Push to lower age limit...

[magyar123]

As you all may have heard/read there is now a push - started by colleges/universities to lower the legal drinking age to 18.
They claim that 18 year olds are already allowed to vote, join the military.

[Flamingo]

Yes, big news on the radio and TV yesterday. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is up in arms as they rightly should be. All the big colleges want the age limit dropped thinking it will stop all the binge drinking which in itself results in deaths from alcohol poisoning. Next they will legalize drugs stating that doing that should drop overdoses or something...

[AngelinaCatHub]

[Scott50]

Look at Europe for example in which the drinking age is lower than the US and I believe they don't have a big of a problem with binge drinking. I think as long as you teach your kids not to abuse alcohol and its okay in moderation.. I know many 30 and 40 years that binge drink and can't control their alcohol consumption..

[chloe0724]

I agree with Scott. If alcohol is something we educate our children about, then we should feel ok with letting them drink at 18. Anyway, it's not like a legal number is going to stop people who really want to drink from drinking. Just like anything in life, it's a choice.

[Cali]

I feel if you can die for your country, you can drink.

If your an underage military member, you can drink overseas.

In most areas of Europe the drinking age is anywhere from 16 to 18.

[arkienurse]

As someone who was able to drink legally at 18, and then lost that right at 20 when the law changed, I have very mixed feelings on this. In fact I gave a speech on the issue in college.
I do think it is deplorable that we can ask someone to die for us, but hey, you are too young to drink.
I see both sides of the issue, both as a drinker and as a nurse and parent. There is no easy answer, as with most things in life. I will say though, that just because it is illegal, doesn't mean they aren't doing it anyway. I know one of my sons drank in high school, we had to go get him. Thank God he had the sense to not drive. A lot of his friends drank on a regular basis even though they weren't of age yet.


Fence sitter,

[PoorGrammyinBK7]

At 16, they can drive and work at a job and marry (some states)

At 18 they can VOTE, and they can serve in the military - wherever they are assigned.

If they can make complicated day-to-day decisions when they drive, work, vote and fight/possibly die for our country, or get married, they should be allowed to drink a beer.

I am not a drinker. But I had some beers in college, and was certainly under age. I have 2 grown kids. I am sure they probably drank beer at times in college too, but neither are drinkers now, other than an occasional beer or glass of wine - a few times a year. They don't desire it.

Now, my church would probably think this opinion is absolutely awful, but it is what is fair, IMHO.

I also think maybe if it were legal - it wouldn't be such a, "attraction" as it is being forbidden. Also if its not "hidden", there is more opportunity for education, etc.

[FLBK7]

Look at Europe for example in which the drinking age is lower than the US and I believe they don't have a big of a problem with binge drinking. I think as long as you teach your kids not to abuse alcohol and its okay in moderation.. I know many 30 and 40 years that binge drink and can't control their alcohol consumption..

I lived in Europe for a couple years and have relatives there. At dinner time when the adults are having wine with their meal, the small children are given "wine-flavored water" ----- that is to say, a glass of plain or sparkling mineral water with a splash of wine. Because they grow up with the notion that drinking in moderation is just part of life, by the time they are teenagers or young adults they don't seem to have the fascination with drinking that is so common among our young. This is just a personal observation.

[danaf]

Well I agree if you are old enough to die for your country & vote.....I was active duty at 18, overseas, and allowed to drink. Really wasn't a big deal.

[Flamingo]

I remember back in the 70s I believe it was Washington DC that allowed 18 year olds to drink. I had just turned 18 and thought it was neat that when we visited DC I could actually order a drink but I did not come from a family of drinkers and to me it was no big deal. I only have a glass of wine socially to this day and have never driven drunk. However, that law did not last long and it was moved back to age 21. I am sure there were good reasons for it to be moved back to 21 and after all this time not reversed.

The problem with legalizing alcohol to 18 year olds are the 18 year olds that act like they are 15. They speed and are reckless and this will open up a whole new door of issues down the road and with the rise in accidents from drunk driving or reckless drunken behavior, and also from the rise in medical and other insurance rates due to all of this, everyone's pocket will take a hit somewhere. Some 18 year olds will feel like big shots and take advantage of the situation. Some won't. It's the innocent people that will take the hit for lowering the age limit. Just as what occurred in DC in the 70s, if they lower the age, I'll bet it will eventually be set back to age 21.

My RN daughter can describe some drunk driving accidents in the ER at which she has assisted which would not make anyone touch a drink again no matter what your age.

[Scott50]

I've never understood how they came up with the magical age of 21 to be able to legally drink.. Why not 22? or 20? Like I said in my previous post - I know of many people of legal drinking age that drive drunk, binge drink, and get hammered every weekend.. Ultimately, I think a big responsibility of this whole issue is up to the parents to teach kids good behavior- lead by example..

[JRScott]

From the perspective of colleges/universities it makes it easier on them. Keep in mind college campuses typically have 18-25 year olds on campus. It makes it difficult for them to enforce drinking laws with such a mix of legal and illegal drinking.

It probably leads to a lot of expense that they could avoid if 18 year olds could legally drink.

Personally Alcohol should be illegal as it was in prohibition. Nothing good ever came from its consumption. I do however see the Universities viewpoint.

[ssdsco]

Nothing good ever came from its consumption.

You gotta get a TV...only kidding....1-2 drinks a day will increase your longevity.

Sad to say but many parents don't seem to be able to raise responsible kids. Anything that enhances the ability for an 18-20 year old to get behind the wheel of a car under the influence I'm against.

However, anyone with a military ID should be allowed to buy alcohol.

[Minnymouth]

Alcohol is like food or anything else............... "only when its abused" does it become a health risk to yourself and others......

Alcohol, drugs, prescribed medications, etc are all dangerous when the person is behind the wheel of a auto.

Alcohol makes us drunk, drugs makes us high, and prescribed medications make us sleepy.

SO WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS!!!!

This does not include the inexperienced young drivers, or the old folks who have no business driving any more.

Young folks have the attitude that "nothings going to happen to me", "I'm invincible".... etc......

And usually its not the young person who is injured, its the party they hit, run over, or is in the auto with them.

Driving a vehicle impaired in "any way".................. is like holding a loaded gun in your hand and waiting to see if its going to go off.

Life can be very dangerous!!!