Lowering Drinking Age to 18 Gets Consideration

Lowering Drinking Age to 18 Gets Consideration
August 15, 2007

News Summary

Several states, including Florida, Wisconsin, Vermont and Missouri, have studied the idea of lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, as some experts are suggesting, MSNBC reported Aug. 14.

The National Youth Rights Association has launched a petition drive to lower the drinking age, and some Missouri advocates are organizing a ballot initiative. John McCardell, former president of Middlebury College in Vermont, has become the most visible advocate for the change.

“The law was changed in 1984, and the law had a very specific purpose, and that was to prohibit drinking among those under the age of 21,” McCardell said. “The only way to measure the success of that law is to ask ourselves whether, 23 years later, those under 21 are not drinking.” “The evidence is very clear,” McCardell said. “It has had no effect.”

Backers believe the rise of binge drinking among adolescents and college students can be directly traced to raising the drinking age to 21. “Just like during national Prohibition, the law has pushed and forced underage drinking and youthful drinking underground, where we have no control over it," said David J. Hanson, an alcohol policy expert at the State University of New York-Potsdam.

Opposition to the proposal remains strong, however. “Why would we repeal or weaken laws that save lives? It doesn’t make sense," said Mark Rosenker, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. The age-21 laws adopted by all 50 states -- under threat by Congress of losing their federal highway funds -- have been credited with lowering the rate of drunk-driving fatalities. But critics also question the studies used to link the age-21 law and lower alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

McCardell's group, Choose Responsibility, would like to see the drinking age lowered to 18 but also wants "drinking licenses" issued to those ages 18 to 21. McCardell also wants youths to receive more education on responsible alcohol consumption.

However, 77 percent of Americans recently surveyed by Gallup said they opposed lowering the drinking age.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Richard Martino on 21 Feb 08 07:38 PM EST

I think that it should be lowered to 18 becuase now more the every there is under age drinking and that is becuase of the change to 21. people may think its making things better but it isn't becuase the law can't watch everyone and poeple drinking under age will always find away to drink no matter what

Posted by Stash Kozlowski on 16 Mar 08 11:15 PM EDT

I am in agreement with John McCardell, I believe if we can do anything from dieing for our country, to getting married, to going to jail then why can't we have a drink. I support the idea of issuing a drinkers permit, we can be issued a drivers permit at 17 and be put on the road but yet when we are a legal adult we can't have a beer. After raising the drinking age to 21 in 1984 has it stopped underage drinking? The answer to that is NO. All we have done is forced it underground.

Posted by AddictionPro on 17 Mar 08 04:22 AM EDT

For the present, the most frequently used chemical by those under 21 and in the age 13 to 21 years of age is marijuana. It is easier to get. Next to nicotine, alcohol is the biggest killer. What would happen if we simply lowered the age to drink alcohol and issued an 18 to 25 years of age alcohol use permit or license which would be immediately taken away if there was any misuse of alcohol? That same license would also legalize, tax and regulate the use of marijuana. The end result, fewer alcohol related problems and carnage on the highways not to mention a break-up in the need for "gang connections." We would need to dispell the myth and misconception about marijuana and show it as a big moneymaker for a very large segment of the population. That is where the battle would be from a legalization standpoint. Far too many use the law to profit from marijuana use and those of you who do know who you are. I do not need to point fingers of shame nor name names. Something to think about.

Posted by Joshua Savage on 05 Apr 08 07:35 PM EDT

I agree that the drinking law should be lowered. The amount of money used to throw those under 21 (18+)in jail for drinking has got to be pretty high. On top of charging fines (which also effect the economy), spending the states money for the room & board at the jail, I'd say it probably costs alot. I love the idea of getting a license to drink, and I think the idea of "alcohol-ed" is great. Why can't the Government support something that really WOULD help? I'd love to see it happen, but unfortunately I don't think they will be smart enough to allow it to pass. My $.02

Posted by Joshua Savage on 05 Apr 08 07:39 PM EDT

What I forgot to mention about the fines is that most people don't have money to pay the expensive fines, and therefore end up serving time behind bars instead, as well as serving community service. Never been there myself, however I know some who have been, and it sucks! The state thinks they can just charge fines for everything, but I think alcohol under 21 but over 18, is stupid to charge a fine + jail time for.

