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What Should the Legal Drinking Age Be?

  • Curly J
    Ok I'll go out on a limb with the whole 'if you are old enough to fight and die for your country' thing...18, but only if you are in the Military. All others 21 or join the Military.

    It's hard to fight and die for your country if you're not in the Military, seeing that there isn't a draft on going.
  • ernest_t_bass
    DeyDurkie5 wrote: don't you mean a zuma, fag
    ernest_t_bass wrote: Don't YOU mean a Zima? lol
    sonofsam wrote: Don't YOU mean "zima"? Drink another one... lol

    HA! BEAT YOU TO IT! LOL
  • Flash
    I've felt strongly about this for years. If you can die for the country, you can drink. Of course back in the day they at least let you drink 3.2% beer at 18. LOL
  • eersandbeers
    How did this country survive for more than a century without all these "great" laws protecting us from ourselves?
  • Bio-Hazzzzard
    I agree with others if you can go to battle you can drink. You can be incarcerated at a younger age than you can consume alcohol.....somethings fishy here.
  • j_crazy
    i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
  • Fab1b
    18 I can tell you back when I was in the Navy (94 - 98), I had no problem getting served at most places when under 21 with my military ID.
  • ernest_t_bass
    I have a feeling this is going to get moved to the politics forum. It was not my original intention, but I'm seeing how it's impossible to NOT make this political. My apologies.
  • mexappeal12
    eersandbeers wrote: How did this country survive for more than a century without all these "great" laws protecting us from ourselves?
    they can definitely benefit and protect you... ppl criticize the law and then call up a lawyer as soon as it benefits them
  • eersandbeers
    j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
    I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
  • Bio-Hazzzzard
    ernest_t_bass wrote: I have a feeling this is going to get moved to the politics forum. It was not my original intention, but I'm seeing how it's impossible to NOT make this political. My apologies.
    Crack open a beer, drink it, don't worry about it, there's nothing political about it.
  • eersandbeers
    mexappeal12 wrote:
    eersandbeers wrote: How did this country survive for more than a century without all these "great" laws protecting us from ourselves?
    they can definitely benefit and protect you... ppl criticize the law and then call up a lawyer as soon as it benefits them

    If I infringe upon your rights then you have every right to take legal action against me. That is not what I'm talking about.

    I'm talking about actions that do not infringe on the rights of others.
  • j_crazy
    eersandbeers wrote:
    j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
    I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
    You realize that 90% of laws police 10% of people, right?
  • mexappeal12
    eersandbeers wrote:
    j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
    I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
    drinking isn't a right... you have a right to free speech and those other inalienable rights in the constitution.... drinking is just an extra in life... the line must be drawn somewhere
  • End of Line
    DeyDurkie5 wrote:
    mtrulz wrote: 15, so gimmie a beer.
    don't you mean a zuma, fag
    He probably doesn't even know what that is.....

    18, if you can die for your country why can't you drink some alcohol.
  • Bio-Hazzzzard
    mexappeal12 wrote:
    eersandbeers wrote:
    j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
    I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
    drinking isn't a right... you have a right to free speech and those other inalienable rights in the constitution.... drinking is just an extra in life... the line must be drawn somewhere
    So, if I might ask< whre does this line start?
  • eersandbeers
    j_crazy wrote:
    eersandbeers wrote:
    j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
    I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
    You realize that 90% of laws police 10% of people, right?

    That doesn't mean I support those laws. If there is no victim there is no such thing as a crime.

    It is only a crime when you infringe on the rights of others.
  • ernest_t_bass
    My biggest thing, is once you are no longer a minor, and can legally answer for yourself, then you should be able to pretty much do whatever you want to your body. You can "harm" others by your decisions, but you can also harm others by legally smoking when 18. Or texting and driving. Someone said, "legal to be incarcerated, legal to drink." I agree with that the most.

