Sly Bald Guys Forum
Various Non-Bald Discussions => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tyler on April 07, 2008, 02:36:51 PM
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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.
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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.
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"No opinion", said The Schro, as he took a sip of his Ketel One.
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The only 18 year olds that should be able to drink are members of our armed services...
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The only 18 year olds that should be able to drink are members of our armed services...
Yep.
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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.
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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???
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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!
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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!!!!!
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The only 18 year olds that should be able to drink are members of our armed services...
O0 O0
WARHAWK O0
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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....
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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
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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
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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 :/O :/O :/O :*)) :*)) :*))
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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
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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
I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT!!! heck...i'm just glad that i'm over 21 and legal. as i am hoisting an ice cold heineken. O0
WARHAWK O0
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I'm sorry guys. Got to keep it check can't stoop
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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
I lived in Germany when I turned 16 and was legal to drink but unable to drive. I think having the drinking age set to 16 and the driving age at 18 makes a lot of sense. I guess the way I look at it is that we're trusting 16yrolds with fast moving 2 ton automobiles with which they could all too easily kill themselves and others.
I completely agree with the idea that at the very minimum, the drinking age should be lowered at least down to 18. We trust an 18yrold to VOTE, why can't he/she be trusted to drink responsibly? And it offends me that there are people dying for this country overseas that were never allowed to drink or see the inside of a bar. It should extend to all Americans, however--we cannot create different classes of citizens. Besides, as stated above, any 18yrold could be drafted and sent off to die.
I joined the military at 18 and was stationed in Germany. It really bothered me to go home to Las Vegas on leave and not be allowed the freedom to drink or gamble. I can legally drink/gamble in some country thousands of miles away that my government is occupying, but cannot in my own hometown?
It was a long time ago and no longer directly affects me, but I still think it's wrong. Just my hundred bucks (two cents adjusted for the rampant inflation caused by the Federal Reserve).
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thanks for keeping it civil guys.
I can see the argument on both sides, but I also think they should lower it to 18. The reason being is the novelty factor. In my family we were able to drink when we felt we were old enough to drink, but we had to be at our own house to do so. I believe this made us much more responsible around alcohol than many of my friends and my siblings' friends. We were often known as the designated drivers because we knew we didn't have to get trashed at the party because it was the only time we could drink. Though, we also knew that if we EVER got caught driving after drinking, we wouldn't be driving until we could afford to move out.
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With the current drinking age at 21 in many states you still have 18 -20 year olds buying beer, etc.. If you lower the age to 18 then you'll have 16 and 17 year olds buying. The drinking age in Maryland when I grew up was 18 and believe me, at 16 i was buying beer and going into bars.
i say leave it alone...... although the irony of handing an 18 year old kid a machine gun but not letting him have a beer is a mystery to me.
And by the way.... someone mentioned a military draft..... hasn't been one since VietNam.... at this point we're a volunteer Armed Forces.
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With the current drinking age at 21 in many states you still have 18 -20 year olds buying beer, etc.. If you lower the age to 18 then you'll have 16 and 17 year olds buying. The drinking age in Maryland when I grew up was 18 and believe me, at 16 i was buying beer and going into bars.
i say leave it alone...... although the irony of handing an 18 year old kid a machine gun but not letting him have a beer is a mystery to me.
And by the way.... someone mentioned a military draft..... hasn't been one since VietNam.... at this point we're a volunteer Armed Forces.
Thats true but you have to look at it this way. If you raise the driving age to 18, and lower the drinking age to 18....you will still have a good thumb on your kids when they are still 16 and 17. Because after they get a car its like freedom to them. You wont be able to have complete control over what they do. But the main issue here...sorry Tyler but im gonna hijack for a second....It is HOW WELL YOU RAISE YOUR KIDS!....Thats teh biggest statement in this whole thread. My parents...allowed me to drink as long as I was at home under their supervision or if I was at another friends house whose parents allowed them to drink while under their supervision. I respected my parents when I was growing up and I really never did anythign to dissappoint them. Not that I was a good kid...we all have our faults....but I am one who doesnt take advantage of them giving me an inch and I take a foot.
Also someone said something about 18 year old service men being able to drink and not the general population? Well join the service...then your arguement will be solved.....
Timmay!
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handing an 18 year old kid a machine gun but not letting him have a beer is a mystery to me.
My boyfriend definitely looks his age now - and more!
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I think it's unrealistic to believe that 18 year olds are not drinking, and lowering the age to 18 is not going to change things that much. It was no problem for me to find a buyer at 16/17 and had a fake ID at 18.