Posted by Karen on 22 Apr 08 10:43 AM EDT

John McCardell, former president of Middlebury College in Vermont is embarrassingly incorrect in his assertion that raising the drinking age to 21 had no effect. Shame on him. The U.K. and Australia are now increasing the drinking age to 21 from 18 for all the reasons we did so in the US. Plain and simple, it saves lives and reduces the likelihood of early addiction.Driving drunk is not the only risk. Overdosing on alcohol kills more kids now than driving fatalities. Alcohol is a toxin and alters how you feel and think. How can anyone equate military service with a health risk? That's like saying because a 10 year old can read and write and think they should be allowed to go to college. Life experience and maturity are in short supply for the average 18 year old . . .three years DOES make a difference.

Posted by charli on 25 Apr 08 12:33 PM EDT

i think that if we can vote and smoke and gamble on tickets and other things but we cant drink a beer.i think that the age limmit of drinking should be lowerd. the kids will still get there education cause you can put rules or ground them. There should be a curfue for them to be inside.

Posted by charli on 25 Apr 08 12:37 PM EDT

i think the drinking age should be lowered because the kids could still get there education they need. we can vote and go to the arm but we cant drink?

Posted by hunter on 23 May 08 04:50 PM EDT

the drinking age should be lowered if your old enough to join the amry and vote u should be able to drink

Posted by jw on 23 May 08 11:28 PM EDT

"How can anyone equate military service with a health risk?"...later in post "Life experience and maturity are in short supply for the average 18 year old" I don't mean to go at any specific person, but I can't imagine going up to an 18 year old in our armed forces and telling them that are in short supply on maturity. I don't imagine the poster meant it that way, but it sounds quite awful in my opinion. There is more maturity needed for the men and women in our armed forces than any other job in our country.

Posted by Carol on 28 May 08 03:08 PM EDT

Frankly, I think we expect way too much from someone with limited life experiences at age 18. Using the excuse that if we can send them off to war we should allow them to drink just doesn't equate. The military spends lots of time and energy preparing someone for battle. What do we do to help the young learn how to drink??? Just tell them "know when to say when". What kind of training is that? If you want to change the laws then rethink the attitudes that accept high-risk drinking among our youth because we're dealing with a drug that impairs the ability to "know".

Posted by Get a Clue on 08 Jun 08 11:20 PM EDT

Honestly. Do you really think that having the drinking age raised to 21 has done any good? Well the answer is absolutely not. Now more than ever young adults are getting MIPs that you see regularly in the paper. Compared to before the law was issued. This is most likely because when you tell somebody they cannot do something the first thing they try to do is what you told them not to. If you look at other countries who have quite young drinking ages you will see that they have very little drinking problems. This is due to the fact that getting caught drinking and driving is like nearly killing somebody. This is what the United States needs to do. They need to set steeper penalties for those who are caught disobeying the law.

Posted by Get a Brain on 28 Jun 08 07:37 PM EDT

I would just like to mention my disdain and offense I take from being referred to as a "minor" in regards to alcohol. I thought I was no longer a "minor" when I turned 18? Am I suddenly considered a child when it comes to booze? WTF. The lawmakers need to do some growing up. I take it as a direct insult being treated like a kid in a toxic candy store. I feel discriminated against and I will not tolerate discrimination.

Posted by Alcohol Educator on 01 Jul 08 01:08 PM EDT

The 18/21 debate is an ongoing, never ending debate that I truly believe will never be settled especially with the way current statistics are collected and represented. It honestly depends on the group interpreting & presenting the results of surveys and polls as to how they are represented. Maybe we should all put aside the "statistics" and use some common sense and parental instincts to deal with the underage drinking situation. Has rising the drinking age lowered traffic fatality stats - maybe? However, has it increased deaths caused by so called "binge drinking" (that definition is ridiculous as it stands-what about a time frame, what about a 6’2” man vs a 5’2” woman, etc.) & underground excessive drinking - absolutely. We are just changing one problem for another. Continued...

