Should the drinking age be lowered?

[Snowparrot]

You have to be 19 to buy (or possess) alcohol and 19 to buy tobacco (but no possession restrictions) in Ontario.

[tikitatas]

Right, Snow ... I forgot to tell them about buying tobacco and tobacco products ... same in NS.

[OceanCityGirl]

Here in NJ parents can allow their children to drink in a private residence or club. My two sons just turned 21 last week. I spent alot of time thinking about this. I think 21 is a bad age. If a kid followed the letter of the law they'd never have any alcohol until they were away at college or out on their own, quite possibly. They'd never learn to drink responsibly. They'd be adults with no parents to guide them or issue consequences if they drank too much.. They'd be at the mercy of the older more experienced drinkers at school. Starting when my sons were 16 I gradually allowed alcohol. They could have wine with dinner or a beer during a bbq or football game, etc. Gradually I gave them more freedom here. There were a couple occasions when they pushed the limits but they are now what I would consider responsible drinkers. This gave me several years when there were consequences for abusing the privilege since I paid car insurance and helped with school expenses, etc.
I feel the age should be 18 with limited freedom in the home younger then this. A modified European approach. We should be teaching responsible drinking, not abstinence until you are on your own. MADD is a bully group that in reality would like alcohol banned. The better approach is to allow a younger age and not punish everybody for a few abusers. Punish violations severely. If a kid knows that if they get a dui or other penalty they won't be able to have their license til they are 21 they are likely to worry about this. Punish DUI's no exceptions, strictly. There should never be a case of somebody killing somebody while intoxicated and you hear that they have a string of dui's but kept getting their license back or not being incarcerated for a long time.
When my boys turned 21 they felt no need to go out and drink 21 shots or anything so ridiculous. They were happy to legally be able to go to a bar and get served with their older friends. But there was no forbidden fruit. And don't kid yourself, if an underage kid wants to get served they know the liquor stores and bars where they can do this. That puts them at greater risk.

[TropicalTroubador]

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

So was I. We neither lost anyone in my high school nor anyone in my college to drunk driving during the years I was there. And while I occasionally did things that my adult self would consider questionable, I never went anywhere near "Dang - I'm lucky that didn't kill me."

Hell, I vaguely remember drinking *before* I could do so legally. Having the drinking age at 21 doesn't stop *anyone* from getting booze if they want it.

Stupidity and poor judgment is what causes drunk driving and drunk driving accidents. Stupid drunks are still stupid when they sober up.

Parents, teach your kids better judgment around booze and driving - something more useful than "Just say no," which probably works no better for keeping kids from drinking than it does to keep them from trying drugs or sex. Take responsibility for teaching 'em something, rather than letting the government do it.

I think that the Amethyst group is doing the right thing by trying to start a dialog. Hopefully something constructive can come out of it, rather than it becoming yet another excuse for people to scream at each other from opposite sides of the spectrum.

[TropicalTroubador]

Here in NJ parents can allow their children to drink in a private residence or club. My two sons just turned 21 last week. I spent alot of time thinking about this. I think 21 is a bad age. If a kid followed the letter of the law they'd never have any alcohol until they were away at college or out on their own, quite possibly. They'd never learn to drink responsibly. They'd be adults with no parents to guide them or issue consequences if they drank too much.. They'd be at the mercy of the older more experienced drinkers at school. Starting when my sons were 16 I gradually allowed alcohol. They could have wine with dinner or a beer during a bbq or football game, etc. Gradually I gave them more freedom here. There were a couple occasions when they pushed the limits but they are now what I would consider responsible drinkers. This gave me several years when there were consequences for abusing the privilege since I paid car insurance and helped with school expenses, etc.
I feel the age should be 18 with limited freedom in the home younger then this. A modified European approach. We should be teaching responsible drinking, not abstinence until you are on your own. MADD is a bully group that in reality would like alcohol banned. The better approach is to allow a younger age and not punish everybody for a few abusers. Punish violations severely. If a kid knows that if they get a dui or other penalty they won't be able to have their license til they are 21 they are likely to worry about this. Punish DUI's no exceptions, strictly. There should never be a case of somebody killing somebody while intoxicated and you hear that they have a string of dui's but kept getting their license back or not being incarcerated for a long time.
When my boys turned 21 they felt no need to go out and drink 21 shots or anything so ridiculous. They were happy to legally be able to go to a bar and get served with their older friends. But there was no forbidden fruit. And don't kid yourself, if an underage kid wants to get served they know the liquor stores and bars where they can do this. That puts them at greater risk.

