mimo2005

7 States consider lowering the drinking age to 18


http://www.townhall.com/video/FoxNew...allagher_F1200

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sobeit

I remember when the drinking age was a little lower before the federal government got involved. I have mixed feelings about this.

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vothratzis

I believe that lowering the drinking age is in the right direction. Many countries that do not have drinking ages, have much fewer alcoholics that the US. In my opinion, this happens because the society has been using alcohol for many centuries, from young ages, and has therefore learned how to handle it. For people without significant personal/mental problems, occasional drinking does NOT turn them into alcoholics. Also, consuming alcohol under supervised environments is MUCH safer than consuming it with no adults present.

dai

here they are talking about putting it back to 21

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Tumbleweed36

I have a great idea (after almost getting T-boned by a drunk driver yesterday), let them move it up rather than down to a lower age.

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sobeit

I support el salvadors punishment for first time drink driving offenders.

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Tumbleweed36

And, that is??????????

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Wozer

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sobeit

I did not forget to post it, I just wanted to leave everyone hanging.

they believe in corporal punishment for first time offenders so they do not have the problems other countries have with repeat offenders.

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1shotDROP

Kill em all. No but seriously, I think the drinking age is perfect where it is, no lower, no higher. We have to look at this from the eyes of our society as a whole. If we lower the drinking age we have more kids with alcoholic tendencies drinking and becoming addicted, therefore severely stunting yearly high school and college graduates. This will create a society leading not towards progress but towards a depression with increased inflation. Not to mention the horrible and drastic effects it will have on health care, social security and other public services, all due to the increased socioeconomic divide. Just not a good idea.

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vothratzis

If you are referring to drunk drivers I agree

I think kids are less likely to become alcoholic than adults. I personally know many people that drink on a weekly basis, for more than 10 years, from the age of 15-16, and have not become alcoholic yet. On the contrary, the few people I know of, which have drinking problems, are all over 35. Of course this could be random so more research is needed. Won't people with alcoholic tendencies become addicted when they eventually try alcohol, let's say at 21?

Finally, legalizing alcohol may prevent many kids from using other illegal drugs, which are far more addictive, more dangerous, and much more harmful for their health.

1shotDROP

Where you get the sources that it will prevent them from trying other illegal drugs I do not know, alchohal would increase the use of other illegal drugs. Kids would party more, and at a party you can't possibly think that alchohal will be the only substance.

Also, when I previously stated the issue about addictive tendencies, I was implying that (although if you are alchohalic you will become addicted anyway) teens addicted at a younger age are less likely to attend college and receive a higher level of education. Those who are 21 are most likely already in college, or will not be attending anyway, catch my drift?

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weezymagic

MO to 18
YAY

yustr

There is no certain age when people should be allowed to drink. What I mean by that is, everyone develops differently. There's nothing magical that says when you wake up on your 18th birthday you're bestowed with all the knowledge of the human race. Unless and until we have a test that measures developmental progress and pass laws that say 'until you're at a certain level you can't do such and such' well be forced to come up with arbitrary ages for certain actions. But we should be consistent. If its "You're an adult at 18." Then stick to it. No 'tried as an adult', no draft age is 19, no age of consent is 16, etc...

Said another way: if we think kids are developmentally able to make the right decisions while driving, on the battle field and electing our President at 18, why do we not think they're able to make decisions about beer?

And for anyone interested: I think the drinking age should be about 35.

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The conservative right is neither. (With apologies to the moral majority[sic])

1shotDROP

I think it's perfect at 21, although I could see some advantages of 35 (lol perfect age, the age when people can run for president)

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vothratzis

On the other hand, if the number of parties remains constant, then many kids would rather "get high" on legal substances (i.e. alcohol), than risking their future by using illegal substances. At lest that’s the way it works in Greece. But you can’t really predict how US children will respond to such a change, if you don't try it.

That’s one point of view; on the other hand young children generally have more opportunities than adults. I would rather have my child delay his academic progress, than lose his job or ruin his family, due to alcohol abuse. A child can go to college a year later, without significant consequences.


Finally you should not confuse use and abuse. In my opinion it is not moral to prevent the majority of enjoying a fairly safe substance, in order to delay a minority to become alcoholic.

PS: yustr's idea on a test that measures developmental progress is very cool

weezymagic

def 18 is the best. then we can all get wasted earlier, get fired at work. lose all our money. become cannibals. america FTL

eneles