Posted by Alcohol Educator on 01 Jul 08 01:43 PM EDT

So now what-more ineffective legislation? Anyone with any common sense can see that the only way any real change is going to happen is through a well balanced combination of ADEQUATE education & INTELLEGENT legislation. Education for our youth as well as parents, educators, liquor license holders & legislators. Everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to understanding alcohol & its effects on the human body. Then we might possibly be able to come up with a solution to the underage and DUI problems in our society. Let’s stop blaming the alcohol industry & put the blame on society in general. Look at what is acceptable for our youth today. The way we dress, the way we have taken God out of everything, the way we have allowed sexuality into every aspect of society, what is acceptable on TV & in movies, etc. If we want to blame alcohol advertising for youth drinking then let’s also blame youth pregnancies on the sexuality we see in the media or auto ads for youth speeding & underage driving which also kills our youth, or sports figures for making breaking the law cool, etc. Face it, society as a whole is responsible for these types of problems.

Posted by anon on 10 Aug 08 07:51 PM EDT

A popular reason for kids under 21 to drink is because they aren't allowed to. Going against the laws and being "rebellious" and getting away with it gives them a sense of pride, something they can boast about to friends. If they age was lowered to 18, there would be less drinking for rebellious purposes, seeing as it wouldn't have the same appeal as before. At the age of 18, you should be able to make responsible decisions for yourself. Along with the other privilages awarded when you turn 18, drinking should be amongst one of them. Curfews are always a great idea as well. If people are concerned about younger people out on the roads at weird hours, set a city-wide curfew for those under 21. I believe lowering the drinking age to 18 will be one way to cut back on binge drinking and the like. People need to keep an open mind when this type of action is proposed and weigh both sides of the idea before making a decision.

Posted by Sarah on 20 Aug 08 05:52 PM EDT

I think the drinking age should be 18. If we can die for our country we should be able to have a beer. When your 18 your considered an ADULT. End of story

Posted by ALMA on 25 Aug 08 10:04 PM EDT

Yes, if we can die for this country then why can't eighteen year olds drink? Its plain simple because dieing for you country is honor, courage and commitment as of for drinking its not important. These soldiers are making a difference in our lives everyday and alcohol doesn't.

Posted by Ronnie on 18 Sep 08 10:05 PM EDT

OK, so kids under 21 drink more often, because its "being bad" or " a step away from whats right" so they feel cool..if it were allowed kids underage would in time learn responsible drinking, because it would just be something else you could do and it wouldnt be as big of a deal. Sure at first the rates might go up, but in time they would go back down. And besides if yo can sign official documents, buy cigarettes ( which by the way kill more epople than ANY drinking related death), serve your country, and if you ALLOWED to drink on Naval Ships ( which is a government organization ) than you cant really argue with the point that the drinking age should be lowered, UNLESS you want to change all thos eother laws to 21 which then would slammmm the economy forr sure, but you can decide

Posted by Laurie on 24 Sep 08 04:34 PM EDT

Lowerig the drinking age could help in so many ways. If someone wants to drink they will, and it just causes more time and money putting them behind bars, when we should be focusing on more important finacial battles and serious issues. As far as the war statement, any of you that say you can't compare the two are WRONG. War is much more dangerous, we just don't hear all the details from the news about the battles, but if you really think about it war is much more dangerous then having a drink or two. Alcohol is abused at any age, so if it is to be banned it should be from anyone, not just discriminating teens about it. And as far as MADD goes, of course drinking and driving is bad, but teens are NOT the only ones that do so. It is illegal to drive drunk at ANY age, so that shouldn't even be brought up. Its all about discrimination, porn and smoking are looked at as "bad" and yet at 18 we can do that too!