Hell I turned out OK B33r
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This, "21 for 21" cr_p, is the cultural problem that needs to be dealt w/, getting wasted for wasted's sake, no sips of single malts, or well made martinis--w/ gin is my preference, or any other civilized practice, just 21 drinks to get wasted to be 21! And you can die to top it off. What's wrong w/ this picture. 21 obviously is too old and not old enough. The real problem is that American "culture" is perverting an otherwise natural activity.
Take a look at this, it's nearly obscene what these "adults" are doing.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24004376/
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I think all drugs should be made legal at 18, yes alcohol is a drug. Education of what happens when one abuses drugs should be increased along with it and those that become addicted should be offered treatment. I beleive our crime rate would decrease dramatically and many lives would be saved.
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You know what I think.....I think we all should just sh*t down shut up and drink some beer. Get so wasted we will actually forget about what this post is all about. LOL....
its one of those "The Chicken or the Egg" debates...lol
But its all good..makes for good conversation...Right?
Timmmay!!!!!!
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I think all drugs should be made legal at 18, yes alcohol is a drug. Education of what happens when one abuses drugs should be increased along with it and those that become addicted should be offered treatment. I beleive our crime rate would decrease dramatically and many lives would be saved.
I agree with you on this one.
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You know what I think.....I think we all should just sh*t down shut up and drink some beer. Get so wasted we will actually forget about what this post is all about. LOL....
its one of those "The Chicken or the Egg" debates...lol
But its all good..makes for good conversation...Right?
Timmmay!!!!!!
Ditto... what is with everybody today?
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Its OK Scott...I think they all dropped their marble bags today....LOL....
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You know what I think.....I think we all should just sh*t down shut up and drink some beer. Get so wasted we will actually forget about what this post is all about. LOL....
its one of those "The Chicken or the Egg" debates...lol
But its all good..makes for good conversation...Right?
Timmmay!!!!!!
Ditto... what is with everybody today?
This is a great topic with spirited posts...Is that not the way it should be?...I mean we got to talk about something besides headshaving, family values,ect...I think topics like these add something to the site...Everyone has their opinions, but hell that's ok I repsect that..So more topics like this....Now I will go drink a beer... O0
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I was raised similar to Tyler, my brother and I were both allowed to drink at home at about 17 - 18 years old and we were not allowed to leave after we started drinking unless it was walking. We did have honest parents that were pretty open with us when it came to frank discussions about alcohol and drugs and didn't just demonize these things as "forbidden". Like Tyler, we didnt run out of the gates chugging PBR by the gallons when we turned 21, this is when we actually started to get a taste for good liquor (s.m.scotch, top shelf tequila, etc.).
I just dont think most 18 year olds are mature enough or have had the support structure in their lives to cope with the unbridled availability of alcohol. I also do not think most 18 year olds are mature enough to deal with the effects of war either, some are and they join the armed forces (and they should be allowed to drink when taking on that kind of responsibility).
They say that 40 is the new 30, well I think 18 is the new 15... the 16 year olds that were fighting WWII seemed far more responsible than the typical 18 year old of today... the 19 year olds that fought in Vietnam were far more responsible than the 18 year olds of today... having everything at your fingertips and not being expected to work a job until you are 23 is a far cry from the days when quitting school at 16 to work at the local mill to help pay for your familys farm was common. I think they are far more desensitized (from the abundance of media) but still extremely immature in the realm of responsibility.
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They say that 40 is the new 30, well I think 18 is the new 15... the 16 year olds that were fighting WWII seemed far more responsible than the typical 18 year old of today... the 19 year olds that fought in Vietnam were far more responsible than the 18 year olds of today... having everything at your fingertips and not being expected to work a job until you are 23 is a far cry from the days when quitting school at 16 to work at the local mill to help pay for your familys farm was common. I think they are far more desensitized (from the abundance of media) but still extremely immature in the realm of responsibility.
Veerry nicely put...
can't wait to share a cold one with ya one day bro...
we'd have a lot o talk about! O0
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Well said!! O0 O0
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They say that 40 is the new 30, well I think 18 is the new 15... the 16 year olds that were fighting WWII seemed far more responsible than the typical 18 year old of today... the 19 year olds that fought in Vietnam were far more responsible than the 18 year olds of today... having everything at your fingertips and not being expected to work a job until you are 23 is a far cry from the days when quitting school at 16 to work at the local mill to help pay for your familys farm was common. I think they are far more desensitized (from the abundance of media) but still extremely immature in the realm of responsibility.
Veerry nicely put...
can't wait to share a cold one with ya one day bro...
we'd have a lot o talk about! O0
Likewise!
but...
I think it will be more than "A" cold one my friend. O0