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I finally understand why the drinking age is 21

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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
Now i just turned 22....and i really do understand why the drinking age is 21. Looking back, there is no way 18 year old kids as a whole are ready to have a "couple" drinks and drive. People change so much between that time period. Also, going to bars in NYC i would hate being there with underage bros from high school shit would suck...considering girls can get it most of the time anyways
Aug 16 2012 8:06AM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
How was I implying that lowering the drinking age was legalizing drunk driving? I'm simply saying that when you drink, it's easy to get in your car and drive away, in which case other people's lives are in your hands. And the fact of the matter is that on average, the decision making skills of a 21 year old are greater than that of an 18 year old. There are always going to be 21 year olds who are less responsible than 18 year olds, but I'm talking about on the whole. In America, with our binge drinking mentality, I find it hard to believe that in this day and age there wouldn't be more drunk driving incidents if the legal age was 18. However, I think I should reiterate that I'm not really in favor of higher drinking ages per se. I just think the mentality surrounding drinking in the US is fucked, and kids should be accustomed to drinking BEFORE they drive, and well before the age of 18. However, it's probably far too late for that.

Now you make a valid point about carrying a gun into combat responsibly, but barring instances in which the fighting is occurring near civilians, everybody involved is fully aware that their life could be taken at any moment. If the only concern about drinking was alcohol poisoning, then I would be all for the army argument. The difference is that in one you're killing people who are either your enemy or fellow soldiers, and in the other you could kill people who did not willingly put themselves in that situation. Of course you could say that whenever you drive you are taking the risk of being hit by a drunk driver, but if you KNEW you would be on a certain road with a drunk driver, wouldn't you take a different road?
Aug 16 2012 11:28PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
no what we need to do is stop having hs kids drink under ground in a basement, and teach them how to drink alcohol properly. all we do with the age of 21 is say well good luck finding this stuff out on your own.
Aug 16 2012 11:33PM
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SketchyVan
Posts: 26 - Karma: 3
I have let my finger nails grow a little longer than I would prefer; so long that this morning when I was dropping a poop into the toilet I got some under my nails while cleaning my anus with paper. Now here lies my problem... even after cutting my nails and scrubbing to get the poop out ITS STILL THERE!!! I have a big bag of m&m's and am afraid I might eat my own poop unintentionally while simply trying to enjoy my m&m's.... Any advice? Is it that bad to eat poop?
Aug 16 2012 11:36PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
those stats do not count in 1970's people didn't have to wear a seatbelts, and no car had air bags. deaths have just gone down thanks to technology.
Aug 16 2012 11:36PM
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,549
I think they should change to age for using meth to 16, thats a great age to get into a life long addiction
Aug 16 2012 11:37PM
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B.Aussie
Posts: 5852 - Karma: 4,531
Plus, I don't know if you guys do. But we have graphic pre-driving sermons on how bad drink driving is by survivors of car accidents. So we had a paraplegic, a chick thats face had been burnt off and another girl who had killed all her friends (she was the driver). Plus graphic videos of crash scenes and police men breaking down talking about accident scenes. Scares some sense into people at a vulnerable age.
Aug 16 2012 11:40PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
fuck that you're essentially saying that you need 3 more years of maturing to have a beer than to go to fucking WAR. what you are saying is insulting to anyone who's ever been in the military.
Aug 16 2012 11:43PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
lol if you want to interpret it that way, be my guest. you completely missed my point
Aug 16 2012 11:44PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
your point seems to be based on the assumption that >21 drinking automatically = drunk driving 100% which is not true.
Aug 16 2012 11:50PM
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BlackCupid
Posts: 1533 - Karma: 9
That is the vast majority of war. War has been occurring in populous areas since before the Spartans raided Troy. But, now more than ever, insurgents are forcing combat to take place around civilians by hiding amongst them. Think Vietnam, Pakistan, or Iraq. There's a reason why so many US drone strikes are killing civilians.


Aug 16 2012 11:51PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
Really? Because if you read my post again you will see I specifically went out of my way to point out that I was NOT saying that.
Aug 16 2012 11:51PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
so you agree people can drink responsibly from 18-21, like much of the world seems able to do?
Aug 16 2012 11:53PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
You're absolutely right, which is why I pointed that out. However, the argument I usually hear isn't "If you're allowed to accidentally kill innocent civilians in the opposing country during a war, why can't you go to a bar and have a beer?" It's "If you can die for your country, why can't you go to a bar and have a beer?" When it's your own life it's one thing, but it's a different matter when others are unknowingly involved. And I don't mean to come across as firmly believing that 18 year olds will definitely drive drunk, it's just that I'd have to imagine drunk driving was one of the primary motives behind moving the drinking age up to 21. If I'm wrong about that, please correct me.