Posted by xavier on 03 Oct 08 10:27 AM EDT

yea like i agree with wat every on is saying here i read every last one of them and it got me thinking like we could surly die fot or country be arrested at the age of 13 and be put in jail for a couple of hours y cant we drimk at hte age of 18 we seem to get to do wat ever like we can buy cigereets at a gastation y cant we buy beer its does the same harm as alchol does all i am really sayuin is that if we could but one thing that could kill us why cant we buy beer

Posted by Kristinya on 13 Oct 08 10:35 AM EDT

I believe that the drinking age should be lowered, because if someone really wants to drink they're going to do it regardless. And if you are an adult when you turn 18 then you should be able to make your own choices and face the consequences.

Posted by Cory Turner JCHS 15 yrs old on 22 Oct 08 12:08 PM EDT

I think that the age should be lowered because smoking is worse than drinking and you can legally smoke at the age of 18 so ya peace

Posted by Youth Vs. Alcohol? on 23 Oct 08 04:50 PM EDT

I think of course if a 18 yr old woman wants to start the aging process sooner by drinking then YES let her have at it. If a 18 yr old man wants to have problems with erection because of drinking please LET him do what he wants with his body. If young adults want to take responsiblity for their actions and drink and drive please let them sit in jail and pay for numerous classes that come with getting a DUI. If they want to grow up faster(if you live to be say 70, 18 years is only 25% of their life) leave their innocence behide and have to take on all the responiblity of paying bills, car notes, morgage, medical bills, and so forth, by all means if authority wants to help keep most of the public safe I think it is ok to let the drinking age what it is at 21.

Posted by Youth Vs. Alcohol? on 23 Oct 08 04:52 PM EDT

There is a reason for why the drinking age is what it is we should want to wait for your turn I read a lot of reasons why it should be lowered but they are all the same. Drinking is more dangerous because when you do it it effects others you become violent it dulls your senses and you lose the ability to reason normally. That is why there is so many DUI's in any age. When you smoke it done in places designated for that and only the people who want to be effected by are. When you go to war it is your right to want to die for your country, you don't even have to sign up for the draft(you just are not able to get any gov. jobs or gov. help).

Posted by Amy Melchor on 18 Nov 08 01:03 AM EST

: Okay, I’ve read some of the things that every one else has wrote, and some of the things make sense but even though everyone goes though the same age dose me that the we can’t help to make it easier to for the next person. You can die from anything and you can be slapped down with fees and responsibilities. In the end I don’t even think that sometimes you can ever be old enough to tell a family that you just killed their loved one because you wanted to go drink. Or you had on too many and didn’t make it to the hospital in time.

Posted by cody ayotte. SCHOOL SUX on 19 Nov 08 10:19 AM EST

lower the drinking age to 14 but 14-17 should drink with adult supervision DRINKING is good for you because it gets rid of your stress in other words it makes you feel better!!!!

Posted by KK on 08 Dec 08 04:35 PM EST

ok i think the drinking age should be lowered! im even doing a report on it for school! iit should only be lowered to 18 though! not 14 or 17 cuz thats stupid!

Posted by ashley on 08 Dec 08 09:05 PM EST

The drinking age should NOT be lowered to 18. Has anyone ever looked up the statistics? In the 70's it was legal for 18 year olds to drink and in 1984 when the law changed to 21 there was a HUGE decrease in alcohol-related accients. This is not just a coincedence it is pure fact. I understand the whole "we can vote, smoke, get married, adopt and go to war" argument, however, I never said I agreed that at 18 a person should be allowed to do any of those things either. The human brain is not even fully developed at 18,therefore, it is not capable of making such life chaning decisions. Yea, they might pay the consequences by sitting in jail at 18,19 or 20 but what if their action affected someone elses life? What if 30 years from the accident (whatever it may be) they regret it but its to bad for them?

Posted by chelsey on 11 Dec 08 08:25 PM EST

ok to everyone who thinks that lowering the drinking age is bad because "minors" make stupid decisions when they drink, guess what...EVERYONE who drinks to excess makes stupid decisions including driving. The reason that underage drinkers binge and whatnot is because alcohol is viewed as a novelty and a privilage only for "the big kids" it wouldnt be thought of as such a big deal if the legal age was lowered. also i think that older, responsible adults should be role models for the rest of us youngins. it should be taught that irresponsibility while drinking is unacceptable. i also strongly support the alcohol education/license concept. we have to take drivers ed before we get a permit, why not do that with alcohol? it is statistically proven that driver's-ed has improved the rate of car accidents and fatalities.

