As a college student, you hear this proposition a lot: "Change the legal drinking age from 21 to 18!"
But has anyone ever considered what would happen if that change were to occur? Will there be more chaos on the streets or a sharp decrease in drunk driving?
I read some interesting articles concerning both sides, but I'd like to hear what you all have to say on the matter.

So, these questions remain - Should the legal drinking age be changed to 18? Do you believe that 18-year-olds (in the U.S.) are mature enough to handle the legal ability to drink?

Frankly, I don't think many that are older then 21 are mature enough.

It wouldn't really matter to me- as far as I'm concerned, they don't pay attention to legal drinking age anyway. I'm sixteen and all I hear about is other kids in my class, aged 15 to 19, getting really, really drunk, and then laughing about it later.
I really enjoy hearing about how amused they are about waking up in a puddle of their own puke.

I'm sixteen. I have to tell them that I do not drink, and do not wish to in the slightest. And they think I'm crazy.

Anyway.

I think they should be a bit more educated on what alcohol can do to their brain, social lives, and everything else alcohol ruins. The only reason the age limit is set so high is because your brain stops growing after 21, I've read that it isn't good to pump a growing brain full of alcohol. It can actually have very negative effects.
Of course, the negative effects of excessive drinking apply to any age.

I don't see a problem with them lowering the age limit.
They're going to drink anyway, and maybe if it’s available at a younger age they'll be less likely to do stupid things.
At least I can hope.

For a counter example to an elevated drinking age, see: Europe. :)

edit:Also for a counter example to limiting the availability of alcohol to anyone, see: prohibition. :)

It seems with things like alcohol, cigarettes and marijuanna, part of the appeal is that it's prohibited. If it's illegal, it's "cool" for younger generations. We've idolized what's bad. Tattoos and piercings are another example. There's an age limit set, so the older people who have them are cool. The desire for the young is to be adult-like. Such things are even in children's movies (Cars character Sally's "decall" for example). Kids also see their parents with alcohol, and don't understand why they can't partake. Mom and Dad drink, and kids want to be like their parents up to a certain age.

I think, where we are now, the initial reaction of lowering the drinking age would likely increase the risk of drunk driving accidents, so if it were to be done, the police would need to be out in force. Drinking and partying is already a societal norm, as has been stated above, so in that respect, I doubt there would be much change. The difference would be that more kids would head home afterwards instead of staying at the party house to sleep it off till morning. Over time, the appeal would be less, as it would be more commonplace, but the parties and the late nights at bars would continue to happen. An adverse affect could be alcoholics wasting their lives away starting at an earlier age, if alcohol is more readily available.

Should the drinking age be lowered? It's hard to say. Most parents I've known would be wholly against it - even those that drink themselves. Growing up surrounded by high school alcoholics and party-animals makes it less of a big topic, especially for those who have no particular interest in alcohol themselves. So, why not, teenage america? Legalize cannibis at the same time, and kill two birds with one stone.

Originally Posted by Kinmotsu

For a counter example to an elevated drinking age, see: Europe. :)

edit:Also for a counter example to limiting the availability of alcohol to anyone, see: prohibition. :)

Ah, you stole my easy answers. :(

Though, I would have to add that allowing 18 year olds to drink. Would just make there be less underage drinking court fines. The drunk driving rate would go up a slight bit. No more than what already happens. Every 18-20 year old will do the same thing I did on my 21st birthday. Go buy some liquor, get completely fucked up after reaching a safe point for drinking. Why? Because regardless of what dumb-fucking morons thinks. Not everyone is a dumb-fucking idiot who will drink and drive just because it is legal for them.

most people actually drink and drive when they're coming home from a bar, so legalizing achohol at age 18 would be fine, but keep the bars 21 and over. eh, it could work.

Originally Posted by slickie

most people actually drink and drive when they're coming home from a bar, so legalizing achohol at age 18 would be fine, but keep the bars 21 and over. eh, it could work.

