Who else thinks that the drinking age should be lowered?

I think it is laughable that people think that keeping the drinking age 21 is going to deter anyone from consuming alcohol. In my opinion, it would be much safer for minors to learn how to consume alcohol in a safe environment with their parents around, not in a dorm with a bunch of horny, immature, drunk kids.

If I could make the laws for the US, it would be:

• You have to be 18 to be able to buy alcoholic beverages
• You can consume alcohol at the age of 16 as long as you are with a parent/guardian
• You can consume alcohol at the age of 16 in restaurants as long as you are with a legal guardian
• You can consume any alcohol you want at the age of 18

Now, I know that alcohol can cause problems when consumed unresponsibly, but that is why you can learn how to consume alcohol responsibly with your parents are guardians when you are still in school.

I'm 18 btw.

Maybe 18, but not 13

wouldnt that be like, unhealthy or somethin, cuz ur still marturing

plus drinking that young during the school year would be unwise, it kills brain cells and hangovers would be a big problem

Yah I'm 18 as well, it is true though, the drinking age doesn't stop anyone from consuming alcohol. idk though 13 is to young, even if you are with a guardian/etc. Drinking is bad for your liver, like i didn't start drinking till i was 18(this year).

No....you can get used to drinking, but that won't make you anymore responsible...it's a bit like having a cellphone and you've seen how much trouble that has been with teens and driving..

why take the risk? Let me guess, you're a teen who wants to drink? Too bad.

Yes, I'm 20, about to turn 21, and I've been drinking since the age of 15. Not regularly, the first time I drank I was 15, now I drink pretty much every weekend. But I think it should be lowered a few levels of age...such as 18 maybe. Actually, you know what, drinking should be illegal, they sould make smoking pot legal. I"m sorry if that's offensive to anybody, but smoking pot and driving is much more safe than drinking and driving, or just drinking in general. MasterKingMP

I give a hell yeah to this dude. Im 16 and I do both and no law is about to be stopping me but seriously weed does not dominate you even close to the same way alcohol can.

In Canada it's 19. Gawd how do you American college kids deal with not getting into bars?

I had a fake ID before I was 19 too.

Yah I'm 18 as well, it is true though, the drinking age doesn't stop anyone from consuming alcohol. idk though 13 to young, even if you are with a guardian/etc. Drinking is bad for your liver, like i didn't start drinking till i was 18(this year).

hockey73

Plus, if it is introduced to minors at such a young age, then it won't seem like such a holy substance.

In Canada it's 19. Gawd how do you American college kids deal with not getting into bars?

I had a fake ID before I was 19 too.

bobaban

In the US, if you have a fake ID, that is at least a year in jail. My sister had one, and I was so glad when she had to get rid of it.

[QUOTE="MasterKingMP"]Yes, I'm 20, about to turn 21, and I've been drinking since the age of 15. Not regularly, the first time I drank I was 15, now I drink pretty much every weekend. But I think it should be lowered a few levels of age...such as 18 maybe. Actually, you know what, drinking should be illegal, they sould make smoking pot legal. I"m sorry if that's offensive to anybody, but smoking pot and driving is much more safe than drinking and driving, or just drinking in general. bitemeslippy

I give a hell yeah to this dude. Im 16 and I do both and no law is about to be stopping me but seriously weed does not dominate you even close to the same way alcohol can.

I give a hell yeah to you to my friend.

I think it is laughable that people think that keeping the drinking age 21 is going to deter anyone from consuming alcohol. In my opinion, it would be much safer for minors to learn how to consume alcohol in a safe environment with their parents around, not in a dorm with a bunch of horny, immature, drunk kids.

If I could make the laws for the US, it would be:

• You have to be 18 to be able to buy beer/wine
• You can consume alcohol at the age of 13 as long as you are with a sober guardian above the age of 25
• You can consume alcohol at the age of 13 in restaurants as long as you are with a legal guardian
• You can consume any alcohol you want at the age of 18

Now, I know that alcohol can cause problems when consumed unresponsibly, but that is why you can learn how to consume alcohol responsibly with your parents are guardians when you are still in school.

