cmcdougall

Why are we the only country in the world with a legal drinking age of 21? What makes us so much different??

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html

uatrmpt

Because the majority of teenagers and college students cannot handle alcohol. Contrary to what other countries say,they have just as much of a, if not bigger, problem with teen-20 alcoholism. It would be worse in the US if people could buy it at a younger age.

PINCHUNO

Kids are always going to find ways to buy drink if they want it. It's usually better to not try and make such a big taboo out of it. If all they hear are adults saaying "don't drink, it's really bad for you" etc, then they're going to want to try it even more so. When I was in the sytes a few years ago, I met a sound engineer on one gig, who was having first ever drink at 21. I couldn't believe it! He was acting as though it was some amazing ritual and everything was going to be different thereafter. I think they should be allowed to have a little sip now and then 15 or 16 onwards and have explained to them the pros and cons of alcohol and not this "not until you're 18/21" prohibition that makes them even more inquisitive. Did age limits ever stop children from smoking?

trumpetgirl612

frankly i agree that under 21 children cannot handle alcohol well
however, I am an 18 year old student in the US, i grew up in a small city where drunk driving was prevalent as were smoking and drinking from age 10 on up
however, in my houe my parents never forbid me from drinking. when i was 16 i was allowed one wine cooler at family functions and special occasions
at 17 it was sunday dinners and a watered down glass of wine
by 18 so long as I am in for the night and not going anyhwere else, I am allowed up to two drinks
it certianly helped when I went to europe shortly after my 18th birthday, as I knew what drinks to order to accompany my meal while others ordered simply to order and drink

as a first year college student i also already knew my drinking limits and never exceeded, if and when i felt the need to drink in a social situations, generally dinners accompanied by a glass of nice wine, rather than beer or mixed drinks at parties.

Manny Laureano

This could turn into a fascinating discussion about rites of passage and the value given to those various rites.

I have given my 15 year-old son tastes of wines that I've had just so that he has an idea of how strong the taste is and I've done the same with the occasional beer I have in front of him. We have had discussions about enjoying alcohol and about drunkenness. We've talked about the stupidity of getting so drunk you have the pleasure of throwing up until you feel like your insides are going to turn inside out. We've talked about the distinct flavors that certain alcoholic beverages will have. I've also told him that he's never seen his father drunk not will he ever.

It's about honesty when it comes to talking with young people. They can smell baloney a mile away.

Having said that, I have to say that I read with delight about the friend that saved up to age 21 to have his first drink. It sounded like he'll remember that for the rest of his life. I had my first drink at age 19. It was a simple can of beer but I enjoyed it and still remember it.

Rites of passage are good, I think. They are like milestones and I think there's nothing wrong with waiting for those milestones, eagerly looking forward to them, and enjoying them when they happen. It teaches you the value of patience. Too much is assigned the "What's the big deal?" status these days. Nothing is special anymore. Nothing is worth waiting for. What a shame. Oh, yeah... the season finale to your favorite show. But if you miss it, you can record it or TVO it, and watch it over and over whenever you wish. No need to wait for a time of year to see a special event. Rent or buy the video of it.

ML

gregc

1: Insurance companies
2: lawyers
3: insurance company/lawyer coverts, like the national highway safety foundation. All BS, IMO.

I grew up in the 18 year old drinking age, though coming from an Italian-American family and neighborhood we tasted wine, beer, and some liquors from a very young age. As a result, I never wanted to go hang in the woods in mid-winter with my friends to drink. I'd have a glass of vino and chit chat with with my family instead.
Another thing.......... I used to gig a lot back then and the bar-live music scene was unbelieveably busy. With the changes in the drinking law, that great music scene and the gigging opportunities went bye-bye. I miss those days. I understand not everyone could handle it. It seems a shame to make everyone pay though,

tpter1

I came of age at a funny time: I came of age at 18, then 19 when they reaised it for the first time, then 21.

My problem with the 21 year old age is this: we recruit people of 18 to go fight for our country, and possibly make the ultimate sacrifice in doing so. We can decide our leaders at 18 in an election. We are considered adults in many, many ways at 18. By law, can you not be married at 18? Yet, those same people cannot have a beer at the end of the day. An 18-20 year old returning from Iraq cannot have a glass of champagne to celebrate his return; 18-20 year old newleyweds cannot have champagne for their toast at their wedding. But they can buy tobacco products and begin their journey of self-destruction and poisoning. I think it a huge inconsistency.


I agree that there are far too many young deaths due to driving and drinking. That young people process things differently than those of us above 25 or so. I agree that responsibility is key, and that parents need to take an active role in the lives of their children and discuss this openly and honestly.

PINCHUNO

This last post reminded me of the similar situation in England. I'm not sure wether it's still the same. You could have sex and get married by the age of 16, yet you couldn't watch a pornographic movie until you were 18, nor could you drink or smoke a cigarette/cigar to celebrate either of the above mentioned moments

Solar Bell

Sorry, that's just too funny to me...

"Let's have a cigarette to celelbrate watching this porno flick!"

-cw-

Eclipsehornplayer

Must refrain...

Drinking... A most interesting topic indeed...

I guess a case could be made in either direction; however it is what it is.

I've tried to HONESTLY educate my children on many things. Drinking is one of them.

I, Like, Manny have allowed my oldest child who is 15 to have very limited amounts of various alchohol's to "get a taste" of it in my presence. I figure if I take the mistique out of drinking then it's just boiled down to what it is...
drinking and nothing more.

I try to teach him that one or two is acceptable; getting so hammered that your not sure what planet your on anymore is not.

I let him know that I am guilty of the latter. I want him to know that my words have credability. I let him know that I'm am not proud of that time in my life when I was drinking to excess.

I let him know that I'm telling him these things because I know he will do it. He of course tells me that he wont but I know better. I just want him to know what to expect and how to behave.

I stress that if at any time he has had more then 2 drinks and he's driving; DO NOT DRIVE.. CALL ME, HIS MOM, ANYONE JUST DON'T DRIVE!

I let him know that drunk driving is not funny and it KILLS! It's one of the most preventable crimes on the planet and it's up to him to be man enough to keep it from happening.

I also let him know that regardless of what happend to him should he choose to be stupid enough to drink and drive; the A** Whipping he'll receive from me would be of Biblical proportion should I ever find out he did such a stupid and irresponsible thing.

I let him know that I'd fully support the death penalty for drunk driving when you kill innocent people because of your own stupidity.

I also let him know that although I'm not proud of my "Drinking days" I am proud of the fact that I never drove drunk. I used to sleep it off in the backseat of my truck in the bar parking lot!

I figure if I'm truthful with him and arm him with my life's expirences then just maybe he'll be Ok.

I also explained to him how terrible a feeling it is to have your stomach violently emptied after having too much to drink.

I told him if he's smart this will only have to happen once for him to never want it to happed again...

I could go on and on, I'm sure that those of us with "LIFE" under our belts understand fully just what it is that I'm getting at..

I just hope and pray that all of my children will turn out Ok.

As for the original question that Collin asked I think that it boils down to maturity.

I'd suspect that the lawmakers who made the legal drinking age 21 were intending to make us all wait until we were old enough and mature enough to drink. Sadly I think that they got it wrong.

If we all had to wait until we were mature enough to drink we'd all be 35 before we had that first legal drink.

I think it all starts at home; and if were honest with our children and they have any commen sense at all things will be fine.