No. That is a terrible idea. Then you promote the youth, who are now capable of drinking legally to go buy alcohol. Promote more underage drinking (cause it will never go away) and then you promote those youth to go out and drink home, walk home drunk, ride a bike/four wheeler drunk. Cutting off a place for all legal people to drink only promotes drinking in other places and raises the risk of underage drinking. Then you are back to square one.

Originally Posted by Bartuc

No. That is a terrible idea. Then you promote the youth, who are now capable of drinking legally to go buy alcohol. Promote more underage drinking (cause it will never go away) and then you promote those youth to go out and drink home, walk home drunk, ride a bike/four wheeler drunk. Cutting off a place for all legal people to drink only promotes drinking in other places and raises the risk of underage drinking. Then you are back to square one.

It also increases the risk for silent alcoholism. The young are basically given the idea that they can drink but are not welcome. If already struggling wtih identity or self-esteem issues, this could lead to drinking alone in the home, and may even lead to a higher suicide rate.

WOO! I got responses. Hmmm - lemme see what I can add:

@Newtionary: I feel that if they do lower the drinking age, they should provide more education to high schoolers about the risk of drinking alcohol. (None of that DARE crap - they need to make it real). It's also been said that because so many young teens drink illegally anyway, that there should be no problem in lowering the legal drinking age. But according to this article I've found, it's been said that when the legal drinking age was changed from 18/19 to 21 in the 1980s, the proportion of teen drivers involved in drunk driving accidents has been reduced by 33%.

I feel that as American teens, we're not as mature to handle such a change so quickly. I've considered the legal drinking ages in Europe (Thanks Kinmotsu) but these drinking ages have been long established in their culture than in ours. Drinking wine is a custom to some European cultures - it's a norm. Plus I feel as though those in Europe are more mature than we Americans are because they hold a higher emphasis on education than we do (The U.S. is currently one of the lowest ranking nations in the world when it comes to science and math - what does that say about our future?)

& Sagando - I do agree about what you said COULD happen if we did lower the drinking age - it's more likely that more 18-year-olds will partake in drinking & possibly the younger generation as well. I do feel that we could achieve what the Europeans have accomplished but this takes time. Getting used to new laws are time consuming, not to mention the backlash that this will create.

Originally Posted by pinkii

WOO! I got responses. Hmmm - lemme see what I can add:

@Newtionary: I feel that if they do lower the drinking age, they should provide more education to high schoolers about the risk of drinking alcohol. (None of that DARE crap - they need to make it real). It's also been said that because so many young teens drink illegally anyway, that there should be no problem in lowering the legal drinking age. But according to this article I've found, it's been said that when the legal drinking age was changed from 18/19 to 21 in the 1980s, the proportion of teen drivers involved in drunk driving accidents has been reduced by 33%.

I feel that as American teens, we're not as mature to handle such a change so quickly. I've considered the legal drinking ages in Europe (Thanks Kinmotsu) but these drinking ages have been long established in their culture than in ours. Drinking wine is a custom to some European cultures - it's a norm. Plus I feel as though those in Europe are more mature than we Americans are because they hold a higher emphasis on education than we do (The U.S. is currently one of the lowest ranking nations in the world when it comes to science and math - what does that say about our future?)

& Sagando - I do agree about what you said COULD happen if we did lower the drinking age - it's more likely that more 18-year-olds will partake in drinking & possibly the younger generation as well. I do feel that we could achieve what the Europeans have accomplished but this takes time. Getting used to new laws are time consuming, not to mention the backlash that this will create.

We already provide to high schools the cause and effect to drinking and driving. As well as the result in long term use of many drugs. They still do them. I have no doubt people will not be stupid. It is all personal choice to drink and drive. It is not age based. When something is illegal to do they are more prone to go to their 'hiding spot' to do the illegal act. Which, in some instances, can be involved with driving to and from that place.

