The drinking age in the United States has been twenty one since 1933. It was established by the Twenty First Amendment of the Constitution which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, Prohibition. Since then, there has been a set age on who is or is not allowed to possess and drink alcohol.

However, the problem with this is the brain is not fully developed until the person is twenty five. That means until twenty five alcohol is detrimental to the brain's development. It can hinder it or destroy it. Alcohol kills brain cells. Is it really safe to be drinking something that harms an underdeveloped brain? (rhetorical, do not answer)

So, my question is, do you think the drinking age should be raised to twenty five? Why or why not?

I believe that the drinking age should stay at 21 [and it's not just cause i turn 21 in july lol] but mainly because it doesn't really what age you set the limit for legal drinking age, there will still be minors drinking and not everyone is an irrisponsible drink til you get wasted type of person even when they turn that age. I know many people who find ways to drink when they are 14 and sometimes even younger. I don't like nor condone it, but if you look to the nations where the drinking age is set lower, there are not as many problems. If it is raised it will just cause more rebellious drinkers.

I think the higher you make the drinking age, the more young and irresponsible people are going to desperately try and seek alcohol. Drinking in moderation is not what kills your brain, drinking in excess will. Guess what minors do the second they get their hands on alcohol? e_e
I believe the drinking age should be lowered, if anything.

That's also something I had thought of, I know for a while the drinking age in america was actually 18 instead of 21, And honestly, If you can vote and be sent off to be killed in a war, you should be legally allowed to drink at that age.

Lol for one thing a lot of 21 and 22 year old adults would be ANGRY. another thing is that when they made that law i don't think they were saying 21 is when you are ready to drink beer but it is when you are adult enough to make the decision to do or not do it. last but not least is the fact that regardless of how high the age limit is there are still going to be people doing it whose brains aren't fully developed Ex. I know a 12 year old who drinks beer on a regular basis - his parents let him - raising the age to 25 isn't going to stop him or anyone else his age from doing it

You are all right. Raising the age will not stop others from doing it illegally. However, it will make it illegal and they will get in trouble for it.

I honestly don't like even the smell of alcohol. I'm underage so I probably don't have as strong a voice in this but I think that no matter what you do, wether you raise the age or lower it, people are still going to be irresponsible and get recklessly drunk. It's really sad but true.

I think the age should be lowered to 18, if you can fight for your country and give your life for it, then you should be able to drink a beer or a glass of wine. All over the rest of the world 18 is the consensus. I didn't know that drinking any amount of alcohol would destroy brain cells. I drank wine when I was 14 with my father and I'm perfectly fine.

Originally Posted by EternalRaine323

You are all right. Raising the age will not stop others from doing it illegally. However, it will make it illegal and they will get in trouble for it.

Let's be realistic. They probably won't even get a slap on the wrist for their drunken underage antics unless they're complete and total idiots, just like how it is now.
I really don't see how we can benefit from a higher drinking age.

I'm with Kole, I honestly feel if you are able to sign your life away, being tired for murder and given the death penalty, allowed to make legal descions, you should be able to drink. Yes, the brain may not continue to grow till 25, but we already established you being a legal adult at 18, you should be allowed to drink then.

And the problem is, alcohol is not always bad for you, done in moderation, it is good for the body and something you should do, but anything in excess is bad for you. The problem with it is more of a cultural and family thing of how we glorify drinking in excess and doing stupid stuff and not teaching our kids to drink in moderation.

I think it's a good idea to raise it.
Seems like even at 21, there still aren't people mature enough to handle alcohol.
But then again, lots of older people still can't either.

Personally, I'd love a dry country.

I don't think drinking age matter to a lot of people. I'm 21 but i know people who are way younger then me and they drink more often. The only reason the age was raised from 18 was because people couldn't handle it yes it's true many people can't handle it now but that makes no difference because there is always gonna be someone somewhere who just can't handle it. I know people who have this problem and well they are well over the age of 25. plus people will just go to Canada to do it anyway.