Regardless, you seem pretty entrenched in your view and I am in mine, so I don't see this going anywhere.
Aug 16 2012 11:57PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
Yes, I have said that multiple times. But that's IF they are brought up with the proper understanding and respect for alcohol that much of the world seems to have. The US lacks that. If the drinking age were lowered I think that maybe that respect for alcohol would come over time, but I think the first few years would see an increase in drunk driving incidents and cases of alcohol poisoning.
Aug 17 2012 12:01AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51643 - Karma: 162,229
I'm not a fan of the road block approach. I think that infringes on freedom.


I don't support drunk driving but road blocks are fucked. IF I'm driving around, sober, driving the speed limit, I shouldn't have to stop and talk to a cop at some fucking road block.


I don't think that's a bad idea on driving when you're 18 though. Most people drive like tools when they're kids. A few kids actually respect the vehicle and learn to drive properly.


I wish they'd make the road tests much harder, and if you fail have to wait a while to try again. Then do like every 5 years have to take a new test. Should be able to get your license revoked for being a shitty drive.


Instead of cops trying to bust somebody for going 10 over and driving safe on the interstate, on the phone driving safe, bust the fucks you drive shitty. The bitch swerving all over, so she was just eating a burger, who fucking cares. There are so many shit drivers out there yet they enforce these stupid laws instead of actually doing a good job and keeping shit in line.


/another unrelated rant to thread topic.


lol
Aug 17 2012 12:05AM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
your reading comprehension is sub par
Aug 17 2012 12:07AM
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Knitting
Posts: 50 - Karma: 11
In all seriousness, (I know I'm going to offend people here) but American youths are generally very inconsiderate, immature, over entitled, and irresponsible compared to the youth of other nations.

Before you want to lower the drinking age, you need to instill some merit in your country's youth's social values...
Aug 17 2012 12:07AM
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Knitting
Posts: 50 - Karma: 11
In all seriousness, (I know I'm going to offend people here) but American youths (the same can be said about Canada, but to a lesser degree) are generally very inconsiderate, immature, over entitled, and irresponsible compared to the youth of other nations.

Before you want to lower the drinking age, you need to instill some merit in your country's youth's social values... Or else there will be chaos.

Aug 17 2012 12:09AM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
right, im sorry. i cant always be arsed to go back and read posts from a conversation spanning 30+ minutes.

basically where i disagree is about the army argument
Aug 17 2012 12:23AM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
right, im sorry. i cant always be arsed to go back and read posts from a conversation spanning 30+ minutes.

basically where i disagree is about the army argument
Aug 17 2012 12:23AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51643 - Karma: 162,229
Meh, not really. I mean yes compared to a lot of countries, no to the ones you're probably talking about.

Aug 17 2012 12:51AM
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Sleepercell
Posts: 166 - Karma: 25
There is an easy way to solve that problem. Lower the limits for those under 21. Like .6 or .4. and make penalties harsher. I feel you though. I know parents that are stupid enough to drive after having 8 or 9 beers. I agree that the mentality for drinking is fucked. Some people just drink as much as they possibly can to see how fucked up they can get. I hate going to parties when someone goes into coma and is unresponsive yacking up on the floor. Its fucked. How ever if you are considered an adult and mature enough able ship off to war. I think alcohol is a walk in the park between shooting bullets and rockets at talibani militants. Plus everyone I know or hang out with drinks regularly and they are 18. Lowering the drinking age won't make a large difference. Lots of kids already are drinking at 18.

Here is and interesting statistic.

"Male drivers, drivers in the 21-34 age group, and drivers who are of the "white" race constitute the largest percentage of drunk (or impaired) drivers in fatal crashes."
Aug 17 2012 12:56AM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
Yeah that's true. But as I said in an earlier post, I had a roommate who didn't really mess with drunk driving until he turned 21 (despite drinking all the time when he was underage), and within 6 days of his birthday was arrested with a BAC of .2

Once you are allowed to legally drink, you definitely feel like having a couple drinks then driving is fine. Once you start doing that, it's only natural to start pushing that and convince yourself that you're good to drive when you're really not. Having a lower legal limit or maintaining the 0 tolerance rule for 18-21 would help for sure, but I still think we would see an increase in incidents, albeit a smaller increase. You still have to consider that an 18 year old is typically going to have worse judgement, so they might have a harder time telling when they're at .04 vs. a 21 year old being able to tell they're at .08, know what I mean?
Aug 17 2012 1:24AM
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Steve-Brown
Posts: 1894 - Karma: 810
hi, i'm alex.
i'm 16 and i'm an alcoholic.