    I'm 18, I'm legal. Please, leave me alone, stop giving me "rules" by which to live, and allow me to live my life in peace. If I harm others, then please punish me, but who are YOU to punish me for "harming" myself?
  • eersandbeers
    mexappeal12 wrote:
    eersandbeers wrote:
    j_crazy wrote: i said 21 because I've seen kids' lives ruined (though at the time it didn't seem that way) by drinking earlier. but it has to be policed harder or the point is moot. if things stay the way they are now, it might as well be 18.
    I should not have my rights limited because someone else may be irresponsible with their alcohol consumption.
    drinking isn't a right... you have a right to free speech and those other inalienable rights in the constitution.... drinking is just an extra in life... the line must be drawn somewhere

    So the only rights we have are those enumerated in the Constitution?

    It is my right to live my life as I wish as long as I do not impact the rights of others. Unfortunately, most people think we need to be coddled to the grave.
  • ernest_t_bass
    eersandbeers wrote: It is my right to live my life as I wish as long as I do not impact the rights of others. Unfortunately, most people think we need to be coddled to the grave.
    THIS
  • Crew Love
    ernest_t_bass wrote:
    Crew Love wrote: It's not a numeric age, but I'd say once you graduate high school, you should be permitted to legally consume alcohol.
    You can't place a limit like that, b/c some people don't graduate, etc. You can't NOT turn 18.
    What I was trying to get at is that I don't think a standard "18" is necessarily appropriate. An additional stipulation, such as "18 and out of high school (graduation, dropout, whatever the case...)" would work better, in my opinion. While in high school, there's so much fraternization between seniors and underclassmen that I could easily see underage drinking becoming even more of a "problem" than it is now if the age were decreased to a flat-18.

    Inevitably, you'd also have (some) students missing school due to hangovers or showing up in no condition to learn. I realize this happens every day in college, and was guilty of the said offense multiple times as an undergrad, but at the university-level, what you make of your education - as well as your attendance record - is solely in your hands. High school students are still attending class on the taxpayers' dime and showing up to school is still regulated by law. With this said, couldn't you see allowing 18 year-old high school students to drink negatively impacting quality of education?

    Just some thoughts.
  • mexappeal12
    that is a difficult question, but there are arguments for an older age than 18... for example, studies on the impact on cognitive abilities and the long-term effects.... alcohol consumption and criminal activities (having the age be older may better prepare young adults with the responsibility that comes with drinking and the freedom of making your own decisions when you are 18-20 that you are experiencing for the first time).... studies and alcohol dependence show a greater rate of alcoholism for people that start drinking younger....


    its not so cut and dry and yes there are reasons for having it be 18...i'm just saying that i don't think it is our worst law but it is contradictory to the age of majority that is 18 ... in conflicts with the whole your 18 and an adult and responsible for yourself, which in turn makes policy arguments for a 21 drinking age less persuasive
  • HitsRus
    19 would be a good age because it keeps it out the reach of most kids in High School. High School and alcohol would not be a good combination...too much drama, peer pressure, and self esteem issues. Further, for 19-21 year olds, a probationary alcohol license could be issued, where the privledge of alcohol purchase and consumption could be linked to responsible behavior. Anybody with a previous history of criminal activity, reckless driving, or traffic citations, drug abuse would be denied a license....or have it taken away.
  • mexappeal12
    the only inalienable rights you have are the ones in the constitution, yes. I am saying that people have a misconception of that word and throw it around ...I have a right to do this... i have a right to do that... you do not have a right to drink alcohol... you have a privilege
  • Laley23
    19, you are graduated from High School then.

    People give the reason of voting/fighting than you should be able to drink. Most arent concerned with those who are 18 drinking, but they are concerned with the other High Schoolers who go to class with said 18 year olds. They dont want kids who are 15 drinking.


    I do think the no age limit (Europe) is good in a sense. But at the same time, those countries are all so walkable and almost everywhere has great public transportation. In America, we drive way to often for this to be safe.