The Drinking Age

[Tyler]

As I was about to turn the TV off this morning, I noticed a conversation on a show called "The Morning Show" about lowering the drinking age in the US back to 18.  Here's a link to part of the show - http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/changing-the-drinking-age/

My question is, what do you guys think about this?  I ask this not to get into a political discussion, but to find out what the US guys think versus our members that live in other countries since the drinking age is lower in almost all other countries.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

It used to be 18 in parts of New York and Louisiana, and 3.2 beer in Colorado.  It's the "new" culture of imbibing that causes the problem, drinking just to get blasted, wasted, whatever.  My experience in other countries w/ less stringent booze laws is that alcohol is part of the daily experience of eating, no eating then no drinking seems to be the idea particularly in France, Italy, Spain and Greece.  The Swedes on the other hand seem to have a policy more stringent than we do in the US.  The Danes and Norwegians are strict but not as much as the Swedes.  The US seems to have obsessed on separating the two acts and in doing so ruined both in many areas of the country.  In the wine and beer countries--Italy, Germany, France, etc., age isn't so important.  In the distilled spirit areas, Great Britain and Ireland, it seems to be more of a problem. 

I'm all for 18 because three years doesn't do anything, except make illegal drinking more of a guzzling contest for the 18 to 21 year old set, and then they're years adjusting, if ever, to a more eat and drink atmosphere.  If it isn't "forbidden fruit" but just another beverage option w/ food, much less of a guzzle problem.  It would take years however to get away from the "let's get wasted" culture that the States has now.

[schro]

"No opinion", said The Schro, as he took a sip of his Ketel One.

[mojim]

The only 18 year olds that should be able to drink are members of our armed services...

[Marz]

The only 18 year olds that should be able to drink are members of our armed services...

Yep.

[JDog]

At 18 you can get called up to fight in a war, however you cant shoot down to the local bar to sink a few brews.

The disgusting irony in that is powerful.

One only needs to look at Europe like saintc has accuratley pointed out where in some countries they will laugh at you if you ask what is the drinking age. They do not have the alcohol abuse problem that North America has, and you can buy beer in McDonalds.

[jusbnme]

I know I'm going to start some "big thing" here but here goes my opinion...I think the drinking age should be lowered with the consent of parents of course.  In other countries kids are drinking as young as 16 years old and maybe younger.  I think it is in other countries such as France maybe that some let their children have some wine with dinner.   I think if kids were allowed to indulge just a little at an earlier age it wouldn't seem like such a "forbidden" thing for kids.  Because as we all know, things that we are not supposed to do as kids are the only things we can't wait to do behind our parents back.  I can say this from experience.  I couldn't wait for the first chance to get my hands on some alcohol any chance I could get because I was brought up thinking it was this forbidden thing that only adults could enjoy.  And I really over did it when I would get a hold of some.  I'm not saying that by letting a youngster have a sip of wine or a taste of beer every now and then is going to keep them from becoming an alcoholic.  But I'm just saying that they might not look at it as such a big deal and something they need to do because they were always sheltered from it.  It's kind of like the stereotypical saying about school girls that go to an all girls school and never get to socialize with boys.  Well, what happens when they finally get out and meet all these boys???

[Timmay]

I agree with just about all of ya on this one.  THose in the armed forces should be allowed to drink. 
Lowering the age limit , like one said...would take some time to get worked out of our systems.  I do believe though that by the time they are at that age where they go to parties ...it wouldnt be much of an ordeal.  Admit it....sneaking around drinking was more fun than when you turned 21.  Because by the time I was 23...it really didnt mean much...like oh so what...i can buy alcohol....
I think also that kids who are 15 and 16 are still being closely monitored by their parents that it wouldnt be so much of a problem.  I think they should lower the drinking age and raise the driving age to 18 as well.  15-16 year olds have no business driving anyways......I also think they should have one year experience driving before they are issued a license..
Timmay!

[rickybobby]

in wisconsin kids can drink at any age just as long as their parents are present...but then again they like the packers and brewers so that state's got problems no matter what!!!!!

[warhawk]

The only 18 year olds that should be able to drink are members of our armed services...

WARHAWK

[rickybobby]

yeah that really sux that at 18 u can kill people but dont drink to forget/celebrate it...something's not rite there....i say drop it to 16 with parents supervision....

[KollegeKreed]

Im confused...you think that JUST because theyre in the armed services, they should be able to drink, but not the rest of the 18-21 year olds...?

No dice on that one...I do believe its ridiculous that you can be drafted to war but cant drink, and I do believe the drinking age needs to be lowered, because I really believe if its legal it will be less of a "thing"...breaking the rules, sticking it to the man. When most people I know turned 21 the novelty wore off real quick.

However, lowering it for a part of the population and note the whole population...i dont think so

[rickybobby]

i think if our government can ask our 18 year olds to kill strangers at least they should be able to get trashed just to forget it all....screw the scared college babies who dont want to defend this country...they get to drink and screw freely without having to kill people.....your arguement has a weak base....step that crap up!!!!!!! college kids= test scores....military kids = death tolls.....no comparison

[nomad]

i think if our government can ask our 18 year olds to kill strangers at least they should be able to get trashed just to forget it all....screw the scared college babies who dont want to defend this country...they get to drink and screw freely without having to kill people.....your arguement has a weak base....step that crap up!!!!!!! college kids= test scores....military kids = death tolls.....no comparison

WTF??? your killin' me

[JDog]

Guys I think Tyler wanted this discussion to be a calm discussion. I know we feel strongly about certain things but there is no need for this to get heated