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What is the drinking age where you live? Do you agree with it?

by garyv
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    Twenty-one, just like where you are. Do I agree with it? That's a tough one. I've always had problems with the logic that one can vote, fight in a war, legally sign contracts. etc., but not have a cold brew. The measure of responsibility doesn't add up.

    However, then I remember how much trouble I got myself into between the ages of 18 and 21 from boozing. Only by centimeters, both literally and figuratively, did I not get into serious, serious trouble. And that was drinking illegally.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      Twenty-one, just like where you are. Do I agree with it? That's a tough one. I've always had problems with the logic that one can vote, fight in a war, legally sign contracts. etc., but not have a cold brew. The measure of responsibility doesn't add up.

      However, then I remember how much trouble I got myself into between the ages of 18 and 21 from boozing. Only by centimeters, both literally and figuratively, did I not get into serious, serious trouble. And that was drinking illegally.
      Then perhaps the age of all those things should go back up to 21 as it used to be. If one is not ready to have a couple of drinks responsibly, how come we expect them to be responsible enough for the rest? You can get married at 18 or go fight for your country, but not have a beer?
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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      Twenty-one, just like where you are. Do I agree with it? That's a tough one. I've always had problems with the logic that one can vote, fight in a war, legally sign contracts. etc., but not have a cold brew. The measure of responsibility doesn't add up.

      However, then I remember how much trouble I got myself into between the ages of 18 and 21 from boozing. Only by centimeters, both literally and figuratively, did I not get into serious, serious trouble. And that was drinking illegally.

      Yeah, its like "Im old enough to do one thing, why cant I do another"... I know between 18 and 21 most BOYS in particular, dont need to be any more off their rocker than they already are.... they do anyway, but giving them a LICENSE to?

      It freaks me out some of the things I did when I was a young kid (not 21) ...jumping from roof top to roof top on buildings... CRAZY stuff, that I would have a heart attack if my Grandson was doing, but he may anyway.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I've always had problems with the logic that one can vote, fight in a war, legally sign contracts. etc.,
        I've heard the logic before - but none of those carry the potential of harming an innocent person as alcohol consumption does.
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          I've heard the logic before - but none of those carry the potential of harming an innocent person as alcohol consumption does.
          That was kind of my point, but I meandered around it. My issue is defining adulthood at 18 then disallowing certain privileges of adulthood. Either you're an adult or you're not. The way it stands now, you're adult for certain purposes, then at 21 you become a "Super Adult." Then at 25 you can rent a car.

          I'm certainly not proposing lowering the drinking age. If anything, I'd recommend raising the legal age of adulthood.
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        • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          I've heard the logic before - but none of those carry the potential of harming an innocent person as alcohol consumption does.
          of course harming an innocent person never happens in war
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          • Profile picture of the author Thomas
            Originally Posted by Daniel Evans View Post

            18 in the UK, but a lot of stores are requiring that a person is at least 30 years old to make absolutely certain they aren't breaking the law risking having their license revoked.
            Here, we have these, which were introduced specifically for the purchase of alcohol:



            If you have one, you'll served at age 18+1 day.

            18 is the drinking age here too... and 17 to drive or have sex... and 35 to become President. Like most of the rest of Western socienty, Ireland is pretty schizophrenic about when someone is considered an adult or not.

            Originally Posted by KimW View Post

            I think the age to enlist should be 25 too.
            It's been proven the brain is still developing up to 25.
            The problem with that, Kim, is that most 25-year-olds are remarkably less-aggressive and less-willing to kill-on-command than 18-year-olds. Males in the 18-24 age group are not only the most agressive, but are also the most pliable and easy to manipulate.

            If you hand an 18-year-old a gun, and tell him to kill "the bad guys", he'll say "Yes, Sir!" (and, more often than you might think, won't just shoot "the bad guys", but pretty much anything and anyone that moves too).

            Hand a 25-year-old a gun for the first time at that age, giving a similar order, and you'll likely get a reply along the lines of "F**k that. If you have such a problem with them, you do it. I'm not dying for you. And, besides, exactly what makes them 'the bad guys' anyway? It sounds more like like YOU are the one eager to kill and destroy."

            Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

            I've heard the logic before - but none of those carry the potential of harming an innocent person as alcohol consumption does.
            :confused::confused:
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            • Profile picture of the author KimW
              Originally Posted by Thomas View Post

              Here, we have these, which were introduced specifically for the purchase of alcohol:



              If you have one, you'll served at age 18+1 day.

