What Should the Legal Drinking Age Be?

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eersandbeers

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1,071 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:52 PM
mexappeal12 wrote: 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

I don't think you understand the point of the Constitution.

The Constitution was created to limit and enumerate the rights of the federal and state governments. The Constitution also does not grant anyone rights. It provides rights by limiting the powers of government and enumerating specific rights which you retain.

It did not seek to list every single right that Americans have. The 10th Amendment states "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
That means there are more rights than just those listed in the Constitution.

It isn't about my right to drink. It is about my right to live my life as I want as long as I do not infringe upon your rights. The right to live my life as I see fit would seem to be an inalienable right.
Jan 26, 2010 10:52pm
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HitsRus

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9,206 posts
Jan 26, 2010 10:56 PM
ernest_t_bass wrote:

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?

Might be the silliest thing I've seen you post.

There is no right...constitutional or otherwise that allows you to put other people at risk. Drive 100 MPH thru a school zone? No one gets hurt, so it's no harm no foul? And if you do harm somebody does your punishment make restitution?


'allow me to live my life in peace'....Peace is the exact reason alcohol laws are made to begin with.
Jan 26, 2010 10:56pm
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mexappeal12

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489 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:02 PM
i didnt say that was the point of the constitution... i didn't say it granted you rights... i said your inalienable rights are the ones in the constitution

and i am saying that you are using the word "right" incorrectly

to live your life as you see fit? so is doing cocaine your inalienable right if thats how you want to live your life as long as it doesnt infringe upon someone else's?

laws are different... you dont have the right to drive 150 mph ... you can and you are violating a law... there is a difference
Jan 26, 2010 11:02pm
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Firad

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1,525 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:03 PM
I agree with everyone who says if you can go to battle at 18 then you should be able to drink. However since some 18 year olds are still that age in high school I don't know if you should be allowed legally to drink while in high school. So I agree with whoever on here said that after you graduate high school you should be legal to drink.
Jan 26, 2010 11:03pm
HitsRus's avatar

HitsRus

Senior Member

9,206 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:03 PM
eersandbeers wrote:
mexappeal12 wrote: 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

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Now read that slowly and digest that...who makes the laws? No dictator or king made the alcohol laws.
Jan 26, 2010 11:03pm
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mexappeal12

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489 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:07 PM
who are you telling to digest that slowly?
Jan 26, 2010 11:07pm
bcubed's avatar

bcubed

Senior Member

410 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:15 PM
mtrulz wrote: 15, so gimmie a beer.
I agree give mtrulz a beer! Then he will have his girlfriend in one hand and the beer in the other and never be able to post on the huddle again!
Jan 26, 2010 11:15pm
Glory Days's avatar

Glory Days

Senior Member

7,809 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:20 PM
it bothers me that we hold drinking alcohol on the same level as fighting for your country. now for example if we were talking about the voting age changing to 18(if it wasnt 18), thats comparable. you should be able to voice your opinion if you are able to be sent off to war. i guess i just think its sad that we equate alcohol to being a man(or woman).
Jan 26, 2010 11:20pm
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majorspark

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5,122 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:24 PM
HitsRus wrote:
eersandbeers wrote:
mexappeal12 wrote: 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

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Now read that slowly and digest that...who makes the laws? No dictator or king made the alcohol laws.
No dictators or kings. But don't forget the federal government stiff armed the states into the 21yr drinking age by threatening the witholding of highway funds.
Jan 26, 2010 11:24pm
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:27 PM
I like the 19 age for the reasons most have posted.

Does anyone remember the reasons why the age was put up to 21 in the first place? If I remember correctly, federal highway funding was held over states heads until such laws were passed. I don't/didn't agree with that whatsoever.

edit: major beat me to the punch by a couple minutes
Jan 26, 2010 11:27pm
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Glory Days

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7,809 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:28 PM
eersandbeers wrote: How did this country survive for more than a century without all these "great" laws protecting us from ourselves?
because people didnt goto the government when they made mistakes in life. when people started holding the government responsible for the things people do to themselves thats when the government started to protect people from themselves. aslong as tax money is spent on drug addicts and alcoholics, the government should have every right to control those things.
Jan 26, 2010 11:28pm
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majorspark

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5,122 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:28 PM
ytownfootball wrote: I like the 19 age for the reasons most have posted.