I'm 18 btw.

helium_flash

I think it would be appropriate to lower it to 18 for beer and wine. Why? Well I can tell you from experience that because alcohol must be sneaked around before 21 underagers have a tendency to buy hard liquor because its easier to hide which IMO and probably in reality too leads to worse consequences (ie: its easier to land in the hospital drinking hard liquor than beer or wine). I think that if 18 year olds could legally aquire beer and wine they wouldn't go to the trouble to find 21 year olds and over to buy them harder drinks. They might even be more inclined to drink with their elders because it would be legal. I think a change like that would change the drinking culture in the country for the better.

I think this is a good point. I read this on another site.

I like it being at 19, personally. It's before the age so that High School kids can get to it, and you're legally an adult by that time anyway. Honestly, it makes sense to me.

[QUOTE="helium_flash"]

Montaya

Your nuts. 13 yr old kids drinking? Madness.. Irresponsible 18 year old kids drinking? Absurd. The truth is, The American youth are the most irresponsible, unethical children on earth.

I like it being at 19, personally. It's before the age so that High School kids can get to it, and you're legally an adult by that time anyway. Honestly, it makes sense to me.

CanadianEh

I say age 5. By then you pretty much know all there is to know and can make some pretty good choices.

I say age 5. By then you pretty much know all there is to know and can make some pretty good choices.

Ranteal

I think it is laughable that people think that keeping the drinking age 21 is going to deter anyone from consuming alcohol. In my opinion, it would be much safer for minors to learn how to consume alcohol in a safe environment with their parents around, not in a dorm with a bunch of horny, immature, drunk kids.

If I could make the laws for the US, it would be:

• You have to be 18 to be able to buy alcoholic beverages
• You can consume alcohol at the age of 13 as long as you are with a sober guardian above the age of 25
• You can consume alcohol at the age of 13 in restaurants as long as you are with a legal guardian
• You can consume any alcohol you want at the age of 18

Now, I know that alcohol can cause problems when consumed unresponsibly, but that is why you can learn how to consume alcohol responsibly with your parents are guardians when you are still in school.

I'm 18 btw.

helium_flash

13, are you insane? Do you know how many more alcohol-poisoning related deaths there would be in this country? Just because someone is over the age of 25 doesn't automatically quailfy them as a responsible adult.

I dont drink so I dont really care. Hell, raise the age limit for all I care.HillyBilly

Should stay the way where it is. You can drink it if you are younger than 21 but don't let me come and catch you red handed. I'll make sure to put you next to the cold blooded MS-13 killer as your cellmate until your parents can bail you out....heyfunboy

[QUOTE="HillyBilly"]I dont drink so I dont really care. Hell, raise the age limit for all I care.heyfunboy

13 is too young, and even with a 25 year old, not necessarily the latter is much more matured than anyone else.

And honestly, why the rush to drink? No doubt wine has some good health related plus points, but beer? I don't see a need to introduce alcohol into the bodies of minors unneccessarily.

I kind of understand the 18 thing, but 13? Seriously, its this kind of bull**** thinking thats causes all the propblems in the world today. Next its going to be, "its ok to let friends and strangers **** your children, at least they can learn sex in a safe environment."

Wheres the logic going these days? Why not leave it the way it is? We shouldnt be encouraging kids to drink, no matter what the circumstances are.

Basically what Im saying is: Grow up.

13 is too young, and even with a 25 year old, not necessarily the latter is much more matured than anyone else.

And honestly, why the rush to drink? No doubt wine has some good health related plus points, but beer? I don't see a need to introduce alcohol into the bodies of minors unneccessarily.

Napster06

If it was lowered to 13, you would learn how to drink responsibly. I guess it would be better if it was with a parent.

BTW, drinking =/= getting drunk. I doubt there would be any more 13 year olds drunk.