Posted by Prohibition on 06 Jan 09 10:18 PM EST

When you reach the legal age of being an adult, you should be able to drink, simple as that. Anything less makes little sense. While traffic incidents may have gone down since the drinking age was moved to 21, binge drinking has gone up. We need to move the drinking age to 18 and educate kids in school about responsibilitys and dangers that come with alcohol.

Posted by sarahhhhh on 11 Jan 09 03:22 PM EST

im 15 and i drink. i get drunk. i'm not going to lie. but i do it in a private place with my friends where no one is harmed. what is the problem with that? and i think it should be lowered to at LEAST 18 because if you are allowed to die for your country at 18, you should be able to drink.

Posted by JesusChrist on 26 Jan 09 01:54 AM EST

I guess what I'm trying to say is, we're looking at the wrong things here.. We're worried about people drinking and using drugs, when we should be worried about what we need to do to make our country and our planet a better place to live. To the insanely rich: Quit hoarding money. You're never going to spend it all, it's nice to have money, but Jesus..Don't be so stingy. I'm not saying give away your money, but at least pay people to do things. You know, create jobs. Yeah, I know, you know how to do it.. But you don't have to do it. You have the money to pay somebody else to do it. And it won't hurt you in the least bit to do so. And to all the poor, well, try working. I know it's hard to find work. I've been at the bottom before. I've had to sleep under a bridge before. But if you just go out and TRY, you'll realize that more people are willing to help than you think. As long as you're willing to WORK. We've become far too dependent on things like pieces of paper that say you're better than me or i'm better than you.. well, that's not how it works.

Posted by Jim Gassmann on 13 Feb 09 06:22 PM EST

Everybody thinks that an 18 year old still has to be looked at as a child. The government although says that you are able to go to war and die for your country and also get married with 18. Every 18 year old can also be sent to prison for committing a crime. Why but really why is the drinking age set to 21 if you are legally and adult with 18? I would understand it if people get to be adults with 21, but you are responsible for everything when you're 18, but you can't go to a bar and drink a beer. That is also why everybody get drunk on weekends because everybody wants to drink. When we(I am 20, but could drink in Switzerland where is was born, when I turned 18) could sit in a bar once or twice a week we wouldn't have to get really drunk once a week. Also what does a newly married 18 year old couple drink at their weeding? Can't they even drink some white wine or champagne? Eiter the states or the whole country has to change something because it is just no right to set the drinking age to 21 if you're treatend as an adult with 18, but you can't drink. And you people that want to tell me that there would be many more car accidents....then set the age for driving up to 18.

Posted by larry 78245 on 19 Feb 09 02:33 PM EST

In answer to sarahhhh 01/09/09. Thats how i started now im in AA 8yrs. You wouldnt believe how fast one can become addicted to alcohol.I pray you see the light soon. I started drinking at age 13, i finally quit when i was 54. I hope you see the light sooner than I. I hope your parents or someone else parents are not supporting you and your friends. If so...they should be jailed.

Posted by Arizona on 24 Feb 09 10:19 AM EST

I think it is amazing how many people think the drinking age should be lowered. As someone who works in prevention I see youth use every excuse in the book for why they use alcohol and the amazing thing in nine years not one individual under 21 has indicated any of the excuses listed in all the comments here. Youth who actually hurt themselves or others are only sorry after the fact. What happened to being a responsible American and abiding by the laws that have been set forth. Being an American has no age limit and being responsible doesn't either...

Posted by Kristin on 25 Feb 09 07:42 PM EST

Speaking from experience, I can say that I thought going to the bar and getting hammered underage was SOO cool. In less than a year of going to the bar, I realized it was pointless and I could care less. By 21, I wont care.I had no one trying to stop me from going and now it means nothing.Living in Wisconsin, I see how bad binge drinking is just bc we arent allowed to do it.As for the maturity issue, I see no difference with 18year olds at the bar then 23 year olds. In my experince, the 18yr olds are more responsible.Maturity shouldnt be judged by age ive seen 30 year olds act extremely irresponsible.Once alcohol is consumed people are imparied whether they are 18 or 40. Teens should be educated about the effects of alcohol and laws should become more strict for ppl caught drunk driving.Licenses to drink at 18 are a good idea.Telling ppl no over and over makes them more likely to do it.