              18 is the drinking age here too... and 17 to drive or have sex... and 35 to become President. Like most of the rest of Western socienty, Ireland is pretty schizophrenic about when someone is considered an adult or not.



              The problem with that, Kim, is that most 25-year-olds are remarkably less aggressive and less willing to kill-on-command than 18-year-olds. Males in the 18-24 age group are not only the most agressive, but are also the most pliable and easy to manipulate.

              If you hand an 18-year-old a gun, and tell him to kill "the bad guys", he'll say "Yes, Sir!" (and, more often than you might think, won't just shoot "the bad guys", but pretty much anything and anyone that moves too).

              Hand a 25-year-old a gun first time at that age, giving a similar order, and you'll likely get a reply along the lines of "F**k that. If you have such a problem with them, you do it. I'm not dying for you. And, besides, exactly what makes them 'the bad guys' anyway? It sounds more like like YOU are the one eager to kill and destroy."



              :confused::confused:

              BINGO!!

              Exactly my point Thomas.
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            • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
              Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

              Maybe changing the age wasn't wrong - at the time.

              After years of agreeing with those who say our society encourages children to "grow up too fast" ...seems to me to many resulting young adults are just the opposite. They learned to play grownup but the responsibilities involved aren't part of their reality.
              That's because society has over-compensated for the years when children were worked to death in mills and other places. Now we let them play at life until they're 18 and most are woefully unprepared for the real world because of it.

              For the most part, kids today have everything handed to them. Cell phones and laptops are REQUIREMENTS of life by junior high. They've grown up always having instant gratification, thanks to DVD players, microwaves and the Internet.

              We're not allowed to give them a trip to the woodshed anymore and they are told this in SCHOOL. My kids were told to call DHS if they didn't like any punishment given. Not just if they were beaten or touched inappropriately - ANY punishment.

              I mostly ignored the threat of DHS because I'll be damned that someone else is going to tell me how to raise MY children. My son, when he was 14 or 15 (I forget which), threatened to call the state on me when I told him that if he opened his mouth to cuss again, I was going to slap him in it.

              I handed him the phone and said, "Here you go - but tell them they need to hurry."

              He looked at me, puzzled, and said, "Why do they have to hurry?"

              I said, "Because I'm going to beat the living snot out of you until they come so you won't be a liar when you report my abusing you."

              He didn't call.

              Eventually, society will either balance things again or collapse. I'm not sure which, although I'm leaning towards collapse. Most people aren't raising responsible people anymore. They're raising self-centered, needy children in adult bodies.

              There's no control anymore. If we don't exercise it when they're growing up, they won't learn it. That's why they're drinking at age 12 and having sex by 14. They see it all around them and no one reins them in.
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    Well - it might be a little young around here...

    But at least they aren't texting and driving...:rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    The legal age for adulthood should be 25.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      The legal age for adulthood should be 25.
      I think you should be required to work in a private, productive, non sales position for about 5 years, while you are on your own, and THEN get the rights they now give at 18. t would probably fix a LOT of problems.

      HECK, they won't let you be president unless you are at least 35, at least they aren't SUPPOSED to.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    In Canada, there is no federally defined legal drinking age - each province and territory sets its own limits.

    At the present time, the legal drinking age is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. The remaining provinces is 19 years of age.
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by waterotter View Post

      In Canada, there is no federally defined legal drinking age - each province and territory sets its own limits.
      Same as Australia, each state/territory sets its own drinking age. It just happens that all of them set it at 18.
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      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

        Same as Australia, each state/territory sets its own drinking age. It just happens that all of them are set at 18.
        Australia/Canada. Not much difference except for climate and accent.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by waterotter View Post

      In Canada, there is no federally defined legal drinking age - each province and territory sets its own limits.

      At the present time, the legal drinking age is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. The remaining provinces is 19 years of age.
      Techically that's how it is in the US....However here the Feds will cut off fedaral funding for highways if states don't have the minimum drinking age at 21.

      If my memory is correct, the last two states to comply and raise their minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 were Lousiana and Wyoming, or lose federal funding.

