Lower Drinking Age? Options

[cnelson]

Not sure if this has already been brought up or not.. However I am bored, and have always thought that this was a good topic to debate on.


Recently I started my freshmen year at college. I'm going to Coastal Carolina University, if anyone lives around the Myrtle Beach area you probably know that nearly are whole football team was suspended due to alcohol related incidents. I have been a "legal" adult for over a year now. I just turned 19 a couple weeks ago. Being away at school my parents and myself both knew I was going to drink. I guess my family is very open and my parents trust me enough not to make any decisions to put myself or others at risk. I have been drinking probably since I was about 16.. Always socially, not by myself or anything like that. So lets say I am.. "Drinking Responsibly"

Now I, more than most probably understand the need for laws. I also understand the need for equality. Although I know no one can ever truly win this argument I believe that I have some good points that I would like to get off my chest..

We can start off with a few simple points. The whole.. "If I'm old enough to die for my country, be convicted for a crime, pay child support etc.. at 18, than why am I not old enough to drink?" This is probably the most influential point anyone can make.. Look if I can go fight a war, but I can't drink a damn beer. Someone has there facts mixed up, because last time I checked fighting a war is much more dangerous than drinking a beer, or even a few beers for that matter.

I know a lot of people think that teenagers are not responsible enough to drink, and do it with a adult manner. WRONG. A lot of people also think that teenagers don't care about drinking and driving. WRONG. The fact of the matter is, I am right in the crowd with these very people.. Of all the things I always see, the one I see most is.. Friends not letting another friend drive home because he's had to much to drink, or giving someone a ride home because you know there is no way you would want them to drive, or someone asking for a ride home because they know there is no way they should be driving.

My final point is simply this.. People are going to drink and drive at any age, 21, 31, 41, 51, 91. It doesn't make a difference. The only thing that makes a difference is if we are properly educated about the risks with drinking and drive. My message is, Stop throwing the issue under the table by saying teens aren't responsible enough. Start by educating people, teaching them that you can drink and still maintain a right state of mind.

I know there will always be people who disagree, and I'm sure there will be many people who do not like my comments, and people who agree with me. I would like to make a change, and although I am only one young person.. We are growing in numbers everyday. Right now politicians may be able to ignore us because we aren't the majority vote, However soon enough our voice will be heard and questions will not be able to be thrown away. One day we will have a common voice as young people, who can make a difference on any situation, not just the drinking age. Thanks for any comments you may have.

This post has been edited by cnelson: Dec 15, 2008 - 4:07 PM

[cnelson]

Ha, well after doing some more research.. nine states have tried to pass laws to make the minimum age 18 again. Not sure what nine states those were.

It disgusts me how on the MADD website.. Mothers against drunk driving. They blame parents for the problem. Its not the parents. Its the law. I get so angry when I read up on these types of things. Man it just makes we want to go stick it to the man, however I know that being a child about and cursing everyone off, probably isn't going to get to much done except maybe a couple tickets.

This post has been edited by cnelson: Dec 15, 2008 - 4:30 PM

[GriffGirl]

Ha, well after doing some more research.. nine states have tried to pass laws to make the minimum age 18 again. Not sure what nine states those were.

It disgusts me how on the MADD website.. Mothers against drunk driving. They blame parents for the problem. Its not the parents. Its the law. I get so angry when I read up on these types of things. Man it just makes we want to go stick it to the man, however I know that being a child about and cursing everyone off, probably isn't going to get to much done except maybe a couple tickets.

How is it the law that's the problem, and not the parents? That's totally skewed logic. When I was growing up, the drinking age was still 18 in D.C. - a short half hour drive from where I grew up. So we went to DC to get alcohol. Kids still died in alcohol related accidents, even though they were drinking "legally". It's illegal to own a gun without a permit. So if people get shot and killed in a drive-by, it's the law's fault?

It's the responsibility of parents to teach their kids to have a healthy respect for things that can do harm to themselves or others. This means that it's the responsibility of parents to teach their kids about gun safety, driving safety, and using alcohol responsibly. You say you use it responsibly? Well who do you think you have to thank for that? Who taught you that?

