Lowering drinking age???

[Coopdog]

You have all probably seen the current debate going on at colleges about lowering the drinking age to 18. I'll give you my opinion, and then I'd like to hear yours.

The drinking age was 18 when I was a teenager, but the style of drinking was different. We considered a 6 pack to be a good quantity to put away in an evening. Now kids consider that to be a good primer before actually going out to do some serious drinking. Binge drinking is the norm from what I've seen, and it starts in middle school! These kids brag about passing out, and consider it hilarious when someone is so drunk that they pee the bed. If they're too drunk to know they are peeing, they're too drunk to know they're throwing up and choking to death on it! This whole thing terrifies me.

The argument is "if they're old enough to vote, be on a jury, and go in the service, they're old enough to drink". Well, guess what? It has been scientifically proven that the human brain isn't fully mature until around 22 years of age. That kids don't fully grasp the consequences of their actions until then, which is why they do so many reckless behaviors. Ever notice how parents suddenly become much smarter when their kids get into their 20s? It's because the kids are finally capable of understanding why certain rules and restrictions were put in place. They finally "get it".

Maybe we should be thinking the other way around. Maybe we shouldn't be allowing kids to join the military and risk their lives when they are incapable of fully understanding that risk. Maybe they shouldn't be allowed to decide who our next president is, or who will go to prison for the rest of their life. Especially now, when kids are being more coddled by parents that ever before.

What are your opinions on this?

[Dr Doughnut]

Most kids these days are stupid anyway. If we lower the drinking age, we should expect more drunk driving, and since younger people don't think conrrectly usually, I bet they will use this as an advantage to give alcohol to minors.

[Haley0489]

Well, being a responsible 19 year old, I wouldn't mind if the drinking age was lowered. I find nothing more disgusting than getting sh**faced and bragging about it the next day. I went to France during June 2007 and there were a group of kids with us that did nothing but get drunk every single night! It was so disrespectful and it made all of us look horrible. I also cook with wine, but if I run out I can't buy it. If I go to dinner and want a drink [do notice A drink, singular], I get hassled the whole time about showing my ID, even when I'm with my parents & I believe it's legal to drink at 16 with a parent present.

So, personally, I wish it were lowered, but I know that it can't be because the irresponsible teenage drinkers far out number those like me.

[CavyKeeper]

As a recent college grad, I kind of agree with you, Coopdog. I was never the sterotypical teen that you described, but I've seen plenty of them, and to be honest, they really disgusted me. It was annoying going to class and hear the main topics of discussion among peers were about how wasted they got over the weekend. I remember my freshman year one girl in my suite actually got so drunk that she fell over and hit her head on the bathroom counter and had to go to the hospital. Then guess what, she was back drinking a week later. It's pretty sad.

That being said, however, I wonder if changing the age limit would make much of a difference. Lowering the age might work as a reverse phsycology method, meaning the more they're told they can, the less likely they will just because there's less thrill in trying to do it. After they reach 18, they may cut back on drinking, but there's no guarentee. That would also mean the whole binge drink on your 21st birthday thing would drop down to drinking on your 18th and the age teens start drinking could drop as well. I cringe at the thought.

For those of us who are responsible, as Haley mentioned, yes, it would be nice if the age limit was lowered a bit. It's nice to be able to go out to eat and order a glass of wine or a cocktail if I feel like one. But based on the number of irresponsible teens out there, I think it would probably be a bad idea to lower the age. It's one of those classic some ruin it for everyone cases.

[Cavy Carnage]

I have to disagree with you Coop though I fully understand your argument. I can see it from both sides, and although some bad things will come of it if it were lowered I believe it would be for the greater good. I was born and raised in England and have only within the past year moved to America, the drinking age in England is 18 as opposed to 21 in America. In both countries I have seen that children are much more eager to drink when they know its 'wrong', as soon as they hit the legal drinking age it doesn't seem as fun anymore and though they may continue drinking many don't seem to drink to excess.

Lowering the legal age (in my opinion) would cut the number of deaths each year through accidents and stupidity, mainly car accidents etc. Children like to look good in front of their peers, if drinking were legal it wouldn't be such a big draw. Keeping it at 21 doesn't stop under age kids from drinking but lowering it would mean they are less likely to want to get so drunk to show off to friends that they are unable to function and understand what they are doing and the consequences of such actions.

[Drawingwords]

I think a lower age in other countries would be fine, as it already is. Not in America. From studying psych and being a sociology major I've studied this a lot and I don't think we're ready for it. I mean, for crying out loud, most "kids" now don't move out of the house until they're 24. I don't think they should be able to join the military until they're 21. Then again, I am also pretty straight and kind of believe that alcohol should be banned from America period. I know, I know.