      Growing up in Colorado as a kid, we had 3.2 bars/beer, which would serve beer that was 3.2% alcohol or less and you only had to be 18 to drink 3.2. You had to be 21 to drink the "harder" stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    The drinking age here is as soon as kids can procure a fake ID saying they're 21, around 16 I think.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    The drinking age in Wisconsin is 21. In Wisconsin, however, those under the age of 21 may still be served alcohol if they are with a parent, guardian, or spouse, who is of legal drinking age.


    I think it should be lowered to 18 for anyone in the military. They are usually more mature than their peers. If they're old enough to fight and die for our country they ought to be allowed to drink in it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      18 in the UK, but a lot of stores are requiring that a person is at least 30 years old to make absolutely certain they aren't breaking the law risking having their license revoked.

      When I was a teen we drank strong cider and lager.

      Nowadays it's straight vodka from the (70cl) bottle for most teenagers.

      Girls tend not to drink something less strong, they simply drink the same with a straw in it.

      The repercussions follow suit with that change. Some kids are mental nowadays. I don't want them even more mental after having consumed a litre of vodka like it's Evian.
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    • Profile picture of the author KimW
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      The drinking age in Wisconsin is 21. In Wisconsin, however, those under the age of 21 may still be served alcohol if they are with a parent, guardian, or spouse, who is of legal drinking age.


      I think it should be lowered to 18 for anyone in the military. They are usually more mature than their peers. If they're old enough to fight and die for our country they ought to be allowed to drink in it.
      Dennis,
      I think the age to enlist should be 25 too.
      It's been proven the brain is still developing up to 25. (I'm not getting in a debate with anyone about if it still develops after or not,imo it does but at a slower rate and a different manner.)
      But I definitely agree that if they can fight and die, then they can consume.
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    • Profile picture of the author Doran Peck
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      The drinking age in Wisconsin is 21. In Wisconsin, however, those under the age of 21 may still be served alcohol if they are with a parent, guardian, or spouse, who is of legal drinking age.


      I think it should be lowered to 18 for anyone in the military. They are usually more mature than their peers. If they're old enough to fight and die for our country they ought to be allowed to drink in it.
      Absafrickenlutely.


      ...on a side note, I'd sure like to see much harsher penalties for when drinking gets abused though. Particularly on DUI's. I just can't see where theres any intelligence behind the idea of letting repeat offenders continue to get behind the wheel.

      What they got going on currently isn't working...cuz plenty of people still think its not a big deal to drink and drive.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    I think you should have to get a medical card and use it only for medicinal purposes.
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  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    It is an irrefutable fact...life is a gateway drug to death.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by Doran Peck View Post


      ...on a side note, I'd sure like to see much harsher penalties for when drinking gets abused though. Particularly on DUI's. I just can't see where theres any intelligence behind the idea of letting repeat offenders continue to get behind the wheel.

      What they got going on currently isn't working...cuz plenty of people still think its not a big deal to drink and drive.
      I don't know where you live, Doran, but they've been cracking down on it around here it seems, at least it seems like they're making more arrests than they used to. The limit is .08, it was .12 when I moved here I think. If a person has had 3 or more DUI's then their legal limit is .02 - that should apply to anyone whose had one DUI if you ask me.

      It doesn't stop all the habitual offenders though. Many of them drive without a license. For some, it seems the only way to stop them is to put them in prison.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        I've heard the logic before - but none of those carry the potential of harming an innocent person as alcohol consumption does.
        Kay, you do know they give out GUNS to the enlisted, right? I'd be a hell of a lot more worried to see an irresponsible 19 year old with an M4 assault rifle than sipping on a beer.
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        • Profile picture of the author KimW
          Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

          I don't know where you live, Doran, but they've been cracking down on it around here it seems, at least it seems like they're making more arrests than they used to. The limit is .08, it was .12 when I moved here I think. If a person has had 3 or more DUI's then their legal limit is .02 - that should apply to anyone whose had one DUI if you ask me.

          It doesn't stop all the habitual offenders though. Many of them drive without a license. For some, it seems the only way to stop them is to put them in prison.
          I think it was on FB but can't swear to it but I recently saw a report that said something like 34 states require convicted DUI drivers to get breather locks ( I don't know the proper term) put on their vehicles.

          Originally Posted by Tina Golden View Post

          Kay, you do know they give out GUNS to the enlisted, right? I'd be a hell of a lot more worried to see an irresponsible 19 year old with an M4 assault rifle than sipping on a beer.