but seriously. who cares what the drinking age is. i can splurge 100 bucks buy a couple id's and go get as drunk as i want, whenever i want. sooo the drinking age doesn't really hold me back at all. or any of you. so don't act like it's crazy important. cause it's not. there's always a way to get around that shit.
Aug 17 2012 1:32AM
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KANGAROOJACK
Posts: 361 - Karma: 59
.
Aug 17 2012 1:39AM
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Sleepercell
Posts: 166 - Karma: 25
Damn driving with a .2 thats stupid, there are definitely stupider people out there though. I think your kind of getting at a slippery slope theory that people will drive more because its legal for them to drink. I don't see use in making something illegal when its obvious the law isn't working. People under 21 are less tempted to drive drunk since the limit is .02. Maybe it should be kept that way or zero tolerance. When I go out and drink I don't plan on driving so I don't bring my car to the party. Really its not worth driving sloshed and risking it, plus the fact that you are putting other motorist at danger. Its always so nerve racking when you are in the car with someone driving drunk. I don't do that anymore by the way. Millions of teens will drink no mater what the laws are and its clear they don't work. Its like marijuana. Its illegal but everyone smokes it. Why keep 21 the drinking age if no one follows the law?
Aug 17 2012 1:59AM
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FerrisBueller
Posts: 8280 - Karma: 5,173
......
Aug 17 2012 2:22AM
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leninlover
Posts: 560 - Karma: 148
What an absurd statement. Are you an expert on child psychology? Is every child inherently rebellious? Absolutely not. I do not know where you have done your research, but I assure you that the children you have dealt with and based your conclusion off of, do not represent all children.

If your statement was true, then why are there so many young religious youth who grow up never to drink in this country? Im sure their parents said no to an exploration of alcohol, yet they abstain throughout life. European society or societies treat alcohol as a normal and casual thing to consume. Here you have movies like Project X popping up all the time, yet there are billboards lining the highways advocating a no tolerance policy for underage drinking. If that combination doesn't create a forbidden fruit allure to alcohol, I dont know what would. There are serious mixed signals here between alcohol being really fun, yet so mysterious.
Aug 17 2012 8:25AM
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cubber
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 638
Breathalizers in every car= problem solved/semi-police state achieved. Ha now that I think about this, I support it. Breathalizer 2012
Aug 17 2012 8:38AM
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EmperorKuzco
Posts: 6660 - Karma: 254
from what Ive seen 90% of my grade, I'm a senior in highschool, drinks alcohol. Around maybe 60% smokes weed. Almost all parents I know advocate against alcohol consumption and marijuana yet so many do it anyways.
Aug 17 2012 9:35AM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
I may not have a degree in child psychology, but I'm a fucking ninja when it comes to kids. I've been working with them since the age of 14, and I'm a mother myself. Its a very well known idea that when you tell a child/teen not to do something it immediately becomes more enticing. You've clearly never seen the Lion King.

I wasn't implying that all children are inherently rebellious, but thanks for steering it that way.
Aug 17 2012 9:45AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Pun intended?
Aug 17 2012 10:11AM
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Corin
Posts: 1665 - Karma: 524
With all this talking of drinking of driving, you all seem to forget the bigger reason for not drinking at a younger age. It's not good. You damage your body. You're more likely to become an alcoholic. You can't process it properly.

To think about: If someone "invented" alcohol today, there is no way in hell it'd be legal.
Aug 17 2012 12:31PM
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Willgum
Posts: 3254 - Karma: 3,066
This is true. Our brains arent done developing till later, and i know for a fact that after i started drinking at around age 17, i felt shittier about everything
Aug 17 2012 12:36PM
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leninlover
Posts: 560 - Karma: 148
Well you certainly do make a good point. Im sure there are loads of cases where a childs interest in alcohol is the result of the parents making it some terrible thing. I just would like to believe that not all children, especially by the high school age, are that foolish.

I just have a different opinion on this whole thing because my parents weren't concerned with me drinking. They definitely didn't tell me to go blackout, but they made clear that casual drinking with my friends was fine. Back in high school I would go blackout all the time though. It definitely wasn't an act of rebellion, it just made for a nice social lubricant and felt really good. So I would just like to believe that a lot of kids dont do it to spite anyone, they just do it because its available, fun, and is sometimes a social necessity. Kids probably abuse it for the same reasons, but they main problem with abuse is that they havent REALLY been taught about what it can do to your brain and liver long term.
Aug 17 2012 12:38PM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
Yep, and if you read any of my other posts you would have seen that I do place blame of alcohol abuse on parents and their lack of education in the consequences.
Aug 17 2012 12:58PM
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