<p>Thinking of all who cite Europe’s relaxed drinking laws as being things the U.S. should follow.</p>
<p>"PARIS French lawmakers have approved an amendment that would raise the minimum age for buying alcohol in a country long known for its relaxed attitude toward drinking.</p>
<p>The vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, would ban the sale of alcohol to teens under age 18 and fine violators up to $9,400."</p>
<p>But do rest assured. The above legislation still needs to be approved by the other house of parliament. Some important things haven’t changed. “But anyone 16 or older can order beer and wine in bars.”</p>
<p>I think most / almost all those people who cite these laws are talking about on-premises consumption and it sounds like they’re not proposing to change that.</p>
<p>I heard an interesting proposal, with the college binge drinking in mind. Not sure if it’s reasonable yet but it was interesting.</p>
<p>The idea would be to a) lower the age but b) require education and licensing before one can drink legally and c) ban any degree of drinking and driving. </p>
<p>The logic behind it being that if one is old enough to vote, own a gun, drive, die for their country, they should be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages. But rather than keep it away from them like some sort of taboo then let them loose with it upon age so they engage in very risky behavior, require them to attend a class and take a test first if they want to drink below the age of 21. Like getting a drivers license. So they know what moderate drinking means and how to practice it, understand alcohol poisoning and antecedents factors, the ill effects of alcohol on body and brain, alcohol related statistics, and legal issues and consequences that pertain to drinking.</p>
<p>I think that’s a great idea, starbright! I’ve seen it mentioned on this board before, and I can’t understand why it hasn’t gained more traction. </p>
<p>And why stop at 21? Why not require training/education for everyone who wants to consume?</p>
Don’t most colleges already require this before attending? I know my Ds’ colleges did. Although I have no objections to the course being taken, I’m not convinced it’s very effective on the minds of the typical 17 y/o.</p>
<p>The Europeans have an advantage over the USA because there is ZERO tolerance when it comes to getting behind the wheel of a car. There are no numbers games of determining what is or isn’t an appropriate blood alcohol level.
In Sweden, you not only don’t drive if you have had any alcohol, but if you get into the car the next morning after an indulgent night, you can still be arrested.
They take it a lot more seriously that we do here. They either always have a true designated driver ( not just the person who only had a couple of beers or glasses of wine ) or use cabs.</p>
<p>The driving ages in France and many other parts of the world are higher than in the US; in France you must be 18. If we were to lower our drinking age in the US perhaps we should also raise our driving age, since the drinking and driving issue was the main reason behind the 21 age limit to begin with?</p>
<p>I think the 21 thing was basically foisted upon us by that insidious cancer Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Sometime between its founding and now, it became Mothers Against Drinking.</p>
<p>The issue in France (and in virtually all of northern Europe) is that they have substantially higher rates of alcohol-related morbitidy and mortality, alcoholism, higher rates of liver cancer, higher rates of cirrhosis, etc., etc., than the U.S., and the data indicate it is linked with age of initiation of drinking.</p>
<p>They have people just dropping dead on the streets in France, you know… </p>
<p>The driving age point is valid. Though most states are moving in little steps to raise it upwards anyway. Once you get there you can lower the drinking age to match?</p>