          Hence my post about 25 being the legal age.

          At 18 a man/boy feels invincible. Who better to give a gun to and say hey, you have the governments permission to go and kill.

          You have the same problem at 21 with alcohol though. They are a bit smarter than at 18,but haven't learned the self control to know when to stop drinking. But honestly,a lot of people never learn that limit.
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  • Profile picture of the author A.Green
    18 like most of Europe. It was 14 not too long ago. Even then, though, normal parents didn't let their kids drink a lot at that age. A little wine with dinner maybe, but they didn't let them sit around and suck down a bottle of vodka.

    The thing is I doubt it's the low drinking age that causes the alcohol-abuse problem. So many countries have 16 to 18 as their drinking age, yet some have much greater alcoholism problems than others. Even within the same country, some areas will have more of a problem than others. Poverty is often a factor then. I don't know what the solution is, but I doubt raising the drinking age will help. But I could be wrong; I don't know the statistics.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tejabuu
    Where I live, in the Netherlands, the drinking age is only 16 and we can legally score weed at age 18. Might seem ridiculous, but you have to realize that the Netherlands hardly has any trouble with Alcohol or Drug-Abuse.

    Originally Posted by KimW

    The legal age for adulthood should be 25.
    I see where you're coming from but don't you think that's a little old? At some point in their lives people have to take responsibility for their own actions, we can't protect them their entire lives. Now, I might be a little biased as I'm 17 myself and often get utmost frustrated because of the fact that I'm still a minor. I can, for example, not start my own business even though I'm more responsible than a whole lot of adults.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      I think it was on FB but can't swear to it but I recently saw a report that said something like 34 states require convicted DUI drivers to get breather locks ( I don't know the proper term) put on their vehicles.
      I don't think Wisconsin is one of them. Do they really work? I mean, a big balloon comes to mind. Or $5 to a kid walking by.
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      • Profile picture of the author KimW
        Originally Posted by Tejabuu View Post

        Where I live, in the Netherlands, the drinking age is only 16 and we can legally score weed at age 18. Might seem ridiculous, but you have to realize that the Netherlands hardly has any trouble with Alcohol or Drug-Abuse.


        I see where you're coming from but don't you think that's a little old? At some point in their lives people have to take responsibility for their own actions, we can't protect them their entire lives. Now, I might be a little biased as I'm 17 myself and often get utmost frustrated because of the fact that I'm still a minor. I can, for example, not start my own business even though I'm more responsible than a whole lot of adults.
        No, I don't think its old.But then again I was one of the people that voted and lowered the age here in the US from 21 to 18. It was a mistake that needs to be rectified in my opinion.
        And I will be the first to admit it would be more a stop gap measure than a fix/cure for the problem.

        As far as this:" I'm more responsible than a whole lot of adults",you may or may not be,but I can tell you almost every person in your age ranges says and actually believes that,but the majority of the ones I run into are definitely not. I honestly hope you are,and it you are spend the next year or so until you are legally able to start your own business honing your skills. You wull be a better business man for it.

        Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

        I don't think Wisconsin is one of them. Do they really work? I mean, a big balloon comes to mind. Or $5 to a kid walking by.
        Dennis, I don't know how effective they are. I don;t know if a big balloon would work but that $5 probably would,
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  • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
    21 where I'm from and I'm totally fine with it.

    If it was 18 however I don't think I'd be ok with it. When I was a senior in highschool A LOT of my friends would drive drunk and they were around 17-18. When you're that young you just don't think things through NATURALLY nevermind when you're drunk.

    Still, I think setting a specific age for the most part is stupid. The real way people should be allowed to drink is by getting a "drinking license" (same for owning pets). Even some full grown adults drive drunk so I think its more a matter of IQ than age.

    Maybe they should just test everyones IQ and if you fall under 85 then you shouldn't be allowed to drink. =]

    -Red
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  • Profile picture of the author yupeeman
    18, in Kenya. I think it should be increased to 21
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  • Profile picture of the author Ericparke
    18, But it's Australia. Everyone starts drinking here around 14 haha
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Maybe changing the age wasn't wrong - at the time.

      After years of agreeing with those who say our society encourages children to "grow up too fast" ...seems to me to many resulting young adults are just the opposite. They learned to play grownup but the responsibilities involved aren't part of their reality.
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