Should the drinking age be changed?

[Maren]

When a significant number of crimes and car related deaths and injuries are related to using a certain drug then maybe society has an interest in making that drug scarce. I agree people aren't about to give up their drugs, porn, and cheezy fries without lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth.

So, since a significant number of crimes are related to using guns, do you want them banned as well? Why, because a small minority misuse an item, do we ban the item? And is there ever evidence that banning that item has worked? Looking at Prohibition and "the war on drugs", I can't think of anytime it has worked to simply ban the item.

Rather than trying Prohibition again, with all the problems it caused before, we should be looking at what those countries that have few problems with alcohol and see how we can incorporate their ideas. From what I have seen, it is typically the places that are the least restrictive but have tough penalties for misuse of alcohol that have the fewest problems.

 

[MercuryAndy]

Nope, changing the drinking age changes nothing. I am under 21 and I can say I drink. A glass of red wine a day reduces the chance for heart disease so I think I have every right to it for healthy reasons. The only reason that age law exists is because kids don't know when to stop drinking. Most kids drink for the sake of being drunk and don't know how to limit themselves. That's why in comparison to the age to go into the army and smoke cigarettes, it's much higher.

Going into the army at 18 you are generally going to be thinking about it and it's a decision you can change. Smoking affects are basically all long term, and you can quit addictions with some help. Drinking there are chances of dying on the spot. If you drink too much, if you drink and drive, teenagers have a powerful tendency to fall victims to these things a lot more than adults because their impulses are far more prevalent.

Now if a teenager does drink but does it respectfully, for the sake of the taste, then okay. That child is obviously mature enough to handle it. But I've met only a few who would fall into that category.

yes but if someone is dieing beacuse he drunk too much it doesn't realy affect me. Where as if someone smokes near me they are affecting my health even though I choose not to smoke.

 

[mpok1519]

In the UK underage alcohol drinking has been in the news quite a lot. Currently you can only buy alcohol when you are 18. The problem is i think is that pubs and clubs seem to have clamped down on underage drinking recently meaning there seems to be a lot more 15/16 year brats on the streets drinking and causing a nuisance.

If they're going to be drinking anyway why not change the law so that they're not on the streets drinking.

Or should the drinking age go up to 21?

drinking just needs to not be so taboo.

I think that its appropriate for a fifteen year-old to have a glass of wine at dinner, at home, however.

IMO, booze shouldn't exist, however.

I do think the legal limit to drive should be raised from .08 to .10, and the open container laws need to be revised.

 

[ebia]

drinking just needs to not be so taboo.

I think that its appropriate for a fifteen year-old to have a glass of wine at dinner, at home, however.

IMO, booze shouldn't exist, however.

I do think the legal limit to drive should be raised from .08 to .10, and the open container laws need to be revised.

Why would you want to raise the legal drink/drive limit? .08 is at the higher end of what's reasonable - here the limit is .05 for people on a full licence and .01 for those on a probationary licence (the first 3 years of driving).

 

[mpok1519]

Why would you want to raise the legal drink/drive limit? .08 is at the higher end of what's reasonable - here the limit is .05 for people on a full licence and .01 for those on a probationary licence (the first 3 years of driving).

from the research ive done the .08 BAC doesn't impair one's driving ability as much as some propoganda might insinuate.

If the legal driving limit doesn't change, mandatory minimum sentences should, and not just for drinking and driving, but for a variety of laws as well.

 

[ebia]

from the research ive done the .08 BAC doesn't impair one's driving ability as much as some propoganda might insinuate.

No-one needs to drink and drive. As I say, it's point .05 here, and (along with random breath-testing) that's now taken as perfectly reasonable - drink driving has become socially unacceptable, which is the aim.

Having lived with .08 (England) and .05 (Australia) I would say .05 is the better point to set the limit simply because it is more clear-cut. One modest glass is all you can afford.

 

[cantata]

No-one needs to drink and drive. As I say, it's point .05 here, and (along with random breath-testing) that's now taken as perfectly reasonable - drink driving has become socially unacceptable, which is the aim.

Having lived with .08 (England) and .05 (Australia) I would say .05 is the better point to set the limit simply because it is more clear-cut. One modest glass is all you can afford.

I completely agree.

