Drinking Age?

AKA2D '91 · #1 07-06-2001, 08:29 AM

There have been debates regarding the LEGAL drinking age. Proponents feel that it should remain 21; opponents want it lowered, OR should it increase?

What do you think?

Poplife · #2 07-06-2001, 01:20 PM

I agree with Ideal as well.

Americans just like to get drunk. You won't see that type of thing in Europe. When I was in France I had wine with dinner most nights as did other Parisian. They drink responsibly so there isn't a huge problem with alcoholism and the like the US.

Alcohol isn't abused in other places like it is here. The Japanese have been drinking Sake for hundreds of years and you don't see them crashing cars and passing out like Americans do.

kitten03 · #3 07-06-2001, 01:39 PM

Take into account the relative youth of the US as compared to other nations that are less restrictive about alcohol use. Japanese have drank sake for hundreds of years but the United States of America has only been around for a over 200. This is not an excuse but another look. Also, think about who founded the US, puritans. We are still strangled by the puritanical rules and laws to this day.

As far as my beliefs about the drinking age, we have two options. Lower the age of legality to 18. or Keep it at 21 and stop drafting those under 21, take away the right to vote for those under 21, and no longer allow 18 year olds to be tried as adults in crimes. It seems so simmple but boy would this cause an uproar

Poplife · #4 07-06-2001, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kitten03:
Japanese have drank sake for hundreds of years but the United States of America has only been around for a over 200. This is not an excuse but another look. Also, think about who founded the US, puritans. We are still strangled by the puritanical rules and laws to this day.

I see what you are trying to say. However, USA has been around for more than 200 years. I don't know if you meant that in a formal sense or what. But if blacks were slaves here for 400 years...

But my point was culture. America is basically a bastard country. We don't have history dating back for thousands of years like Europe, Asia, and Africa. Our culture is a mix of the African and European slaves/immigrants/conqueres. It's not really about age. It's more about the past components of modern day culture.

How in the world those componets came up with such a wild culture, I don't know.

Ideal08 · #5 07-07-2001, 12:07 AM

Oh, I DEFINITELY don't think it should increase. I don't see the problem with it being lowered to 18. One of two things needs to happen.

1) You don't become a legal adult until you're 21, or

2) The legal drinking age is 18

I say that because it just doesn't make any sense. I can be tried as an adult at 18, but I can't buy a beer?

When I was in Spain, I talked about this with my host family. They think it's hilarious how Americans get sloppy drunk and what not, and that we have such a problem with alcoholism and drunk drivers. They don't have as many problems with that stuff as we do, and they tend to think it's because of how we perceive alcohol. Because it's looked down upon and controlled so heavily, people tend to want it more. You always want what you can't have. And then you do it in excess. Over there, kids drink beer at school (High School). Vending machine in the cafeteria that sold beer. They smoke in the hallways where there are no classrooms. It's wild at first when you see it, but you get used to it after a day or so. They don't have crazy fights breaking out because kids are drunk, or anything like that. The kids don't even get drunk. They have their beer, then they go to class. That's that. Same with adults. They go out, they drink, they party, they go home. It's just totally different.

But because of that, I don't see the problem with lowering the drinking age. At least to 18. I think that the problems will cease (drunk driving, alcoholism, etc.) when we remove the negative stigma (is that the word I want?) from it.

This is a good topic, Soror. Lately I have been thinking a lot about the amount of control that the government has over stuff.

Riley · #6 07-07-2001, 12:12 AM

I think the drinking age should remain the same. It definately should not be lowered.They raised it once ( I believe it used to be 18) because all of the alcohol related accidents. I am sure it cut down on the number of deaths and accidents from drunk driving but the number is still high. With the legal age being 21 it does deter some people from buying alcohol, but it they want it they will get. On the other hand,I really don't belive raising it would be any better. Just b/c you are older dosen't make you more mature. There are plenty of people getting behind the wheel dead drunk and are way over 21 and see abosulutely nothing wrong with it until some gets SERIOUSLY injured or dies.

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Riley · #7 07-07-2001, 12:19 AM

I have to agree with you Ideal08. When I am in England alcohol isn't stressed as much. When I was 14 bought a can of Chandy (beer and lemonade and it is very mild) with out a problem. The guy behind the counter didn't even flinch. I know at least in England you are an adult at age 16. You can buy alcohol and pretty much everything else. it is definatley the culture people grow up in that makes the diffence.

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