mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Can someone give me a good argument why the drinking age limit should remain 21 instead of 18? Just curious. I'm sure there are arguments on both sides. Thanks.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

it was 18 fer lotta years...

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Because, at 18, your brain is not fully matured (in some folks it does not happen until their 50's) and you cannot make reasoned value judgments about the consequences of using alcohol combined with other activities.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that people these days do not mature until past their twenties (if then) so to allow them to drink at an earlier age and then toss them keys to a car is probably not a great idea. I also do not think 18 year olds should be used as cannon fodder in the military nor should they be able to vote. I know, I know.....it's just the way I feel. 8-)

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

must be lotta uhh'ers not 50 yet then... lol

Violameister Loc: michigan

We recently attended an event at a German High School. It was a fund raiser for the school band. After the concert they served cheese, sandwiches, soda, wine and beer in the school cafeteria. German law allow 16 year olds to drink beer, and some did, as well as most adults. No problems of any kind. I wonder if our prohibition era mentality doesn't stimulate "forbidden" behavior on the part of our adolescents whereas in Germany teens drink beer in the presence of their parents and feel no need to "act up".

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

As a child of first generation German parents, I relate to this quite well. My dad would let me sip from his beer and wine at age 14. At age 16, my dad let drink in the home under his supervision. By age 18, I was "acquiring" beer on my own in college.

I never had a strong desire to "binge drink" in college. It wasn't that glamorous and I didn't feel the excitement or thrill of "eating the forbidden fruit". Of course, that's just me. I no longer drink, but not because of past abuse issues or religious reasons. I just choose not to.

I get that our ability to reason and understand consequences don't really kick-in on most people until well after age 18, but isn't the law kind of a joke? The government pretends to regulate, and we pretend to be regulated. What other advanced Western nations have this law?

As a father of under-aged boys (one 17, and the other 19), I have not carried on my father's heritage of allowing my son to drink in the home; however, I feel it's a bit repressive and frankly stupid. My 19 year old drinks beer in college whenever he wants. He laughs when he comes home and we tell him he can't have a beer or a glass of wine with dinner. IT'S THE LAW my wife squawks. Fortunately, my son doesn't put up a fight or argue the point.

An inability to reason or understand consequences doesn't seem to be a good argument to me. Like others have said, even a 50 year old can have problems with critical reasoning skills. I think learning how to drink responsibly is a better solution. You don't have to have mature reasoning skills if you were taught not to drink and drive. In Germany, DUIs are far less common than in the US. Why is that? Perhaps because the penalty is much more severe, or kids were just raised to drink responsibly? The many times I visited Germany, I never once witnessed any of my relatives getting behind the wheel of a car after a drink. Taxi's were the mode of transportation of choice.

GrayPlayer Loc: Granby, Ct.

I look behind the reason for raising, lowering the drinking age. Regardless of the maturity angle, explain the reasoning.
Are we providing a chance for young men and women to show their maturity or allowing an evening of imbibing to end in death and sadness!

Dakota Boreas

Drinking makes you dumb. Youth makes you dumb. Drinking and youth.....

dljen Loc: Central PA

I see old coots on here about 80 and don't think their brains are formulated as of yet. Of course, they may be going down the other side... :roll: :roll:

pbearperry Loc: Massachusetts

Massachusetts made 18 yr olds legal to drink in the 80's and after a few years went back to 21.Drinking at 18 is a disaster waiting to happen because 18 yr olds will buy booze for their younger friends.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Yeah.....but some of them have forgotten how to drive so the danger of DUI is lessened. :mrgreen:

dljen Loc: Central PA

Never thought of that, geez that IS a scary thought! :hunf: :hunf: :thumbup:

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

:thumbup:

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Perhaps alcohol should be outlawed all together?