Does anyone remember the reasons why the age was put up to 21 in the first place? If I remember correctly, federal highway funding was held over states heads until such laws were passed. I don't/didn't agree with that whatsoever.
You are correct as I pointed out in my previous post. I disagreed as well.
Jan 26, 2010 11:28pm
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:30 PM
Ohio was one of the late states to adopt the measure I believe too.
Jan 26, 2010 11:30pm
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Cat Food Flambe'

Senior Member

1,230 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:40 PM
19 (18 with an active military ID). When I turned 18, you could buy liquor in Michigan - we seniors made many a trip to Monroe and Dundee to stock up for our underage buddies. Looking back, it's a wonder one of them didn't get killed. :(

Here's a thought - what if we dropped the drinking age from 21 to 18, with under-21's restricted to being served alcohol by the drink in a bar or restaurant? This would allow kids to drink in a somewhat supervised location rather than taking home a bottle of Jaegermeister to MTRulz. :)
Jan 26, 2010 11:40pm
Curly J's avatar

Curly J

Self Pwner in Training.

7,282 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:41 PM
I remember I was Grandfathered in when they raised it from 19 to 21 in Ohio. Then went to Utah and the age was 21 and not Grandfathered in. Of course this was after a year in South Korea where there was no drinking age.
Jan 26, 2010 11:41pm
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mexappeal12

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489 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:45 PM
With all the drunk driving accidents I doubt they will ever lower the age...but I do not disagree with 19
Jan 26, 2010 11:45pm
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:49 PM
Grandfathered in...lol...that was a damn good thing for me at the time also. I wonder what they did with all that 3.2 beer? I know my bladder didn't miss it.
Jan 26, 2010 11:49pm
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:52 PM
mexappeal12 wrote: With all the drunk driving accidents I doubt they will ever lower the age...but I do not disagree with 19
MADD was the push behind the drinking age being raised in the first place, and I can't disagree with it now, though I wasn't happy at the time. Drunk driving related deaths did drop dramatically.
Jan 26, 2010 11:52pm
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Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Jan 26, 2010 11:52 PM
j_crazy wrote:
pmoney25 wrote: When you start growing pubes
Rumor has it, JC didn't get pewbs until 24. Mantooth, confirm. Heretic, vouch.
I VOUCH! Uh, not that I know from personal experience, but Mantooth was quite emphatic about how he noticed they started growing then. Mantooth, confirm! j_crazy, vouch!

Anyway, I say 18. Our problem as a country is that instead of actually educating kids on things like alcohol, drugs and sex, we make them taboo. Which leads to them wanting to find out what's what without guidance. Which leads to teen pregnancy and people turning into addicts of alcohol or other substances. Maybe if attitudes were more educational and less "don't do that...it's bad!", things like drinking wouldn't have the rebel/cool label attached to them...which would remove a lot of the negatives people associate with them.
Jan 26, 2010 11:52pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Jan 27, 2010 12:20 AM
21 because changing it now would cause a LOT of problems. The last thing we want is 14 and 15 year olds drinking. And that's exactly what would happen more than it does now.
Jan 27, 2010 12:20am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 27, 2010 6:44 AM
Crew Love wrote:With this said, couldn't you see allowing 18 year-old high school students to drink negatively impacting quality of education?

Just some thoughts.
Yes, without a doubt.
Jan 27, 2010 6:44am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jan 27, 2010 7:03 AM
I have no guilt with it being 21.
Jan 27, 2010 7:03am
rookie_j70's avatar

rookie_j70

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677 posts
Jan 27, 2010 8:06 AM
ditto on the whole 18 and old enough to die for your country
Jan 27, 2010 8:06am
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rookie_j70

Senior Member

677 posts
Jan 27, 2010 8:12 AM

Anyway, I say 18. Our problem as a country is that instead of actually educating kids on things like alcohol, drugs and sex, we make them taboo. Which leads to them wanting to find out what's what without guidance. Which leads to teen pregnancy and people turning into addicts of alcohol or other substances. Maybe if attitudes were more educational and less "don't do that...it's bad!", things like drinking wouldn't have the rebel/cool label attached to them...which would remove a lot of the negatives people associate with them.
Wow. that is the most intelligent thing I've read in a long time. And it makes so much sense. I remember being in junior high and high school health class and being taught to "just say no" they really never educated us on these subjects. Also, I went to a Catholic school to make matters worse.
Jan 27, 2010 8:12am