

1,071 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:30 PM
j_crazy wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
You realize that 90% of laws police 10% of people, right?

That doesn't mean I support those laws. If there is no victim there is no such thing as a crime.

It is only a crime when you infringe on the rights of others.
Jan 26, 2010 10:30pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:32 PM
My biggest thing, is once you are no longer a minor, and can legally answer for yourself, then you should be able to pretty much do whatever you want to your body. You can "harm" others by your decisions, but you can also harm others by legally smoking when 18. Or texting and driving. Someone said, "legal to be incarcerated, legal to drink." I agree with that the most.

I'm 18, I'm legal. Please, leave me alone, stop giving me "rules" by which to live, and allow me to live my life in peace. If I harm others, then please punish me, but who are YOU to punish me for "harming" myself?
Jan 26, 2010 10:32pm
E

eersandbeers

Senior Member

1,071 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:33 PM
mexappeal12 wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
drinking isn't a right... you have a right to free speech and those other inalienable rights in the constitution.... drinking is just an extra in life... the line must be drawn somewhere

So the only rights we have are those enumerated in the Constitution?

It is my right to live my life as I wish as long as I do not impact the rights of others. Unfortunately, most people think we need to be coddled to the grave.
Jan 26, 2010 10:33pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:34 PM
eersandbeers wrote: It is my right to live my life as I wish as long as I do not impact the rights of others. Unfortunately, most people think we need to be coddled to the grave.
THIS
Jan 26, 2010 10:34pm
C

Crew Love

Senior Member

242 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:35 PM
ernest_t_bass wrote:
Crew Love wrote: It's not a numeric age, but I'd say once you graduate high school, you should be permitted to legally consume alcohol.
You can't place a limit like that, b/c some people don't graduate, etc. You can't NOT turn 18.
What I was trying to get at is that I don't think a standard "18" is necessarily appropriate. An additional stipulation, such as "18 and out of high school (graduation, dropout, whatever the case...)" would work better, in my opinion. While in high school, there's so much fraternization between seniors and underclassmen that I could easily see underage drinking becoming even more of a "problem" than it is now if the age were decreased to a flat-18.

Inevitably, you'd also have (some) students missing school due to hangovers or showing up in no condition to learn. I realize this happens every day in college, and was guilty of the said offense multiple times as an undergrad, but at the university-level, what you make of your education - as well as your attendance record - is solely in your hands. High school students are still attending class on the taxpayers' dime and showing up to school is still regulated by law. With this said, couldn't you see allowing 18 year-old high school students to drink negatively impacting quality of education?

Just some thoughts.
Jan 26, 2010 10:35pm
mexappeal12's avatar

mexappeal12

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Jan 26, 2010 10:39 PM
that is a difficult question, but there are arguments for an older age than 18... for example, studies on the impact on cognitive abilities and the long-term effects.... alcohol consumption and criminal activities (having the age be older may better prepare young adults with the responsibility that comes with drinking and the freedom of making your own decisions when you are 18-20 that you are experiencing for the first time).... studies and alcohol dependence show a greater rate of alcoholism for people that start drinking younger....


its not so cut and dry and yes there are reasons for having it be 18...i'm just saying that i don't think it is our worst law but it is contradictory to the age of majority that is 18 ... in conflicts with the whole your 18 and an adult and responsible for yourself, which in turn makes policy arguments for a 21 drinking age less persuasive
Jan 26, 2010 10:39pm
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HitsRus

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Jan 26, 2010 10:39 PM
19 would be a good age because it keeps it out the reach of most kids in High School. High School and alcohol would not be a good combination...too much drama, peer pressure, and self esteem issues. Further, for 19-21 year olds, a probationary alcohol license could be issued, where the privledge of alcohol purchase and consumption could be linked to responsible behavior. Anybody with a previous history of criminal activity, reckless driving, or traffic citations, drug abuse would be denied a license....or have it taken away.
Jan 26, 2010 10:39pm
mexappeal12's avatar

mexappeal12

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Jan 26, 2010 10:43 PM
the only inalienable rights you have are the ones in the constitution, yes. I am saying that people have a misconception of that word and throw it around ...I have a right to do this... i have a right to do that... you do not have a right to drink alcohol... you have a privilege
Jan 26, 2010 10:43pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:43 PM
19, you are graduated from High School then.

People give the reason of voting/fighting than you should be able to drink. Most arent concerned with those who are 18 drinking, but they are concerned with the other High Schoolers who go to class with said 18 year olds. They dont want kids who are 15 drinking.


I do think the no age limit (Europe) is good in a sense. But at the same time, those countries are all so walkable and almost everywhere has great public transportation. In America, we drive way to often for this to be safe.
Jan 26, 2010 10:43pm