Do you think the drinking age should be 18 again?

[littleindiangirl]

I'm of the mind, that YES! If you can fight for this country, smoke, gamble, vote, and any other number of adult things, then YES, you can drink.

I agree 1000% with the heads of colleges, that lowering the drinking age WILL bring those issues into the open and they can more easily deal with it.

Also, if kids are drinking at 18, and more than likely still at home with mom and dad, the parents will be able to take more of a hand in it.

I'm not that far from 18, and certainly closer to 21, kids will do what they want. It's time we stop trying to shovel the problem under the rug and address excessive drinking in the open by first making it legal, which will make it easier to talk about it without fear of ramifications, and having kids drink WITH adults and not just with other underage kids!

[Monty]

i dont think the age should change to 18 again, for the simple fact yea they are gonna drink anyways if they can get it, but think about how many deaths by drinking and driving is already if you get a new person behind the wheel at 18 and they have been at the bar thats just gonna up the death toll. i dont know i guess because im from jersey and the driving age is 17 for permit and 18 for your actual lisencse. and to me a newly driving person who is drunk is at more risk and might not know how to react to certain situations. well i might be biased since i was in an accident with a drunk driver. i dont think the cops give enough tickest for drunk driving. (sorry if it seems outta sequance but its how my thoughts linked together.)

[NightLad]

In Canada the drinking age is 19, and the age to buy porn is 18.

I believe that the drinking age should be 19 in the US, as well. Heck, in many European countries it is even lower, but, in fairness, the culture is different as well. Alcohol is not considered a raging 'taboo' in places like Greece, where older children are served a small glass of wine at the dinner table. I believe that the lack of taboo about alcohol contributes to the fact that many European countries have far fewer cases of alcohol related crimes, like impaired driving. Maybe they’ve built a higher tolerance for the stuff, or they’ve had longer to lean the value of moderation and responsible drinking. Either way...

I also believe the drinking age should be lowered for purely logical reasons. For example, in light of the fact that you only have to be 18 to join the Armed Forces. So, putting this into perspective; you can join the Army, get taught how to kill people, get handed live firearms and grenades, drive a freekin' tank, and get sent overseas to die for your country... but you are not considered "mature enough" to drink a beer in the privacy of your own home.

Ridiculous! Let them drink (legally, because we all know it happens anyway.) Ditto for porn!

[icygirl]

I voted Yes, but just to play the devil's advocate:

What about the fact that most kids turn 18 while they are still in high school? Wouldn't this mean that it would be MUCH easier for high schoolers to have access to alcohol?

Knee-jerk response = they have access to it anyway from older siblings, friends, cousins, etc. But I would argue that this source is limited. When I was in high school most people just didn't have a source to get alcohol from on a regular basis. Many 21+ siblings are off at college or busy working or in the military, where they can't pick up for their siblings.

[dsirkle]

In Canada the drinking age is 19, and the age to buy porn is 18.

In Ontario the age for consensual sex is 14. You can do it when you are 14 but you can't read about until you are 18.

[littleindiangirl]

i dont think the age should change to 18 again, for the simple fact yea they are gonna drink anyways if they can get it, but think about how many deaths by drinking and driving is already if you get a new person behind the wheel at 18 and they have been at the bar thats just gonna up the death toll.

Just been at the bar? Well, lets also take into account how many older more weathered people are at the bar as well? I'd say they'd be outweighing the 18 year olds by a good number. I think drunk driving is a serious thing, but I also know that in a large number of kids DO have a DD, or stay where they are drinking. Or, like in Mount Pleasant, call the private taxi service to take you to Lil' chef at 2 am to eat before you walk off to the dorms.

Our driving permits here in michigan can start at 14 and 9 months of age, you take drivers ed at 15, and get your license at 16. Maybe we just grow up faster around here, but that's not my point.

They are legally adults, they should be able to make decisions for themselves.

What about the fact that most kids turn 18 while they are still in high school? Wouldn't this mean that it would be MUCH easier for high schoolers to have access to alcohol?

Which highschoolers? How do you think they dealt with it before when it was 18? Where are the parents?? Why aren't they still parenting their under 18 year old teen? Hmm??

I've always been of the mind that I'd rather my kid was in my house, not driving, not away on some farm in the middle of nowhere, drinking with their friends under my supervision. Not god knows where sneaking some whiskey with a bunch of other underaged kids.

[NightLad]

In Ontario the age for consensual sex is 14. You can do it when you are 14 but you can't read about until you are 18.

Actually, the Federal Government changed the age of consent to 16 in a bill passed earlier this year.

[reptiman93]

haha even if it doesnt just head up to canada!!!!!!!!! i am like an hour from it. but who are the people who said no on this poll??? your crazy . kids gotta party

[CeraDigital]

Military folks are able to drink at 18 on base. Personal experience and many, many fuzzy nights.

Nope nope....we weren't allowed to drink on any of the US bases if we were under 21, when I was in the Army.

[littleindiangirl]

Nope nope....we weren't allowed to drink on any of the US bases if we were under 21, when I was in the Army.

Maybe it's a base by base thing?