I spent a little under a year staying in a small town outside of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The youth there was amazing. They drank and smoke pot like it was an everyday thing, without worry. They also have less motor vehicles there for people. Do you know what it takes to get a license there? Its pretty damn hard. Which is why they learn responsibility with driving. We hand the shit out like hotcakes at a fair. Getting your drivers license here is way to easy in comparison with other countries. If it took more effort and money to get one. I bet you that the overall drunk driving rating would go down alot.

People will not look for the future effect. They will only see the backlash and immediately want it put back to the way it was so that they can go back to their state of denial.

Originally Posted by Bartuc

We already provide to high schools the cause and effect to drinking and driving. As well as the result in long term use of many drugs. They still do them. I have no doubt people will not be stupid. It is all personal choice to drink and drive. It is not age based. When something is illegal to do they are more prone to go to their 'hiding spot' to do the illegal act. Which, in some instances, can be involved with driving to and from that place.

I spent a little under a year staying in a small town outside of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The youth there was amazing. They drank and smoke pot like it was an everyday thing, without worry. They also have less motor vehicles there for people. Do you know what it takes to get a license there? Its pretty damn hard. Which is why they learn responsibility with driving. We hand the shit out like hotcakes at a fair. Getting your drivers license here is way to easy in comparison with other countries. If it took more effort and money to get one. I bet you that the overall drunk driving rating would go down alot.

People will not look for the future effect. They will only see the backlash and immediately want it put back to the way it was so that they can go back to their state of denial.

I think the way some schools are handling the cause and effect of drugs & alcohol is pretty crappy. It may have been just from my school, but the only time they provided any information about alcohol & drunk driving was when a student themselves got into a drunk driving accident. I do agree that driving drunk is a choice, but I feel that many teens are more likely to do it because they aren't adequately informed.

You brought up a pretty good point on how gaining a driver's license here is easier than gaining a license in European countries. I didn't know that. It sure does explain why there are less accidents there than here though.

That also provides support on my argument on how European teens seems to be more mature than U.S. teens. The fact that things like education and gaining a license are more emphasized on ability & wisdom in those countries than in the U.S. makes me believe that those teens are forced to develop some form of maturity.

Originally Posted by pinkii

I think the way some schools are handling the cause and effect of drugs & alcohol is pretty crappy. It may have been just from my school, but the only time they provided any information about alcohol & drunk driving was when a student themselves got into a drunk driving accident. I do agree that driving drunk is a choice, but I feel that many teens are more likely to do it because they aren't adequately informed.

You brought up a pretty good point on how gaining a driver's license here is easier than gaining a license in European countries. I didn't know that. It sure does explain why there are less accidents there than here though.

That also provides support on my argument on how European teens seems to be more mature than U.S. teens. The fact that things like education and gaining a license are more emphasized on ability & wisdom in those countries than in the U.S. makes me believe that those teens are forced to develop some form of maturity.

So what happens to the adults who have been around for 30+ years and get in that alcohol induced accident? Where they ill-properly informed? I mean, if someone is stupid enough to get into a moving hunk of metal/fiberglass/plastic while completely intoxicated. Then let them fucking fry in prison for manslaughter.

Now that we have established every teenager in America is irresponsible enough to drink and drive. We wouldn't want that. Infact lets reinstate the Prohibition of alcohol so we have no drunk driving at all. That way we can have people hopped up on Herion to go drive the streets! Yeah!

Originally Posted by Bartuc

So what happens to the adults who have been around for 30+ years and get in that alcohol induced accident? Where they ill-properly informed? I mean, if someone is stupid enough to get into a moving hunk of metal/fiberglass/plastic while completely intoxicated. Then let them fucking fry in prison for manslaughter.

Now that we have established every teenager in America is irresponsible enough to drink and drive. We wouldn't want that. Infact lets reinstate the Prohibition of alcohol so we have no drunk driving at all. That way we can have people hopped up on Herion to go drive the streets! Yeah!

