Did you take the ASVAB for shits and giggles? Why take it if you are not "suited" for the military. And I didn't say that 21 was some magical number. It was determined through medical experts that many or your functioning organs, including your liver, become fully developed at or closely near that age. Why would they just throw out the age of 21 to a bunch of activists from MADD and the Highway Commission? And I know about the withheld funds, but thanks anyways. If you did well on the test, ofcourse they are going to call you, have common sense. It appears that you have a sever lack there of. Thank you for your essay on becoming a doctor. There are about seven of them in my family, I am quite aware of what it takes to practice medicine. How that pertains to some drunk kid I have no idea. Out of all of my friends, I do not know one that has had a problem with drinking or knowing his limitations. Do you know why? It is because of their upbringing. Their parents and my parents had the common sense to teach me how to socially drink and how to know my limitations before I went off to college. I would say that parents who shelter their children and do not teach them how to function in certain situations are just as responsible as anyone else. That is just my opinion. I also advocate a drinking age of 18. I also think that if you can go to war, you can drink a beer. I just look at it in a completely different perspective than some of the mindless crap that I have read on here.

Go Enlist or get drunk or both.:p :p

In the past several months, I have devised a rough theory to countereact some of the nationwide problems with binge drinking. As someone who is responsible with alcohol at an early age, I think it's only fair that alcohol be legal to those of a reasonable age that are responsible enough to drink it.

My answer to this problem is an alcohol license - to buy alcohol, one must present their alcohol license, and to obtain this license one must take a course (kind of like driver's ed) in alcohol awareness - the dangers, the effects, the laws, etc... and after the course, take and pass a test... and one can take this course and obtain their license starting at age 18.

I think part of the reason binge drinking is so heavy for underclassmen is that it's taboo - it's not legal, but it's generally glossed over, so they think they can get away with something. I think this sort of program would help alleviate some of the pressure to drink heavily, and also ensure that only those responsible enough (presumably, at least) are drinking. Or at least buying alcohol.

Ok, that's a wonderful idea - in theory.

The problem is that it's just as easy to have your friend who went and did the legal BS and got the permit go buy you a six pack as it is to have one of your friends who is 21 buy it for you when you're under 21. Also, as big of a pain in the arse as it is to go renew my driver's license, I don't want another one that I have to do that for.

ETA: Plus, there are better things my tax money could go for then some lady sitting at a desk babysitting people taking a test so they can go get drunk.

I was forced to take it in high school. Everyone had to take it. If I had been the mouthy bitch I am now, I would have refused. Then again, this was the Reagan era so things were quite different. I'm hoping this is no longer done.

Again, link please. This is the first I've heard this theory.

And the rest of your post is agreeing with me, so that works for me. I guess I pissed you off in some way about the military, but that wasn't my intention.

Tori, I like your idea, although I'm afraid without actually "road testing" it might not be as effective.

Well, of course there would be problems with people breaking whatever alcohol law there is in place. It happens now, and no matter hwat laws are in place, that's not going to change. But it will at least provide those of us that enojy social, responsible drinking a legal way to do so without having to feel like we're doing something illegal, even though we don't think it's morally or ethically wrong.

So basicly, you're underage and you want a way to drink??

Technically? Yes. I don't think there is anything wrong with drinking, I drink socially, and am responsible when I do so. I don't feel I should be punished on behalf of my more irresponsible peers... I'm also sick of seeing underclassmen get wasted and do stupid things because they think it's "cool."

I wouldn't call it agreeing with you but oh well. I didn't realize you were in highschool during the reagan administration. I figured everyone on here was around the same age. No the ASVAB is not taken in highschool any more. And I don't need to send you a link. My grandfather, who is a retired neurosurgeon, is now on the state medical board for Texas and has confirmed this with me. Other family members who are also surgeons and members of medical associations have also confirmed this with me.

Drinking age should be 16. Driving age should be 18. Those aren't nececarly the ages that we'd end up with, but just as an example. People should learn to drink before they learn to drive. Look at what happens with it the other way around. :(

I don't think binge drinking problems come from alcohol being taboo, it comes from getting drunk being fun and a release. Sure, when people go away to college they like to try things that were formerly forbidden, but after the first month that excitement begins to wear off and what remains is that going to parties and drinking is fun.

Why would it come from being taboo? Hey England is a wonderful example of the negatives of binge drinking.

-Rudey

The drinking laws were set at 21, because that was the common established drinking age in most of the country prior to the 1960s and 70s. There were some execptions, and in some states (such as Illinois) there were different ages for males and females. Following the enactment of the twenty-sixth ammendment in 1971, twenty-nine states lowered their drinking ages to be more in line with the lowered voting age and legal threshhold for adulthood. Legislation to raise the drinking age sought to bring it back to the previous norm of 21. Medical science had little to do with it, most pressure came from the increase in the number of teen fatalities in drunk driving accidents.

The main issue with the difference between fatalities in the US vs. Europe is that most Europeans cannot get a driver's license before 18; most do not own their own car when they do; and Europeans are far more likely to use public transportation.

I might get stoned for this, but I think everyone at some point, while in a safe environment with people they trust should feel what it is like to be drunk. You need to know your limits, what alcohol does to you and how it makes you feel.

I feel that the idea that alcohol is dangerous and you should never be drunk is dangerous. Alcohol is a great tool for enlivening social situations (who doesn't need a drink before or during a date?) and making you feel more comfortable. To fear it does not accomplish anything, in some ways it helps create the taboo of being drunk is somehow 'bad.'

My personal view (and clearly not that of my org) is that greeks (including their insurance companies) need to find a way to help their members learn about alcohol and have it become a safer part of the environment. For example, if a group of sisters are going to drink, instead of hiding in the rooms of their house doing shots or going out to hide in other peoples rooms while binge drinking, let them sit in the dinning room or living room and drink in the open. Or in the bathroom while everyone is getting ready. I believe it helps create a senese of normalcy and allows more people to have an idea of how much Susie drank. If she is sneak drinking, it becomes that much HARDER to know how much she is consuming and if/when she may need help. When you hide in a room and get drunk quickly, there is a greater chance of alcohol poisoning.

What I want to communicate is that some people argue that young people (under 21) are more eager to drink due to the fact that alcohol is illegal for that age. I think the illegality may draw someone to it at first but it is not the cause of binge drinking.

That's another thread. :p

But seriously, I agree with all of your post.

Ok, I was just wanting to make sure that we were calling a duck a duck.

In response to being forced to take the ASVAB...i graduated in 2004, and yes we are all still required to take it, just like it is to take the state wide testing. Now, the choice of whether to actually TRY to do well on it is up to you...or to ignore the recruiters as well, but yeah we still dont really have a choice in taking it.

The Mandated Law of 21 was set By The Legislator of the US Govt. and was Given The States of USA Mandated that The 21 Age Would be set by Each State, or The Federal Money would not be given by the Feds!

I am not sure, but that at that moment of time was BlackMail. Do or Die!:eek: :rolleyes:

It happened. It is today just as The National Speed Limit was put into place.

What I just Love is some Old Shits in Washington deciding what is best for the Multitude!:rolleyes:

But, They are Our So Duly Elected Morons!:(

I will Randomly capitalize Anything I feel like Capitalizing!!11, and randomly :eek: Add smiley faces Everywhere:o

It's not forced to be taken, but it is taken in high school.

we never had to take it in highschool