<p>I am posting this thread to help avoid the “Fake IDs” thread from being cluttered with a different topic, and because I think this should be very interesting to hear various parent’s opinions.</p>
<p>What are your views on the idea of 18-20 year olds drinking alcohol (in the US)?</p>
<p>If possible, explain from two views:</p>
<p>Primarily: If it were legal, would you have any problem with it?
Secondary: If you answered no to that question, what are your feelings on it being illegal in the current legal system? (Unjust? Reasonable? Etc.)</p>
<p>Since opinions vary quite a bit on this, lets try to keep it more of a poll rather than a debate – but of course discussion is certainly encouraged.</p>
<p>if teenagers would learn to drink responsibly instead of drinking 6 beers in a short period of time, I would have no problem with the non existence of a drinking age…but alas</p>
<p>I know I can trust myself to drink in a responsible manner, but from what I’ve seen with many people I know, some don’t.</p>
<p>Not sure what you mean “How do you treat the current system”, but to answer your primary question - if it were legal, I would have no problem with it.</p>
<p>There seems to be a growing body of research that says that the brain is not fully developed at that age, and that alcohol causes damage. That would argue against an earlier legal drinking age, or even tolerance of underage drinking.</p>
<p>I edited the second question, hopefully it will be more clear.</p>
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Thanks, I didn’t see that. Although before reading the whole thread, all I can say is the original purpose of that thread as stated is:</p>
<p>“I’m trying to see how other parents are handling excessive underage drinking.”</p>
<p>This thread is very specific to the matter of adult “underaged” drinking. Also the point of this thread is not to discuss alcoholics, regardless of age, unless it pertains statistically to the 18-21 drinking age group.</p>
<p>Thanks for opening this thread for what will hopefully be open, respectful discussion.</p>
<p>I believe many of you have read the previous thread. I shared my thoughts on the importance of a national drinking age due to ‘blood borders’. I feel safety outweighs states rights here.</p>
<p>If the age were lower than 21, I would like my student to wait. Two or three beers in concept is no big deal. Alcohol is not consumed in concept and it is a gateway drug. You are more likely to engage in unprotected sex, or accept a drug you would have otherwise said no to. You are less likely to realize your own impairment and know when not to drive. An 18 year old male is far less mature than his 21 year old sibling. The 21 year old has a far greater capacity to make consistent decisions after drinking alcohol. Ultimately it would be my students choice.</p>
<p>I respect and understand that others have come to their decisions and beliefs from a lifetime of their own experiences that may be vastly different than my own.</p>
I’m just curious about this - why do you say this?</p>
<p>I’m just turning 21 and I’m no more or less responsible about alcohol than when I was 18, but maybe I’m an unusual case. It is true of course though that people make bad choices when under the influence of alcohol.</p>
<p>For example: A friend, older than me, who had about the same to drink as me told me we should go driving around really fast (in cars) for fun, I told him in no uncertain terms that that would be a huge mistake. This leads me to think it’s not age, but simple irresponsibility, that results in these behaviors.</p>
<p>My own view is that the drinking age should be 18. But it’s good to hear other views because I definitely could be wrong.</p>
<p>Fair question. This is a generalization. As we age, we mature (hopefully). It’s a combination of biological and learned life experience. In general males are less mature than females, so I used this example. A 21-22yo college graduate is generally going to be more mature than a recent 18yo hs graduate. There will always be variation.</p>
<p>I’m glad that you’ve made responsible choices. Thanks for knowing to tell your friend no driving…seriously. You may have saved a life.</p>
<p>I think beer and wine should be 19 (to avoid senior in high school drinking.)</p>
<p>Hard liquor should be 21-23…depending on your view.</p>
<p>I also believe that breathalyzer locks should be put on ignitions. Nobody, of any age, ought to be able to start a car if they have had too much to drink. One of the problems with having too much to drink is the inability to recognize that you have had too much to drink.</p>
<p>I would have no problem with it if it were legal as long as it’s done responsibly.</p>
<p>I believe the drinking age should be 18 for various reasons.</p>
<p>When I was in college the drinking age was 18. I din’t see more drinking that I saw from kids in college now, probably less. We didn’t have to get drunk before we went out because we couldn’t drink in public. We didn’t have to binge. We didn’t have to deal with fake ID’s, dealing with MIP’s or buying alcohol illegally. </p>
<p>My kids were 18 while still in high school. Had it been legal, I could have allowed them to drink responsibly in my own home, but because they weren’t I couldn’t. Pretty sure that didn’t stop them from drinking. I did discuss it with them, and enforced the law, and encouraged them to drink responsibly, but could not monitor.</p>
<p>Nineteen years olds can drink in Canada. We live just over the border. I would so much prefer that they drink in this country than drive over there. Again, can’t allow it.</p>
<p>Eighteen year olds are adults. Age old argument: they can marry, vote and serve their country but not drink legally.</p>
<p>I believe it’s unprincipled to say that persons under 21 are mature enough to make important decisions like enlisting in the military while saying they aren’t mature enough to decide whether to drink. I think those two things are unfairly inconsistent.</p>
<p>I would really prefer some kind of graduated eligibility to drink. My recollection is that in some states, younger people used to be able to buy weaker beer, while stronger drink could only be bought by older people. You could also perhaps allow people between 18 and 21 to drink alcohol in restaurants, but not bars, and not buy retail alcohol. You could create a drinking license, with required education and maintaining a clean driving record.</p>
<p>I like the idea of a drinking license for those under 21.</p>
<p>But, mostly, I think hard alcohol delivers too much alcohol for most people to manage very well before they understand their body’s response to weaker alcohol. I think it is ridiculous, however, that a 19 year old cannot buy a glass of wine with dinner. JMO</p>
<p>Beer & wine were legal at age 19 in my state when I was in college. Just as much drinking in HS and college now. I think the legal age should be 18 for beer and wine.</p>
<p>I very much agree with Hunt’s post. i like the idea of a drinking liscence with educational requirements.
I find it very hard to reconcile an 18 year old being allowed to marry, serve in combat, and be tried as an adult in criminal cases- yet not allowed to drink. There should be one consistant age for adulthood.</p>