Lower Drinking age from 21 to 18?

[coolbeans326]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249460/?GT1=10252

If they're concerned about saving lives... they shouldn't worry as much about what can you drink... but rather have stricter punishments for things such as DUI. If you're drunk and inside you're house... who are you going to hurt? But if you're driving around the streets then you have a problem.

[Oscar]

piff, I say raise it to 40 years old.

Drinking age is the stupidest law we have...people are going to drink at the 18-21 range either way, so why make it be something done under wraps and unregulated and therefore more dangerous? Lowering the drinking age to 18 would likely lead to LESS fatalities and such from drinking. DUI's are a major problem either way though and I really think that within the next 5 years technology should be developed that consist of keys or something of the like to start your car that can actually detect a bac level and only allow vehicle operation at or under a certain bac level.

^Agreed. It's never harder to get access to alcohol at a younger age. I've been drinking since I was 13 . It depends on who you know and come on; every body has a friend that's a few years older. I?????????d say they should lower it to 18.

It's better to try out alcohol at a younger age, then the kids can learn how to handle there alcohol while there aren?????????t too much responsibilities in jeopardy. Also an 18 year old person is usually more fit to handle the amount of alcohol input.

I always thought that the US is insane to let people drive at 16 but can't buy a beer before they are 21. Driving is a bigger responsibility than alcohol would ever be.

We SA people get the right to drink at 18 and we can drive at 18.

I would have no problem with it if they lowered the age. I am already used to Canada's (most of it anyway..) drinking age of 19.

And like e-man said, people around that age are going to drink whether it is legal for them or not.

I think its completely irresponsible to get drunk. Buzzed? Sure. But full blown drunk where you cant coherantly complete sentences or conversations - idiotic.

but I enjoy a nice drink if Im out, but no more than 2 small glasses or one normal. No straight shots. I just prefer to enjoy the taste, feel the little warm buzz and be done with it.

[Oscar]

I like drinkin socially. I think it settles me in btter and makes me quite chatty and more fun. Otherwise I wont drink. I have a beer in my fridge that is like 3 months old That is unheard of! Though I prefer hard liquor and I have plenty of it sitting from where I used to work in my room and garage. One day it will be gone... one day...

I'll help make that collection disappear wws. [:D]

I do not drink alcohol, I do not like the taste of it. I never understood drinking to get drunk personally, I would agree with Real on this issue, and even if there were alcoholic drinks that I liked, I would not get drunk off of them, I would drink them like any other drink, in moderation.

I don't like the taste of alcohol either, I personally think it's just a waste of money. I'll stick with my gatorade . But lowering the age wouldn't do very much. It would cause less controversy with all the people yelling about "under-age dringking" but what the hell. I have that already had to have his apendix removed when he was 18, because he drinks so damn much. He's only 20 now and still drinks his ass off. I don't drink, I see no point of it.

[Coasterkidmwm]

I HAVE HEARD that Europeans don't go all apeshiz crazy like American's do in the college years with drinking. Why? A lower drinking age....

Again I have HEARD this not experienced it, there is a big difference.

[jayman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzm6Fbt2Lck
no..i think it should be raised to 25.. then those stupid frat boys can be locked up .

Lower the drinking age ... no. That is all.

Well, thats a compelling argument...

[jayman]

ok .. i tell you what you can trade the 18 year old vote for the 21 year old drinking, we'll switch it. you can drink when you're 18, but you can't vote for 3 more years..

Go ahead a lower the drinking age. Just means more teenagers can legally drink...

Based on that answer, my response is even a more pronounced "no".

TCon don't you have a kid whose gettin' near those ages?

[Oscar]

Tconwell has been drinking tonight... parents, lock up your kids, he's a pastor
someone's gonna be at me in the morning

People should not be allowed to vote or serve in the military if they are not deemed "totally responsible" or "adult" enough to make their own decisions. If they are, then they should be considered mature enough to decide whether they can handle a beer or not.

[hyyyper]

what effect would it have? usually teens drink from their 13/14's, you just need someone 21 (or 18 in holland for example) to get you the beer and you're done

Doesn't matter if the lower it or not in my opinion. All it will do is mean even more HS parties.

DUI and MIP should be ALOT stricter than they are now.

Originally posted by wersigobra

People should not be allowed to vote or serve in the military if they are not deemed "totally responsible" or "adult" enough to make their own decisions. If they are, then they should be considered mature enough to decide whether they can handle a beer or not.

if 18 y.o. are sent out to be in wars why shouldn't they be legal to drink. It used to be 18, it think it's smart. It means that kids will get to drink at 18 and be able to calm down for after so long, kids drinking illegally will keep drinking and then calm down until they hit 21...go 18!!!

by the cedar point was great today, except for the fact mav. kept braking down, but it was worth the wait!!!

I sort of agree with you. I mean, I couldn't really care less what the age is. Not like it's going to change any issues with underage drinking. Hell, change it to 14 for all I care [;)]

Also, did anyone know that MacDonald's serves free coffee from 5am-7am? Not like it has anything to do with the topic...

I don't drink alcohol (not old enough and my parents would kill me), but I agree with Real. There's nothing good from getting drunk off of the stuff. It's better just to have one or two glasses. Moderation is VERY important when drinking, even if it's not alcohol.

For me, my drink of choice is Coke. Only thing is it has tons of sugar. But at least the worst that could happen from drinking a bunch of cans (aside from cavities and that sort of thing) is a sugar rush.