Should the drinking age be lowered?

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Ridiculous

Article didn't specify Marines, so Im still not convinced. Anyway, you're ruining my point. I don't care about this silly argument. All I was originally trying to say, is that experiencing war is probably not good for an 18 year old brain. You can't argue against that. Killing someone or watching people being killed is considered a traumatic experience. Anybody who isn't a sociopath will have trouble dealing with those images. If our government expects us to be able to handle that well, I would think that it would expect us to be able to handle at least small amounts of alcohol.

Nov 13 2012 10:14AM

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snwbrdmilf

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@th1337

This thread has been made 1,000 times before.

Simple answer, no.

American teenagers are not mature enough, nor were brought up in an environment, to handle or respect the substance.

And American adults don't want kids in their taverns and bars.

Nov 13 2012 10:18AM

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Peach.

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Which is too damn bad.

Nov 13 2012 11:27AM

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KJacks

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I live in manitoba where the drinking age is 18, and it doesnt cause any issues. I mean the only difference is your doing it legally earlier.

Nov 13 2012 11:39AM

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skifoo

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finland must not be in europe then.

we have it 18, but pretty much everyone starts drinking before it

Nov 13 2012 11:44AM

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Peach.

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I shudder to think what could happen if some of the kids in my town could drink legally.

Nov 13 2012 11:45AM

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fujarome

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Crazy Fool

based on everything that's been said, it would require an article that specifically mentions the marines you personally know, and has been notarized by your grandmother to convince you otherwise.

I can make the same argument as you. I know 4 marines who served in combat, and did multiple tours. They're all fine. Therefore 100% of marines do not suffer from PTSD.

Nov 13 2012 11:54AM

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WillStart

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Yeah but kids tend to get a little more reckless when there's hard a around from what i've experienced. not saying kids can't get crazy with beer, but hard alcohol just encourages it even more.

this thread has been made so many times and i don't know why i keep posting in it, but the last thing i'll say is that my roommate last year got a DUI 6 days after he turned 21, and he blew a .2. Yes he is a fucking idiot, but if there are people acting like that at 21 years old, imagine how many people would be doing that at 18. Unfortunately that's definitely due in part to drinking culture in the US and the ease with which people can acquire a driver's license, but that's just how it is.

Nov 13 2012 12:04PM

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theabortionator

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^ Aren't there some places that require you to take your road test in a standard? That would be awesome. Wouldn't rule out stupidity, but people would actually have to learn how to drive to an extent to get on the roads. Also down with tightening up on those courses.

If you're driving like an idiot all the time you should have to take another test.

It's easier for some people to get a license than make macaroni and cheese from a box.

Nov 13 2012 12:11PM

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errrka

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18 but you have to have a high school diploma or GED....

/endthread

Nov 13 2012 12:40PM

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theabortionator

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What the hell does that have to do with anything? What a random addition.

Nov 13 2012 12:46PM

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bakedpow

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probably so youre not buying alcohol for minors/while still in high school.

Nov 13 2012 12:52PM

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NBCskier

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Answer...no. It works other places due to the long running drinking culture. Americas drinking culture is to drink in excess. Lowering the drinking age would cause big time problems. Just keep your pants on and wait till youre twenty one kiddos.

Nov 13 2012 12:56PM

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Crazy Fool

i changed my mind, after reading the posts in this thread. it's obvious americans should just straight up not drink at all. their parents refuse to teach them anything, they refuse to learn anything, and they're already awful at being sober so why add alcohol? maybe just smoke weed instead.

Nov 13 2012 12:57PM

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errrka

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The problem with lowering the age to 18 (considered an adult, but theres still a weird grey area) is that there are 18 year olds that are still in high school. To ensure that they are not they must present a diploma or some sort of proof like that while getting your ID from the DMV/BMV. Also ensures that, put nicely, the not brightest of our nation aren't allowed to drink until they've educated themselves. They could also implement a course in high schools to not, abstain from drinking, but to educate it, BAC tables and party tips/advice. Like with ANY law there are going to be rule breakers or people that can't handle their shit, but just because some 16 year olds get in car accidents does that mean that the driving age should be raised?

Also, personal experience: I just turned 21 on Sunday, but I grew up in a very German/open family where my parents let me drink occasionally around the house growing up (once I hit high school). Throughout that time I didn't feel the need to go wild and get drunk like everyone else because I knew what it tasted like knew how it felt, etc. When I was 17 I moved to Austria where the drinking age for beer and wine is 16 and hard alcohol is 18. To be honest my third month there I went a little too hard one night and should have gone to the hospital, but I survived and since then have, for the most part, learned how to control my intake. I turned 18 (kind of like 21 celebrations here) a month after that and the rest of the year went smoothly. Also lived in Utah the year after on a dry campus (weird stuff happens there) and then came to Ohio State, huge party school.

It's all about exposure and learning (even being taught) what can and probably will happen. Also how to look out for your friends.

