Should the drinking age be lowered?

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » August 19, 2008 11:21 am

Many college presidents are for it saying it'll cut down secret binge drinking. MADD is against it. When you're 18 you can fight in the war, get married, even hold public office.

So.... should an 18 year old be allowed to legally drink?

I say yes.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » August 19, 2008 11:24 am

some states you can be tried for capital murder at 12. If you are old enough to take a life, you are old enough to drink.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » August 19, 2008 11:24 am

Are 18 year olds responsible enough to drink?
Are 50 year olds responsible enough to drink?

Like so many things---depends on the person.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » August 19, 2008 11:25 am

I'm on the line. Compared to the other 18-yr eligible events, I think someone should be able to drink a beer if they can die for their country.

However, since Victoria won't be 18 until just after she goes to college while many of her peers will be 18 much of their senior year in HS--that is the part I can't reconcile. High schoolers being able to buy alcohol.

Granted, as a high schooler, I was able to drink with little resistance in terms of getting alcohol, etc. so I get the "where there's a will, there's a way" part of it, too.

So, in the end, I think I'd like to see the drinking age at 18 and see parents and schools take a different approach at substance education. You can only tell your kids to abstain from so much before they give ya the big, nasty finger.

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » August 19, 2008 11:32 am

When I was 18, the drinking age was 18 in NY. I remember what I was like. I vote no.

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » August 19, 2008 11:38 am

I have a hard time balancing the "I can vote and to go war, but I can't drink" thing.

Granted some people are irresponsible and shouldn't be allowed to vote or go to war, just like some people shouldn't be allowed to drink.

I don't know. I guess I'll sit on the fence over here.

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » August 19, 2008 11:38 am

I think 19 makes more sense. Would keep it out of high schools, for the most part. Well, in theory, anyway. 21 seems out of step with the rest of the world. It doesn't seem to be such a big deal in European countries with lower ages, but the drinking culture here seems to be more "let's get hammered" than having a social drink.

Capt.Flock · Post by **Capt.Flock** » August 19, 2008 11:42 am

I agree with the 19 age limit however how many states will lower the drinking age when they will lose 10 percent of their highway funds from the government.

Frank4 · Post by **Frank4** » August 19, 2008 11:44 am

I am on the line on this one....it's a good arguement on both sides.

An 18 year old drunk and a 50 year old drunk are the same animal-a drunk..

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » August 19, 2008 11:44 am

chippewa wrote:I think 19 makes more sense. Would keep it out of high schools, for the most part. Well, in theory, anyway. 21 seems out of step with the rest of the world. It doesn't seem to be such a big deal in European countries with lower ages, but the drinking culture here seems to be more "let's get hammered" than having a social drink.

the novelty of drinking to the point of stupidity wears off after about a month or two. three maybe. four at the .. ok. five mon.. six. for sure

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » August 19, 2008 11:45 am

When there was still a draft, the "I can go to war but I can't drink" argument was valid. I don't think it is now with an all volunteer military. No 18 year old has to join the military, when there was a draft a lot of them had no choice.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » August 19, 2008 11:49 am

LIPH wrote:When there was still a draft, the "I can go to war but I can't drink" argument was valid. I don't think it is now with an all volunteer military. No 18 year old has to join the military, when there was a draft a lot of them had no choice.

I can see your point but have to disagree. If an 18 year old is MAN or WOMAN enough to risk their lives to serve our country they should be able to drink IMHO

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » August 19, 2008 11:51 am

ph4ever wrote:
LIPH wrote:When there was still a draft, the "I can go to war but I can't drink" argument was valid. I don't think it is now with an all volunteer military. No 18 year old has to join the military, when there was a draft a lot of them had no choice.
I can see your point but have to disagree. If an 18 year old is MAN or WOMAN enough to risk their lives to serve our country they should be able to drink IMHO

And they're still required to register with Selective Service, aren't they? Just in case...

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » August 19, 2008 11:52 am

chippewa wrote:
ph4ever wrote:
LIPH wrote:When there was still a draft, the "I can go to war but I can't drink" argument was valid. I don't think it is now with an all volunteer military. No 18 year old has to join the military, when there was a draft a lot of them had no choice.
I can see your point but have to disagree. If an 18 year old is MAN or WOMAN enough to risk their lives to serve our country they should be able to drink IMHO
And they're still required to register with Selective Service, aren't they? Just in case...

yep

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » August 19, 2008 11:55 am

SharkOnLand wrote:
I don't know. I guess I'll sit on the fence over here.

Sometimes you can get the fence post to rub just the right way...

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » August 19, 2008 11:56 am

ph4ever wrote:
chippewa wrote:
ph4ever wrote:
LIPH wrote:When there was still a draft, the "I can go to war but I can't drink" argument was valid. I don't think it is now with an all volunteer military. No 18 year old has to join the military, when there was a draft a lot of them had no choice.
I can see your point but have to disagree. If an 18 year old is MAN or WOMAN enough to risk their lives to serve our country they should be able to drink IMHO
And they're still required to register with Selective Service, aren't they? Just in case...
yep

Only 18 year old males, not females.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » August 19, 2008 11:59 am

So maybe enlisted 18 year olds should be legal drinkers? I could buy that, no fence post required.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » August 19, 2008 12:00 pm

buffettbride wrote:
SharkOnLand wrote:
I don't know. I guess I'll sit on the fence over here.
Sometimes you can get the fence post to rub just the right way...

you have to be careful to not slip and get the post lodged....

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » August 19, 2008 12:01 pm

ph4ever wrote:
buffettbride wrote:
SharkOnLand wrote:
I don't know. I guess I'll sit on the fence over here.
Sometimes you can get the fence post to rub just the right way...

you have to be careful to not slip and get the post lodged....

Splinters in places they've never been before

Salukulady · Post by **Salukulady** » August 19, 2008 12:03 pm

LIPH wrote:
ph4ever wrote:
chippewa wrote:
ph4ever wrote:
LIPH wrote:When there was still a draft, the "I can go to war but I can't drink" argument was valid. I don't think it is now with an all volunteer military. No 18 year old has to join the military, when there was a draft a lot of them had no choice.
I can see your point but have to disagree. If an 18 year old is MAN or WOMAN enough to risk their lives to serve our country they should be able to drink IMHO
And they're still required to register with Selective Service, aren't they? Just in case...
yep
Only 18 year old males, not females.

yeah, what's that about. And what does happen IF the boys don't register.

Another point no one has mentioned is we also have the right to vote at 18.

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Should the drinking age be lowered?

Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?

Should the drinking age be lowered?