Posted by Jim Joyner on 02 Mar 09 11:40 AM EST

The fact that this has even risen as an issue demonstrates again just how ignorant some people are about the facts. And based on those facts there’s not one legitimate reason to lower the drinking age, under the current posturing of the nation regarding alcohol and other drug use, to 18 unless of course you want a lot more drinking related deaths and other consequences for youth. And for those who think you should be able to drink at 18 because you can die for your country at 18, I remind you that old men don't fight wars. They have the young ones who think they will live for ever to do it for them. One of the errors of youth is that you think nothing can harm you. Alcohol is a powerful and potentially dangerous drug. And 18 year olds are kids. Now what is it you don’t understand?

Posted by ryan breakall on 10 Mar 09 08:39 AM EDT

I think they should lower the drinking age to 18 because people under the age of 21 drink any way. And to stopp drinking a driving make the drinking laws more harsh.

Posted by ryan breakall on 10 Mar 09 08:51 AM EDT

sorry about the grammer and the miss spellings im in first period class and im realy tired

Posted by bozos on 15 Mar 09 01:36 AM EDT

live your life and let other people live theirs once adulthood is reached people can make decisions for themselves. Government has no place implementling laws that remove or hinder our freedoms. live and let live do what you want its your life and no matter what, you chose your destiny "All initiation of force is a violation of someone else's rights, whether initiated by an individual or the state, for the benefit of an individual or group of individuals, even if it's supposed to be for the benefit of another individual or group of individuals." Ron Paul

Posted by ron on 15 Mar 09 01:41 AM EDT

"All initiation of force is a violation of someone else's rights, whether initiated by an individual or the state, for the benefit of an individual or group of individuals, even if it's supposed to be for the benefit of another individual or group of individuals. "

Posted by Stan4jas on 20 Mar 09 12:10 PM EDT

The maturity level of 18-21 has dropped over the years. Kids today are not held accountable for their actions by their parents or society. They have become spoiled and careless. Only with extensive basic training through military does that maturity level go up. To lower the drinking age to 18 across the board would be crazy. Because of that lack of maturity in the youth today, the drinking age should be raised to 25. It's not the kids to blame, it's parents and society who at fault. God help us...

Posted by Derek on 25 Mar 09 05:49 PM EDT

I think there would't be much harm in lowering the drinking age to 18. Having graduated college here in the States and then doing a masters in Scotland, the comparison shapes up as such: College students in Europe go out to the bars and drink fairly responsibly since they are monitored by their peers and barkeeps. Getting sloppy while out gets you a bad reputation and is a definite party foul, even at age 18. Kids learn alcohol responsibility at an early age. When I was doing my masters at age 23 over there, I had no problem being around those who were 18 and 19, because they were on their best behaviour, in a sense, at the bars. In the States however, 18-20's load up before they go out (I definitely did), because they know they might not be able to get another drink wherever they go that night. It's an absolute joke how our laws are set up here in the States. If anything, we need to make the driving age 18, that would solve some real problems.

Posted by dontworryaboutit on 25 Mar 09 10:43 PM EDT

Are people too naive to realize that if the legal drinking age is 21 teens will still drink, if the legal drinking age was 31 it would not change anything. Teens have connections to get their alcohol, and because it is illegal they need to drink unsupervised which is one reason why deaths are so frequent due to extreme intoxication. Drinking alcohol may be appealing to teens because it is illegal. They enjoy being "rebels" and breaking the law.. Also why are teens able to risk their lives for their country, but they can not enjoy drinking with a few of their friends? It doesnt make any sense to me. And the people who argue it saves lives to keep the legal drinking age at 21... no it doesnt, it causes more deaths if anything.

