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Drinking Age?

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Anonymous

Guest
I grabbed this off a blog--This has been the talk of most the news shows today...Some of the most prestigious college Presidents are coming out in favor of lowering the drinking age- and again the resurfacing of the old argument of a country at war- and old enough to die for your country- you should be old enough to drink...

I know personally when the drinking age was 18 I saw that for many the intrique and excitement soon vanished once drinking was legal and it became no big deal...I did think it made booze more easily available for the High School parties as many of the Seniors were 18-19 years old- and they still had the parties to find all the underclass 16-17 year old chicks at...

Current drinking age laws encourage "dangerous binge drinking." Discuss. (+)
by: Jay Stevens
Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 13:31:12 PM MDT
Remember all that hubbub around the state Democratic platform, when LiTW friend Denver Henderson wedged a plank in about an 18-year-old drinking age? The state's elders pretty much decided an 18-year-old drinking age is a bad idea, and you don't hear much conversation around the issue anymore, do you?
Turns out Henderson may have been onto something:


College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities, including Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.

I have to agree. As soon as kids are out from under the guidance and watchful eyes of their parents, it's party time. I saw it in classmates when I went to college - heck, I did some binge drinking myself. (I played rugby. 'Nuff said.) Binge drinking and general drunkenness doesn't seem to be as much a problem in Europe, where the drinking age is substantially lower - as young as 16 in some places. Heck, Finland, Hungary, and Greece, among others, don't even have a drinking age. Kids in Europe encounter booze earlier, and learn responsible drinking. It doesn't have the allure of being forbidden, like in the United States.
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
I was 18 the last year to allow 18 year old to drink in Oklahoma, it scares me some of the drinking I did in those college years, but I agree if you can die for your country then you should be able to do everything else in your country.

I am not sure if having the age to drink be 21 and the age to die for your country be 18 is a fair system!
 

TSR

Well-known member
This thread brings up memories of the flag burning,draft card burning, of the 60's when young men were being drafted but couldn't vote. Not as serious of an issue as being drafted but nevertheless the ages 18 and 21 are the same.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Chances are that if you have an 18 year old irresponsible idiot, he will still be the same at 21. Maybe even 31?

IMHO
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
backhoeboogie said:
Age and maturity are two completely different things.


True......BUT.....instead of having one age for ' this'...and another for ' that'...make in ONE age for whatever.

Now how you decide on that ' age' is another matter.
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
kolanuraven said:
backhoeboogie said:
Age and maturity are two completely different things.


True......BUT.....instead of having one age for ' this'...and another for ' that'...make in ONE age for whatever.

Now how you decide on that ' age' is another matter.

I think it is a little more complex than that. Some things are different, would you arrest a 17 1/2 year old boy for having sex with his 17 1/2 year old girl, or would you let a 17 1/2 go to military? Or if you break the law and you are 17 11/12 do you get juvenile detention but someone 18 doesn't he goes to jail?

I understand your wanting a simple solution, but it really is more complex than that. But I do believe 18 should be the age for any and all adult activity!

Not best examples, but best I can do a the moment.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
aplusmnt said:
kolanuraven said:
backhoeboogie said:
Age and maturity are two completely different things.


True......BUT.....instead of having one age for ' this'...and another for ' that'...make in ONE age for whatever.

Now how you decide on that ' age' is another matter.

I think it is a little more complex than that. Some things are different, would you arrest a 17 1/2 year old boy for having sex with his 17 1/2 year old girl, or would you let a 17 1/2 go to military? Or if you break the law and you are 17 11/12 do you get juvenile detention but someone 18 doesn't he goes to jail?

I understand your wanting a simple solution, but it really is more complex than that. But I do believe 18 should be the age for any and all adult activity!

Not best examples, but best I can do a the moment.

I agree...One time while looking thru the Montana rules and laws for ages- a Juvenile Probation Officer and I came to the conclusion the poor kids would almost have to pack a law book with them to figure out what they can or cannot do--as there are ages they are considered to commit a crime- be incarcerated- legally have sex- and with what ages (partner no more than 3 years older :roll: )- and if they are 3 years 1 day difference- the older can be charged with statutory rape :roll: .. Ages for when kids can choose which parent they want to live with- ages they can seek court emancipation from parental control- ages they can sell or distribute alcohol, but not consume (waitress, box boy, etc.) - and another age when they can consume...

And many times the actual age doesn't represent the maturity age-- as I know 16 year olds that were much more mature than some 30 year olds...

But I grew up in the if your old enough to die for your country- your old enough to drink... I always thought it was a shame- that a returning 19-20 year old Viet Nam vet couldn't go into the Vets Club with his Dad and let him buy him a drink...Altho back then- all the drinking establishments on base let anyone with a military ID drink...
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
nonothing said:
In Canada it is 19 years of age,after that your an adult on all levels.

Sounds like a good plan to me! So 18 year old can not join the military? When are you done with H.S.?

Ps. not when you were done, but when is most Canadians done, :wink: :lol:
 

Mike

Well-known member
Ps. not when you were done, but when is most Canadians done

You guys have got me in a bad way this evening. My sides are hurting so bad it's miserable. Give me a break.......Please!!!!!:lol:

Between you and Larrry and Sandhusker, it's too much to bear.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
nonothing said:
In Canada it is 19 years of age,after that your an adult on all levels.

Saskatchewan used to be 18- because all our local HS kids always made a graduation trip to a certain Pub in Rockglen- and party the night away- and stay right at the place (since they can't get across the border and home anyway).....I think it was a Bar/Hotel combination or something like that....
 
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