Think about what would happen if America changed it's ways like Europe and the naked body was just...a naked body. It won't ever be like that in America because adults are too immature. I would love people to be responsible drinkers but it's not going to happen with our culture. Most of teenagers drink for the reason everyone else on here stated. To get S***faced and that's it. We are not a sit down and eat with your family culture anymore and certainly not going to be a sit down and eat with your family while having a glass of wine culture.

The drinking age might go down but stupidity will go up and so will more freak accidents.

[Jane_G]

Unfortunately the few stupid ruin it for the majority of smart people.

I am 43 (today!). I just missed the 18 drinking age when they changed it to 19. Right before I turned 19, they changed it to 21. I did enjoy my first "legal" night, but didn't do anything stupid.

Now as a parent, I shudder to think what teenagers do now. Like I said, it's unfortunate that a few stupid kids ruin it for a basically good age group.

I'm all for leaving it at 21.

[socal805]

Now as a parent, I shudder to think what teenagers do now. Like I said, it's unfortunate that a few stupid kids ruin it for a basically good age group.

I'm all for leaving it at 21.

I agree, When I was a young 18 year old living on my own I would have been all for lowering the drinking age. Now as a 37 y/o mom of an 11 year old daughter I say keep it at 21. It's sad that the stupid teens ruin it for the responsible ones but the law is there to protect the kids.

[sammy_kaye]

I'm from NZ where the drinking age is currently 18. They dropped the drinking age from 21 to 18 about 8 years ago and are now considering raising it back up to 21. Some reasons include increased drunk driving in younger drivers. The minors who are drinking are younger. As in when it was at 21, 18 year olds were being supplied. Now it's at 18 children as young as 14 are finding accessing alcohol easier.

I am currently 24 and was able to start legally purchase alcohol at 18. I did have the occassional drink from 16 on with my parents. I wasn't the most sensible person around alcohol at 18 but now I rarely drink. I for one think that with NZs drinking culture our drinking age is better off at 21 simply because of the culture of binge drinking we have here.

I don't have experience with American drinking culture but if it is anything like the movies show I would imagine 21 is young enough.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Realistically, the majority of the drinking done by 18 year olds in the United States would be EXCESSIVE driinking. The human brain is not even done forming at age 18 and the last thing it needs is to be drenched in toxins every weekend.

I think there is NO WAY to compare the US with other countries and their laws. Other countries have vastly different cultural views on alcohol and thus their children view it quite differently.

[sammy_kaye]

Exactly why NZ is in the problem it is in. The theory behind dropping the drinking age to 18 was based on other countries who's culture is obviously different and now they think it was the wrong choice!

[Autaven]

My opinion is that it should be left at 21 for your country. I live in the UK where it's already 18 and it's quite shocking here in all honesty, and this is coming from a 19 year old. I can put my hand up and say I've never once went out and got so drunk I couldn't stand - if I ever have a drink it's at Christmas at home with my family or the likes.

I've seen way too many of my friends go out and do things they regret I think though if it was changed it wouldn't make a different anyway, since they'd get their hands on it either way.

[RainKindle]

I'm 23, and if they decided to raise the age to 24, I'd be all for it. Here in the US, I am always hearing about "____ University student" that went missing (or insert any other horrible fate here) Alcohol was involved...
I'm also one of those responsible kids that views drinking as a social event type thing. Weddings, funerals, and the like. At my last birthday, someone brought me some drinks, and I still haven't touched them 8 months later.
I'm most certainly not the norm, but I don't trust other US kids to be responsible, or as "boring" as me.

[LisaLou]

I was born in 1960 and when I turned 18 in December of 1978, that January of '79 they raised the drinking age to 21. I remember being sooooo happy. But as was said originally, drinking was different back then. We went out to drink socially, hang out and didn't get so obliviated that we couldn't see straight. Now it seems to be a (drunk) competition.
I have 1 son who is 21 (married) and is a Marine and another son who is 18 who is going into Marine bootcamp in 1 week. I still feel that 18 is too young to run off with a gun and defend our country (although I support them 100 percent) and definitely too young to legally drink. My goodness, most kids still have to be reminded to get a tissue instead of sniffing all the time! They think that they are grown up, but they're not. Sorry to all of you mature 18 year olds out there! There's just way too many drunk drivers on the road already. Here in Jersey, there seems to be so many teen DWI accidents, it makes me cry. I still have 2 younger children at home to protect, and will treasure every moment with them and pray everyday for my older sons.

[Ly&Pigs]

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