Yup...that's pretty much the way my parents raised me too. And I ain't dead or in rehab yet.

[Lightning Bolt]

No.

..and anyone who lives in a larger metro region would see this point.
The number of accidents and deaths resulting from f'd-up drunk teens is just unreal here.

Now, when you get out into the heartland, it seems unreasonable to restrict the age limit.
I don't see why we can't go back to the double-standards that existed before.
Legislate the age limit by state, even county...

[SMLCHNG]

Only when the driving age is raised to 18, too.

[buffettbride]

Only when the driving age is raised to 18, too.

Oooh! I could buy into that, too. Although, I would like my children to have licensed driving experience before I send them off to college. Kinda like what OCG mentioned.

[Tropic_Al]

I voted yes. If one is considered enough of an adult to fight for his country, buy cigarettes or go rent "Her first Gang Bang" on dvd then why not lower the drinking age?

is that out on Blu-Ray yet?

Yes.

[popcornjack]

But do you have to drink in both French and English?

mai anglais zoundz fraunsh when I drnk...

How do Irish redheads sound?

almost as indecipherable as a Scotsman deep in his cups

Scotsmen go motorboatin' too?

Actually, they are more likely to row . . . which is slower. And more pleasurable.

One cold shower, please.....(did I mention I'm Scottish?)


and back to the question, sort of, in CT it is also legal for a parent to buy their kid a drink at a bar. I've yet to see any restaurant actually allow it though.

[SMLCHNG]

Yup...that's pretty much the way my parents raised me too. And I ain't dead or in rehab yet.

Me too.

[big john]

Back when I was under 21 in Pennsylvania you could drink in NJ at
18 and drink beer and wine in Maryland. Which caused alot of
"road trips". Now that younger folks are HOLDING DOORS OPEN FOR
ME, the last thing I want is a bar full of people that make me feel
even older. So, No on the drinking age of 18, but if you're an active
member of the armed forces you should legally be allowed to drink
no matter what the age.

[alphabits]

Only when the driving age is raised to 18, too.

Oooh! I could buy into that, too. Although, I would like my children to have licensed driving experience before I send them off to college. Kinda like what OCG mentioned.

I think they oughta issue drinkers licenses. Just to prove that you can do it properly.

[RinglingRingling]

mai anglais zoundz fraunsh when I drnk...

How do Irish redheads sound?

almost as indecipherable as a Scotsman deep in his cups

Scotsmen go motorboatin' too?

Actually, they are more likely to row . . . which is slower. And more pleasurable.

One cold shower, please.....(did I mention I'm Scottish?)


and back to the question, sort of, in CT it is also legal for a parent to buy their kid a drink at a bar. I've yet to see any restaurant actually allow it though.

Just for ewe Jack:

(probably a little red x of your very own)

[alphabits]

(did I mention I'm Scottish?)

Ah Jack, just because you're FULL of scotch it doesn't mean you're Scottish.

If that were true, I'd be Shittish.

[green1]

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

Agreed, so on military bases, which fall under federal law, make it legal for military personnel to buy alcohol at the class six and shoppettes and bars on post.

[SharkOnLand]

(did I mention I'm Scottish?)

Ah Jack, just because you're FULL of scotch it doesn't mean you're Scottish.

If that were true, I'd be Shittish.

Shiite?

[SchoolGirlHeart]

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.

When I started law school I was way over draft age (39) but in order to be eligible for federally funded student aid I had to prove I was registered with Selective Service. Women students didn't have the same requirement. In my opinion, that's illegal gender based discrimination but oddly enough none of the womens' rights group seem to have a problem with it.

I think girls should have to register, too. And yes, you still have to be registered, as a male, to get school loans....

[Salukulady]

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.

When I started law school I was way over draft age (39) but in order to be eligible for federally funded student aid I had to prove I was registered with Selective Service. Women students didn't have the same requirement. In my opinion, that's illegal gender based discrimination but oddly enough none of the womens' rights group seem to have a problem with it.

I agree with you that it is gender based discrimination. Have been trying to find their stand on this searching the internet, (NOW etc.), with no success. My only thoughts (being one of those feminist) is perhaps it has something to do with the unacceptability of war for most of us.....will keep looking for info....I am very curious why my son has to register, but not my daughters. And I would like to know what might happen to him if he refuses to register when he's 18.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

And I would like to know what might happen to him if he refuses to register when he's 18.

For starters, he won't get any sturdent loans or financial aid for college.....