Most sensible people I know will have no more than half half a pint or one glass of wine if they're going to be driving. It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[stan1980]

It would effectively take alcohol and all its ill effects out of society. Some will say, "But prohibition failed...". If the feds with todays technology went after bootleggers Al Capone wannabes wouldn't have a prayer.

Todays technology? You mean the same technology that has successfully won the war on drugs? ROFL

 

[TexasSky]

Well, we are a lot more paranoid about alcohol here in the states than they are in Italy, Germany, and other European countries. And yet, they have less incidents of alcohol abuse than we do (if I'm not mistaken)!

I think that if a person is old enough to fight for his country, to vote, to buy weapons, and to smoke cigarettes, they ought to be able to drink also. The paranoia concerning alcohol here is ridiculous.
Ringo

You can't smoke under 18 in Texas either.

 

[keith99]

It would effectively take alcohol and all its ill effects out of society. Some will say, "But prohibition failed...". If the feds with todays technology went after bootleggers Al Capone wannabes wouldn't have a prayer.

Yea, the DEA wipped out cocaine and heroin so quickly!

With todays technology wiping out booze would be even harder than it was back then. The internet allows anyone with any skills at all to learn how to brew and distill. Unlike most drugs alcohol can be created as long as you have sugar or carhohydrates. Or more simply put all you need is food to produce booze.

The very simplest? Just leave the cider out for a few days.

 

[stan1980]

There are many people who are still capable of acting like human beings when consuming alcohol. So to punish everyone is unfair.

So i propose a system where we have a drinking license for people. If you can't manage to act like a human being then you get your license revoked, but if you behave then you can apply for your license as young as 14 or 15. I also believe i should be in charge of this scheme.

 

[mpok1519]

I think its possible that the open container laws need to be reformed; its illegal to drive with a six-year-old empty beer can in the back of your pickup in Kansas.

and someone shouldn't be punished for such a descrepency.

 

[ebia]

I think its possible that the open container laws need to be reformed; its illegal to drive with a six-year-old empty beer can in the back of your pickup in Kansas.

and someone shouldn't be punished for such a descrepency.

Do people actually get prosecuted for six-year-old empty beer cans?

 

[Caitlin.ann]

I want my drinking liscense now then! Sometimes I think it would be nice to be able to sit at my computer at night doing homework while sipping an alcoholic beverage. I don't do that now out of respect for my parents. But anyways, I'm 19 and perfectly capable of drinking moderately, although I know others who are not. Its a maturity thing, not an age thing. I think if we're allowed to send 18 year olds to their deaths we should at least let them drink as well. You can do everything else at 18..why not drink as well?

 

[Ringo84]

I want my drinking liscense now then! Sometimes I think it would be nice to be able to sit at my computer at night doing homework while sipping an alcoholic beverage. I don't do that now out of respect for my parents. But anyways, I'm 19 and perfectly capable of drinking moderately, although I know others who are not. Its a maturity thing, not an age thing. I think if we're allowed to send 18 year olds to their deaths we should at least let them drink as well. You can do everything else at 18..why not drink as well?

In Canada, it'd already be legal for you to drink, SacredSin.

I just think this rampant paranoia about alcohol here in the states is ridiculous.
Ringo

 

[Caitlin.ann]

In Canada, it'd already be legal for you to drink, SacredSin.

I just think this rampant paranoia about alcohol here in the states is ridiculous.
Ringo

I agree with you. I just don't understand how I can do anything else in this nation but drink..really how is that even logical? I'd only drink occasionally, but anyhow, its kind of like a kick in the face...I'm allowed to fight for this country in Iraq or Iran, but not allowed to drink alcohol.

 

[TexasSky]

You know, one of the professors I work with was telling us about his friend being fired from some US University because he had taken some college students to Europe, and had a drink with them. When they got back, someone mentioned it, and the next thing people knew, the professor was fired, even though 1) the students were legally old enough in Europe 2) the professor had no legal grounds or methods to prevent it.

 

[mpok1519]

Do people actually get prosecuted for six-year-old empty beer cans?

yes, it happens ALL the time, especially in small rural areas where theres less crime, so EVERY descrepency of the law can make or break your law enforcement record; when you only give five tickets a year, you need o catch people making every possible violation, no matter how small.

The state gives and allocates money to police stations across the state mostly based upon how much crime they have; no crime, no job.

 

[MercuryAndy]

rather sad.