I used to completely agree with dropping the age, but now that I'm almost (less than 4 mos) from 21, I say no. Simply because I had to wait just like everyone else to legally drink, and so did everyone before us. I don't want anyone getting a smaller waiting time just because of some kids who weren't patient...

FFS you'll end up drinking anyways. Besides, those golden high school/early college years are supposed to be the huge binge drinking years, and it just doesn't happen as much later on.

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Originally posted by DJ Lac The only reason why they changed it to 21 is becuase the stupid 18 year olds don't know how to drive while intoxicated ahah.. Look at europe they have no problems because they start drinking earlier and by the time they get their license they know not to drive drunk rofl or either that they know how to drive the streets blindfolded. In other words they are more mature then Americans in responsibility issue. It's a fact cuz America has the worst DUI in the world. Before America was fine having it at 18 then all the people who started driving around 16- 17 and start drinking at 18 became stupid. Read it up its all there on why they changed it from 18 to 21. They will never change it down to 18 since there are more accidents now then before. When will people learn. They still do the same shit even when their car gets taken away from them. They even ride their bike and get into accidents.

exactly

I will support an 18 year old drinking age under 2 conditions:

A) Raise the legal driving age to 21.

B) Make it considerably harder to excercise the privledge of obtaining a driver's license. because it is a privledge not a right. It is too easy to get a driver's license in this country and people need to work harder at learning how to drive and do it responsibly.

Do that and the Drinking and Driving problem is lessened, so it balances out.

MrS

___________________
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-"Reality" is the only word in the language that should always be used in quotes.

here in aus its 18 sucked in to all you USA ppl nah jks

when you're on your P's (probationary licence which you have for 3 years before you get your full licence) if you get caught with any amount of alcohol in your system while driving you get a 6 month ban. once your on you're full licence you can't have a blood alcohol reading of over .05. if you're caught with over .05 then you get a 6 month ban and a fine of 1000 bucks i think? but this is all only first time offences. 2nd time maybe a year ban of ur licence and a way higher fine and i think 3rd time maybe forever?

everyone of my mates (we're mostly 19) and everyone i know are very responsible when it comes to drink driving, if they have driven to a party, theres no way they would drink and drive. drink driving here is seen as a very very stupid thing to do. so i guess that helps.

i hear the US doesnt even have breath testers? haha, they still go on the 'walk in a straight line' 'stand on one foot and touch ur nose' bullshit? i cant even do that when im completely straight let alone drunk lol

Last edited by wick on Mar-23-2004 at 00:30

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Originally posted by wick i hear the US doesnt even have breath testers? haha, they still go on the 'walk in a straight line' 'stand on one foot and touch ur nose' bullshit? i cant even do that when im completely straight let alone drunk lol

No they do use them...they just don;t always use them in the field. The cops here can pick out a drunk very very well with a field sobriety test.

If you refuse a breathlizer it is automatic suspension and gine most places.

MrS

___________________
Click the sig to see MrSquirrel

-"Reality" is the only word in the language that should always be used in quotes.

i am not entirely sure the drinking age should be lowered. i mean, in theory it should be, but i dont think this country raises their children with enough responsibility to drink safely. so maybe if there was a different culture here it would ok, but there isnt and changing the law wont stimulate a chagne in culture.

I was just thinking about this, but the law in every 50 state says you have to be 21 to purchase alcohol.. but what about consuming alcohol?

Im not sure if every state now you have to be 21+ to drink, but I do remember that some states you could be 18 to legally consume alcohol. Louisiania and West Virginia are the two that come to mind... but I have no idea if they changed those laws or not.

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Originally posted by butterfly i am not entirely sure the drinking age should be lowered. i mean, in theory it should be, but i dont think this country raises their children with enough responsibility to drink safely. so maybe if there was a different culture here it would ok, but there isnt and changing the law wont stimulate a chagne in culture.

when i was in Italy in '99, i noticed that all the local teenagers who lived by the hotels we were stayin at didn't seem to have any interest in alcohol at all. and some Irish guy livin there told us that they're more interested in their little crappy 1.0 fiat uno (cars) & their little mopeds.

anyways. i went into an off licence (aged 15) and ordered 2 bottles of vodka.

so, the chic in the shop proceeded to lift a few bottles down from the shelf. wipe the dust off them, give another dusting, then handed it to me.

it was rotten.. but that's besides the point.
point is: Italian kids had no interest in drink!

quote:

Originally posted by MrSquirrel I will support an 18 year old drinking age under 2 conditions: A) Raise the legal driving age to 21. B) Make it considerably harder to excercise the privledge of obtaining a driver's license. because it is a privledge not a right. It is too easy to get a driver's license in this country and people need to work harder at learning how to drive and do it responsibly. Do that and the Drinking and Driving problem is lessened, so it balances out. MrS

you should add in another saying that we should change the current education system to teach how to drink responsibly.

I say we make those changes first, then move onto changing the age.

quote:

Originally posted by occrider He could use elements from that massive argument we got into about age restrictions a few months ago

Well that's what I was thinking, but then I realized that he'd be a bit of a hypocrite to use any of my arguments from that thread since he's advocating an arbitrary age (albeit a lower one) at which a "right" is acquired, which is exactly what I was arguing shouldn't exist at all.

Are u guys nuts?
Lowering the drinking age is an insane idea. When will people learn that prohibition works? NOBODY under 21 drinks in america u know. Lowering the drinking age would cause binge drinking, drink driving, teenage sex, non-compliance and total chaos basically. Those hypothetical problems dont exist yet, of course, but try lowering the age and u will know all about it, let me tell u.
Lowering the drinking age is equal to telling children that alcohol is absolutely harmless, when its actually quite dangerous. Its not in the same league as deadly substances such as ecstacy or, worst of all, cannabis, but legalising alcohol to people of such a young age is sending the wrong message. I propose that the age should actually be increased to say 30 or 35. That way all the problems caused by young people drinking will disappear overnight. I guarentee it.
Think of the childrun.

As Boomer said, using a correlation between drinking and going into the military just doesn't work. It's look as though you're just reaching for reasons why it should be lowered, and not looking at it objectively.

I for one don't think it should be lowered. While most people drink under the age of 21 anyway, I just don't feel the maturity level as well as a sense of responsibility is there yet. For a lot of people it's not much better at 21, but 18 just seems too young. If there was a way that bar/clubs had personal taxi services to take people home when flagged, I may consider it being ok.

The majority of the kids I know under 21 have fake ID's though, so the law is essentially shit on.