The simple fact is that a good majority of alcohol-related deaths and injuries happen to young people. Not just car accidents, I mean alcohol-related in general. Lots of teenagers drinking too much. So yeah, I'm okay with the law being 21. Did I personally respect or abide by that law? No, I sure as hell didn't. But I'm a lot older than you now and I can easily look back and some of the colossally stupid sh1t I did and say that I'm pretty lucky something bad didn't happen to me. Having that perspective, I can honestly support the law being 21. We have a different culture than in Europe, that's why 18 didn't work for us in the first place.

Oh, and as for the legal age to drive? I also think 16 is too young. I also agree that it's totally hypocritical that you can die for your country and vote but not drink at 18. But that doesn't mean the drinking age should be the thing to change.

[D-Man]

Ha, well after doing some more research.. nine states have tried to pass laws to make the minimum age 18 again. Not sure what nine states those were.

It disgusts me how on the MADD website.. Mothers against drunk driving. They blame parents for the problem. Its not the parents. Its the law. I get so angry when I read up on these types of things. Man it just makes we want to go stick it to the man, however I know that being a child about and cursing everyone off, probably isn't going to get to much done except maybe a couple tickets.

How is it the law that's the problem, and not the parents? That's totally skewed logic. When I was growing up, the drinking age was still 18 in D.C. - a short half hour drive from where I grew up. So we went to DC to get alcohol. Kids still died in alcohol related accidents, even though they were drinking "legally". It's illegal to own a gun without a permit. So if people get shot and killed in a drive-by, it's the law's fault?

It's the responsibility of parents to teach their kids to have a healthy respect for things that can do harm to themselves or others. This means that it's the responsibility of parents to teach their kids about gun safety, driving safety, and using alcohol responsibly. You say you use it responsibly? Well who do you think you have to thank for that? Who taught you that?

The simple fact is that a good majority of alcohol-related deaths and injuries happen to young people. Not just car accidents, I mean alcohol-related in general. Lots of teenagers drinking too much. So yeah, I'm okay with the law being 21. Did I personally respect or abide by that law? No, I sure as hell didn't. But I'm a lot older than you now and I can easily look back and some of the colossally stupid sh1t I did and say that I'm pretty lucky something bad didn't happen to me. Having that perspective, I can honestly support the law being 21. We have a different culture than in Europe, that's why 18 didn't work for us in the first place.

Oh, and as for the legal age to drive? I also think 16 is too young. I also agree that it's totally hypocritical that you can die for your country and vote but not drink at 18. But that doesn't mean the drinking age should be the thing to change.

i have to agree that parents NEED to take responsibility with their kids. My folks never cared that i drank starting at 15 when i came home drunk one night. They told me that if i wanted to drink then i needed to stay home. I could drink all i wanted at my house, i just couldn't leave after i opened my first w/e i was drinking. Same went for my friends. They could come over and get as sh!t faced as they wanted as long as we came up with some loot; and parents gave the "Okay". and if i wanted to go get hammered at my friends place, Same rules applied.

They taught me that after i started drinking, i didn't need to be driving any where, or really going out doing anything. as a result i've never got hit with PI; and usualy leave the bars right before one so that i can stop and pick up another 6 or so (because i really do drink alot) but i wont get HAMMERED in public. Even at a bar, i will not drink so much that i loose my composure. Ever. Thanks to my mamma slaping the sh!t out of me and laying down the law when i was 15. ( it's funny that my mom slaped and lexured, then my dad was pooring me and him a shot of jack )

But MADD does get carried away too.

I think the thing with drinking age is the bar owners doesn't want any 16 years old teeny boppers in their facility...very understandable..lol.

Jailbait should not be allowed in such establishments. For that fact of matter; 16 year old kids get WAY wasted WAY fast and do WAY stupid things. That's deff an issue. I see no problem with 18, but 16 is still too immature.

This post has been edited by D-Man: Dec 15, 2008 - 5:07 PM