That's the problem. Kids rush to drink, and that is because alcohol has been refused to them for so long. So when they finally are allowed to drink, they dont know how to drink responsibly, drink too much, and injur themselves or others.

If it was lowered to 13, you would learn how to drink responsibly. I guess it would be better if it was with an adult.

BTW, drinking =/= getting drunk. I doubt there would be any more 13 year olds drunk.

helium_flash

Kids rush to drink, and the curiosity gets the better of them. I don't think its a good idea to intoduce alcohol to them even in a controlled environment. The tendency for them to get hooked to it is there, and it could worsen the situation, where, the do get hooked and resort to illegal means.

No doubt that is happening now with some, but it could be more rampant since they are exposed to it.

[QUOTE="heyfunboy"][QUOTE="HillyBilly"]I dont drink so I dont really care. Hell, raise the age limit for all I care.helium_flash

I would much rather have my child/sibling/parent/relative die serving their counrty and making the world a better place than dieing in a drunk driving accident or killing someone and going to jail.

My relative got drunk and ran into a off duty cop. The cop died and my relative went to jail. He's out now but owes the family millions of dollars. He was just some normal, nice guy who had to much to drink and got into a wreck. He didnt do it on purpose and regrets it every day.

You can say what you want, but there is no such thing as responsible drinking.

its not that important, my parents let me drink all i want in my house anyway :?

but yes, without the age control, kids would be running arount thinking theyre so friggin manly and causing accidents...

and if they could get the alcohol, then they would want the drugs...

I think it is laughable that people think that keeping the drinking age 21 is going to deter anyone from consuming alcohol. In my opinion, it would be much safer for minors to learn how to consume alcohol in a safe environment with their parents around, not in a dorm with a bunch of horny, immature, drunk kids.

If I could make the laws for the US, it would be:

• You have to be 18 to be able to buy alcoholic beverages
• You can consume alcohol at the age of 13 as long as you are with a parent/guardian
• You can consume alcohol at the age of 13 in restaurants as long as you are with a legal guardian
• You can consume any alcohol you want at the age of 18

Now, I know that alcohol can cause problems when consumed unresponsibly, but that is why you can learn how to consume alcohol responsibly with your parents are guardians when you are still in school.

I'm 18 btw.

helium_flash

13 is waaaaaay too young to be drinking. Anyways, minors can drink alcohol with their parents already(at least in Texas)

Ok, I concede that 13 is too young of an age to drink.

So I would say 16 is a better age. You would still not be able to drink without your parents around however. And I think that 18 is a good age to be able to consume alcohol on your own preference. I would hope that more laws are passed to dissuade people from drinking and driving. You get in more trouble from wreckless driving (speeding 20miles over the speed limit) than you do from drinking and driving.

I don't necessarily buy the argument that the three years of time is some great maturation period for those considering alcoholic beverages. I would argue that we mature on the basis of our experience rather than time, that early experience with alcohol would lead to better alcohol responsibility at 21 than a first encounter at the current legal age.

Yes, I'm 20, about to turn 21, and I've been drinking since the age of 15. Not regularly, the first time I drank I was 15, now I drink pretty much every weekend. But I think it should be lowered a few levels of age...such as 18 maybe. Actually, you know what, drinking should be illegal, they sould make smoking pot legal. I"m sorry if that's offensive to anybody, but smoking pot and driving is much more safe than drinking and driving, or just drinking in general.MasterKingMP

the bolded part and the age should be lowered for alcohol

I think 18 is fine.

The point that someone made about the "If I can die for my country at 18 I can drink a beer" is to me the one arguement that crushes any arguements against 18 being the standard age.

18 is when you become and adult in the eyes of the law. Apparently adults have to wait 18 years before they can even enjoy a drink.

IN AMERICA.

I don't drink much but I like to think that I CAN have a drink whenever I bloody well feel like it.

In Canada it's 19. Gawd how do you American college kids deal with not getting into bars?

I had a fake ID before I was 19 too.

bobaban

It's 18 in Alberta.