Nov 13 2012 1:06PM

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FrenchToastMafia

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Yes, it shoud be 18. having the drinking age at 21 makes ppl break the law...

Nov 13 2012 1:28PM

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*simba*

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Crazy Fool

I totally agree with you 100% about not being mature enough. We aren't.

But...if we're not mature enough to drink alcohol, why are we mature enough to murder in the armed forces? It really doesn't make sense. Either raise one age or lower the other.

Nov 13 2012 1:32PM

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Crazy Fool

you're very confusing. you want people to be educated on alcohol without experiencing it, despite referencing personal experience in which experiencing alcohol taught you how to handle it. everyone knows that hands-on experience trumps theoretical education so why not let the highschoolers learn the right way? also, the drinking age already is "raised", being the highest in the world, because some 18 year olds can't handle their liquor, so whatever point you were trying to make with the driving thing is moot. when you say you "should have gone to the hospital," but you survived without it, what does that mean, that you did or did not need a hospital? did someone perform the necessary medical procedures on you to keep you from dying, or was there really no danger of dying in the first place?

my understanding is that more than anywhere else in the world, when americans hit the drinking age (being 21) they drink themselves stupid or dead because they don't know what the fuck they're doing. not saying it happens to everyone, obviously, but it happens to the kids who don't have previous experience with booze, who don't know their limit.
people keep bringing up that the drinking age shouldn't be lowered because of the drinking culture in america, sure i agree with that, but i guess it seems fairly obvious to me that the drinking culture in america needs to change. there are 16 year olds in most countries that are more experienced and better educated about alcohol than 21 year olds in america, and americans are somehow proud of that (weirdos). "we shouldn't lower the drinking age because our culture breeds ignorance" oh ok, so you don't want to change that?

Nov 13 2012 1:41PM

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errrka

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I said that I wanted to lower the drinking age, I don't know where you go that from...

Anyways, the problem is that the high school and almost as important transportation (Americans rely heavily on driving themselves which obviously doesn't mix with alcohol) system is important to consider.

And I think people should be educated and for experience parents should do their part, you can't just let a bunch of 16 year olds loose at a bar, that would be idiotic.

And for the drinking too much thing in austria, i probably had alcohol poisoning, but didn't want to get sent home from the program I was doing, so the other students took care of me, puked for 5 hours until I was just dry heaving for about an hour and couldn't keep even water and crackers down. I was still sick for a few days after, but that wasn't my point

I think that once someone is done with high school they should be allowed to drink whether it be 18 with proof or flat out 19.

And going to a huge university, everyone drinks, well almost everyone. It's just a matter of how hard it is to obtain your alcohol and whether or not you have a good fake. And I think there's a problem with that.

and it's just my opinion, I'm not saying you have to agree with me

Nov 13 2012 1:54PM

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Crazy Fool

sorry i didn't realize you were for lowering, i guess that driving age thing threw me off.
i don't see a high school diploma as being in any way a measure of intelligence or maturity, and i'm pretty sure you could be shitfaced daily and still graduate high school, so i'll disagree with you there.
sorry again, i'm not seeing your problem clearly. is it that university students are drinking, or that they're drinking illegally, or that it's easy for them drink illegally, or what?

i'm not saying we have to agree either, just that i don't understand your perspective.

Nov 13 2012 2:06PM

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Crazy Fool

you're the one being a dick, that kid just said he enjoys drinking and you called him a cocky asshole.

Nov 13 2012 2:23PM

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Crazy Fool

Called it, just admit you lost you Haven't posted a single statistic that states otherwise I just want to hear you admit you're wrong.

Nov 13 2012 2:30PM

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TheClap.

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@th1337

i loled

"JUST ADMIT IT BITCH"

Nov 13 2012 2:35PM

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disastertourism

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I can completely get where you're coming from, but I feel one of the differences is that downing 10 pints is so hard to do.
Two shots followed by something like a jagerbomb then more shots is so much easier to do without projectile vomiting all over the bar.

Nov 13 2012 6:15PM

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bustinthejus

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Why does everyone assume that a lower drinking age would automatically result in an increase in DUI's? I live in Ontario, and I've had easy access to alcohol since I was 14. I don't know if the States have a law like that, but in Ontario you're allowed to drink with parental consent in your own house. Not that people wouldn't do it anyways without the law in place, but I feel like that encourages parents to teach their children the dangers and effects of alcohol before they're too old to be able to be controlled by their parents. Think about it - if you start drinking at 15, chances are good that your parents can educate you about alcohol. Even if they don't condone it, I guarantee you they know/will find out before you graduate. If you start drinking at 21, you're already away from your parents. Nobody to guide you, nobody to listen to, and so you just binge drink like it's the coolest fucking thing ever. The way things should move should be education in schools, by parents, etc. with more lax laws with regards to under-age drinking with parents, and then eventually lower to 18. On top of that, more education about drinking and driving...