Many people assume that if they aren't drunk enough, they're okay to drive. Even if they had just one, that one beer could definitely impair your judgement. I know some people who believed they were 'okay' to drive just because they were only buzzed. Now, I'm starting to see commercials popping up re-instating the fact that even when you're only buzzed, it isn't okay to operate any form of machinery.
I do believe those who are irresponsible enough to drive while under in the influence should serve time. But as for the adults who are 30 years and older - if they didn't get that driving under ANY alcoholic influence (no matter how small) is BAD then they shouldn't be even given a license in the first place. I believe it's common sense by the time you're 21. Seriously.

And I don't assume EVERY teenager in America is irresponsible (pardon my post earlier) but I do feel like there's a significant amount of teens out there that could increase the amount of drunk driving accidents once such law were to be passed. I know it will die down eventually, but it's probable that accidents could increase within that point.

And allowing prohibition of alcohol isn't going to make matters any easier. It's just going to create an uproar of angry people who want their daily fix of wine every night.

Maybe we should just focus on the issue of administering licenses to people instead of alcohol in general. Allowing greater restriction and harder tests could prevent ANY accidents.
Too bad America relies too much on personal transportation.

I used to think that if you are old enough to go die for your country, you should be old enough to have a drink before you go. Now I think it would make more sense to raise the age you can enter into the military to 21, so it's the same as drinking age.

Originally Posted by aoi midori

I used to think that if you are old enough to go die for your country, you should be old enough to have a drink before you go. Now I think it would make more sense to raise the age you can enter into the military to 21, so it's the same as drinking age.

I've heard that argument before & I do agree that if you are allowed to die for your country then you should be able to at least purchase alcohol. But I doubt the government will raise the age of consent for the military, especially now in a time of war. The government NEEDS people to join the army. I mean, have you seen how many times MTV plays those 'Go Army' commercials? It got to the point where my friends and I were like, 'WTF? This is really unnecessary'.

I don't think people at 18 years old are mature enough to handle alcohol as well as a 21 year old, both emotionally and from a biological stand point. I'm not saying everyone isn't 'mature' to handle alcohol it's just hard to lower the drinking age when some people can't drink responsibly even when they're at the drinking age. Lowering the drinking age is going to lessen the problem courts have but it isn't going to cure the problem of young drinkers. And besides no one pays attention to that law.

When I was a freshman in highschool all I would hear from people how drunk stupid they got and how they had sex. (Mind you they would give the nitty gritty details....-vomit- I'll spare the details >.<) People could care less of the law. They'll just pay someone off the street willing to go in and buy them some vodka. And sadly that's what I see happening a LOT. The schools where I live don't even handle it properly. They don't even address the situation. My school cared more about abortion than drinking and drugs. They gave a small little presentation on drinking and how it kills. (Mind you it was a really BAD presentation. They had a monotone speaker and the whole school was falling asleep.)

And it's true what others have been saying in the thread. If you want a prime example of what would happen when the drinking age is lowered look at Europe. And don't forget Japan. Japan has beer and alcohol in vending machines. They have a bit of a lower drinking age to I think...20? I even spoke with my Japanese teacher and she said you have a good percentage of running into a drunk salary man carrying a pretty lunch for his wife, as an apology for being so drunk. I asked her 'Well don't you think anyone sees drinking as a problem over there?'

She replied 'Alcohol really doesn't have a moderation in Japan since it is so widely available. And I haven't seen so many driving accidents over it. Alcohol has just become such a good portion of our culture that we don't see it as a threat. It's normal to see a man on the trains passed out and a salary man with a gift for his wife. It's our way of unwinding and we don't see it as poisonous. I think because it is so widely available we really don't view it the same way the Americans do.'

As for 'If you can go to war you should be able to buy alcohol'. Sadly, America is in need of soldiers so they will quickly over look that. I think at 18 you shouldn't send someone to war. The age bar should be raised at least a bit for joining the army. But even now no one I know even wants to join the army either their parents will go into an attack or they don't want to. (This is referring to the people I know. I don't know about anyone else's family. But the families in my area are quite negative when it comes to joining the army)

Every time I go into the university I either have some religious person condemning me to hell if I don't join their damn religious cult or the army trying to get me to sign up.