If you're old enough to die for your country, you are certainly old enough to drink. Take it from a vet ;o) Nobody really complains about this anymore, though, because who wants to deal with a bunch of drunk teenagers when they go out for some adult fun?!

at 18 we are legal adults we can join the military and smoke cigarettes play the lotto i don't see why drinking age isn't 18.

i agree. It's just like when they lowered the voting age to 18. The logic there was if they can fight for their country at 18, why the heck can't they vote for their own commander in chief?

Originally Posted by CrymsonRaven

i agree. It's just like when they lowered the voting age to 18. The logic there was if they can fight for their country at 18, why the heck can't they vote for their own commander in chief?

agreed again, i didn't even think of voting.

well, i just turned 18, so it kinda hits home for me

We have a right to destroy our bodies, I think.

Unfortunetaly, alcohol is one of those substances that can cause a LOT of destruction for other people-- domestic violence, drunk driving, etc.

I think alcohol is seriously dangerous.
If it was something like cigarettes, yes, it's bad, but it doesn't make you want to rip someone's head off or start a fight.

I think we should have a right to do what we want to ourselves, but not to others.

So personally, I'd be perfectly fine if they banned alcohol altogether.

I really disagree with that, I mean its PC gone mad. I mean people are gonna drink, raising the drinking age won't stop them drinking, it just makes it harder for them, its a fact of life people drink, and all your going to achive by raising the drinking age is a lot of rebellion!

You know, after I see people who came from car accidents and you see stupid people at college and everything (especially in Vegas, growing up you see it almost everyday), sometimes I wish the drinking age would go up.
Sadly though, i think if the drinking age was to go up, there would be to much of a riot and disturbance for most people, so I say it's fine for twenty-one.

.....but if it goes down to 18.....man i think we'll ALL be screwed! XP

NOOO dont raise ittt~
In my province the limit is 18 for everything~! And I just came of age a few weeks ago wooo hoo.
Everywhere else in Canada the limit is 19 or 21, I believe.
Highfive to Alberta~ lets get krunk.

Personally I think it should be taken down to 18... I mean at 18 you are legally an adult... you can Vote... You can be shipped of to fight it a war... You basically make your own choices form there on out... so why have the drinking age 21?? I mean once you turn 18 you can just go to some place like Canada and legally get drunk if you want... Changing the drinking age to something higher will not change anything other the then amount of underage drinking. The more you tell a person they can not do something and the longer you make them wait to do it the more they are going to rebel... I mean how many people do you know now that drink that are under age?? Under age drinking is NEVER going to stop... and if we raise the drinking age it will just get worse... because unless the cops are called or some one from the party or place you are at turns you in no one will ever know that your doing it... and i mean how many of you are going to turn in your friends for drinking with you??

I think it should be lowered. Don't trust someone to choose the next leader of our country if you don't feel they're responsible enough to be trusted with alcohol. Nuff said.

No, I don't think it should be raised. We have enough problems with how high the age is. People don't learn how to drink responsibly in the US because by the time they're 21, they've moved out of their parents' house (most of the time). So then who are they going to learn "control" and "restraint" from? Their binge-drinking buddies, of course!

Alcohol can cause brain damage at any age. It doesn't impair brain development, it simply destroys anything that's already there (and that's only if you're binging--a drink or two a day will not typically affect your health).

I think we should adopt a graduated system, similar to Germany's. Make wine and beer legal for 16 & up, then spirits at 18, and liquor at 21. Make all alcohol legal for 16 & up in private residences with parents present.

Who cares what I do in the comfort of my own home? If I'm stinkin' drunk, underage, and in my own home, who am I harming?

P.S. I am already beyond the legal drinking age. I don't want these things because it'll be legal sooner, I want them because they make more sense.

P.P.S. In the united states, if you are in the armed forces, it IS legal for you to drink at the age of 18, but you must be on a base.

If the drinking age is 21 then why isn't the legal age the same? In the American society people are expected to grow up so fast that most 18 years old's aren't ready to move out or support them selves and if you're not then you're looked down upon like your stupid or something which is not the case. Most of the time its not their fault for how much the educational system has gone down down the tubes. But either way the age gap should be evened. if it be raising the legal age to match or lowering the drinking age to 18, I would be satisfied.