Nov 13 2012 10:36PM

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Ridiculous

Please just consider what my main point contributes to the idea that people in the US shouldn't be allowed to drink until they're 21. And no. You haven't given me statistics that prove me wrong.

Nov 13 2012 11:04PM

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Chinchi

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Insane

Oh but we are getting there my friend, slowly but surely.

Nov 13 2012 11:15PM

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BlackCupid

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The people who don't obey drunk driving laws are the same people who won't obey age restrictions on alcohol consumption. Using drunk driving as an argument against a lower drinking age is just dumb. If you really wanted to decrease drunk driving, you'd increase the driving age, not the drinking age.

Nov 13 2012 11:22PM

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corona

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Crazy Fool

or just increase the punishment. minimum charge of attempted murder for anyone caught drunk driving would work

Nov 13 2012 11:23PM

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BlackCupid

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Insane

That's draconian. If you want draconian, move to North Korea.

Nov 13 2012 11:24PM

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Crazy Fool

I posted 2 learn how to read

I win you lost get fucked.

Nov 13 2012 11:27PM

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fujarome

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now that I really think of it, the military argument really doesn't hold any weight.

Yes, you can fight and die at 18. But you can't drink.

The difference is that if you join at 18, you have months of training and preparation, all of which is specifically geared towards making you combat ready. And this is after going through initial testing just to make sure you can enough last through training. So despite being younger, you still go through pretty intense preparation to get you ready, and beyond that, there are always people above you giving you orders/leading you.

Whereas when you become the legal drinking age...you simply wake up one morning, and suddenly you have legal access to enough alcohol to kill you and others in a matter of hours. Absolutely no preparation.

Nov 13 2012 11:28PM

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corona

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didn't say I want that. but it would work.

Nov 13 2012 11:31PM

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BlackCupid

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Insane

Giving the death penalty for speeding tickets would also work. Doesn't mean it's a suggestion worth mentioning.

Nov 13 2012 11:32PM

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dreadyboy

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It should defs be 18 everywhere with chill cops that will only ticket younger people if they're being stupid. Moving from alberta (18) to bc (19) when I was 18.5 was sooooo annoying. If the government trusts my judgement to vote and says I'm an adult who has to pay taxes, they damn well better trust let me drink. The fact that you can get a mip at 20 in the states just blows my mind. You guys have way cheaper booze though.

Nov 13 2012 11:47PM

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corona

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of course it is. if you want to properly assess something you must weigh out every possibility. not including one of the largest variables in combating drunk driving is plain idiotic. and to properly assess that individual variable you need to look it through from one extreme to the other.

Nov 14 2012 12:15AM

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7-3instacall

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takin 8 shots is alot easier than chugging 8 bears
if you have water 8 shots is nothing
and yah they should lower the age, im from canada and everytime im in usa i hate asking people to buy my liquor

Nov 14 2012 12:50AM

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theabortionator

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I mean I understand what you're going for, I just don't agree with it at all.

Somebody doesn't finish high school they can never drink? Yup that makes sense.

"They could also implement a course in high schools to not, abstain from drinking, but to educate it, BAC tables and party tips/advice. "

Yes we should make a high school class about partying and drinking. Great idea.

"Like with ANY law there are going to be rule breakers or people that can't handle their shit, but just because some 16 year olds get in car accidents does that mean that the driving age should be raised?"

No, but changing laws because of one person is generally retarded. The problem with driving is, a lot of 16 year olds drive like complete idiots out there and end up crashing. Another reason why I would rather have cops going after shitty drivers/reckless drivers than people going 10 mph over the speed limit when it's safe.

"It's all about exposure and learning (even being taught) what can and probably will happen. Also how to look out for your friends."

I agree. In that sense we have this weird obsession with not changing things here. Just because something is going to have some negatives at first, doesn't mean it won't balance out. I'm not saying this is anything similar, but look at ending segregation, was that just a wonderful easy process? Just because something has couple bumps at the start doesn't mean it should never ever ever be done.

Also I think that our label as an adult in America is absolute bullshit. You aren't an adult. You're never an adult in America. Adult have rights, freedoms, and personal responsibility.

Nov 14 2012 9:31AM

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Ridiculous

They weren't good enough. Im still just as right. I like having you as my research bitch though. Ill have a lot more papers to write next semester. Maybe Ill just make claims that are certain to anger you whenever I need half-assed sources for a teacher who won't care.

Nov 14 2012 5:23PM

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Crazy Fool

No one has agreed with your made up statistic, and being that you no longer have an argument anymore

Nov 14 2012 6:33PM

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Ridiculous

The statistic contributed little to nothing to the argument I was making. Now have yourself a little research session, read your way through the thread again, try to figure out what I was saying, and we will have ourselves an actual discussion relavent to this thread you little statistics cop you. ;)

Nov 14 2012 7:00PM

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