There are always exceptions. there will always be immature people in every age group, as well as mature people. I suppose it's a matter of perspective on this topic.

Originally Posted by slickie

There are always exceptions. there will always be immature people in every age group, as well as mature people. I suppose it's a matter of perspective on this topic.

I know. I just wanted to point it out that I wasn't rolling up everyone to be immature. But as a person who is a nursing major. Really teen's bodies can't really handle the consumption, especially while they are growing. It can have long damaging effects to their brain, liver, and their endocrine. Sadly some teens just won't understand until their older and the health risks are too late to change.

I think it should be kept at the age of 21. Drinking is a bad habit. They should try as best as possible to keep people from drinking alcohol. Alcohol is a drug. And so I think it should be kept at the age 21.

Originally Posted by Rumpus Ruu

I know. I just wanted to point it out that I wasn't rolling up everyone to be immature. But as a person who is a nursing major. Really teen's bodies can't really handle the consumption, especially while they are growing. It can have long damaging effects to their brain, liver, and their endocrine. Sadly some teens just won't understand until their older and the health risks are too late to change.

I suppose I'm a bit on the defense with this. mostly because I'm a drinker LOL! I guess that's why I don't see much of a problem, well besides for the health risks. Definitely a concern. I just feel that drinking is okay as long as it's only every once in awhile AND is done responsibly.

@Rumpus Ruu: You’re right about the biological aspect - apparently, the legal drinking age is 21 because it is allegedly said that by the time an individual turns 21, their brain stops developing. It would make sense that the law makrs considered this, as they feel this could abruptly stunt any 18 year old who decided to start drinking if it were legally allowed.

And the fact that teens don’t care about the law counteracts the defense against lowering tha age. For instance, by the time you’re 21 and legally allowed to drink, the thrill that once came with underaged drinking just isn’t there anymore. Therefore, not alot of older individuals drink as much - it’s merely viewed as a priveledge instead of ‘the bad thing to do’. Teens on the other hand, view it as something ‘cool’because it is illegal. If we were to lower the age to 18, it’s possible that in time, 18 year olds & older will not care about drinking as much. However, I feel that more younger teens, maybe even preteens will consider to drink. It’s a very hard thing to consider - the possible outcomes are pretty nerve-racking.

And the fact that many countries (like those in Europe & that of Japan) have easy accesable alcohol in their society, shows that it was long appointed within their society to the point where it was a mere everyday thing. It’s a norm & those cultures have adapted. America still has to adapt to some issues concerning alcohol because the issue is becoming increasingly relevant with all these alcohol induced automobile accidents.

I feel that if you are old enough that they feel your mature enough to go off to war and die for your country then your old enough to drink...

=OOO
Hi Cora!!! xDDD
LOL - yes, I do feel that if you're old enough to die for your country, then you might as well be able to legally drink. But the reasoning for allowing 18-year-olds to enlist in the army is simple - the government NEEDS people, especially in the midst of a war. And I'm not going to lie, I wouldn't want to enlist in a time of war when I know for a fact that the chances of me dying have increased to well over 50%. And I doubt my parents would be thrilled about that either. Not alot of people are willing to voluntarily die for the sake of a senseless war - that's why a draft had to be reinforced back in the day because this country needed soldiers and nobody was volunteering. Yes you can call me a coward, I don't care - it's my choice whether or not I should risk my life. I know I'm NOT a fighter & because of this I hold utmost respect for those brave souls who are going into battle.

Wow, I went off into a tangent didn't I?

eh it happens

phhht i look at it like this, if i am old enough to go to the military and die for my country i should be old enough to drink and vote.

Anyways personally i didnt touch the first drop of alcohol until i was 25 (now 27) and even then it is only a rare occasion.

As to the rule i look at it like this, college students just like HS students are going to get it if they want it. if the laws were more lenient then there would not be so much excess of it.