Posted by BOO on 01 Apr 09 11:50 PM EDT

I believe that if you can fight for your country and and vote you should be able to have a few. I also would have to say that if you think that keeping the drinking age at 21 is saving lifes your wrong because people ages 20 and under are drinking and getting alchol posoining because of having one to many but any one could die of alchol posioning. SERIOUSLY TAKE TIME TO THINK THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL SAFE LIVES IS BANDING DRINKING COMPLETELY WHICH WILL NEVER HAPPEN SO FACE THE FACTS!!!!!!

Posted by nikki on 23 Apr 09 07:07 PM EDT

NO NO NO. no way, im 21 years old and i dont approve of alcohol drinkers younger then 21. yes i know that kids drink it regardless, but think how many people out there that have not got beer because they had no way to get to it because there not old enough to buy. SOMETIMES older people buy it for them, but its not all the time, crap dudes, if we let this happen we might as well say goodbye to our future generations. hell, why not lower the smoking age to 13, there smoking already so why the hell not, lets let these kids destroy themselves.

Posted by Stefanie on 03 May 09 03:57 PM EDT

I am young enough to realte to this issue but old enough to know how it effects everyone. Personally I am for the lowering of the legal drinking age to 18. I began drinking when I was 16 and there are plenty of people out there who will buy it for the "underage" I feel if you can go to war for your country and pay taxes etc.. then why cant you buy alcohol. It isn't fair. I believe that it is just another way for the gov't to try and control our every move. What really happened to the constitution and the land of the "free"?

Posted by baja on 28 May 09 03:26 PM EDT

i think that thats exactly what should happen. i mean y not lower it poeple do it any mays but some people think its a helth risk how do you feel about that?

Posted by sara on 01 Jun 09 10:31 PM EDT

I'm 16 and I don't drink, but I don't believe that keeping the legal drinking age at 21 is really helping anyone. No matter what age the legal one is, people who want to drink will find a way. Right now, it seems cool because it is taboo, but once there is no opposition, there is no reason to rebel against society and teens will lose interest. I agree with the licensing idea, as I feel like teens are not very educated about the dangers of drinking. The US has the highest drinking age in the world and look at our legal cases involving underage drinking, while the rest of the world doesn't have these issues as teens have nothing to rebel against. I think the maturity argument is sort of silly as I know a lot of teens who are more mature than twenty year olds. Teens in some ways are more mature, as they have more parental supervision, while 20yr olds are likely to go wild. I also find it stupid to treat a legal adult as a minor. Allow them to make their own mistakes and pay the consequences. Live and let live.

Posted by Meh on 24 Jun 09 10:13 PM EDT

Why is it the government comes to me (A 20 year old male) and tells me if I do not register so that I might be drafted within 30 days I will go to jail. That as an ADULT over the age of 18 I am REQUIRED by LAW to register with them so that in the event a war breaks out (With a president at the head whom I never even voted for) I can be plucked from my job, my home, and my life to kill other people and fight for my country, but I still can't go out to a bar and have a drink? Or pluck a dollar into a slot machine? The people who fight this are ignorant. Just because you weren't mature at 18 doesn't mean every other 18 year old wasn't. Just because you got addicted to it doesn't mean they all will. At 18 I was allowed to buy cigarettes and lottery tickets. I did. Am I addicted to either? No. I don't smoke now, and I don't feel the need too. It's not mystical to me, it's just a waste of time. Do NOT tell me I *HAVE* to go to war for my country in the event of a draft at 18, but revoke my rights when it comes to drinking or gambling. I am either an adult at 18, or I'm not. It's that simple.

Posted by Saul on 29 Sep 09 09:04 PM EDT

i am all for the lowering of the dinking age. i am 19 years old and i was dignosed with cancer seven months ago. now that im done with everthing to celabrate i could not have anything to drink but yet for seven months i could have chemo pumped throught my veins? my friend is about to graduate from college at the age of 20 but he cant have a beer something has to change.

Posted by Rob on 20 Oct 09 05:48 AM EDT

I have red many replies. I am a professional in the field and I was a young man aged 18 when it was legal to drink. It is foolish and nieve to think a law will cause or keep someone from drinking. The message it sends is the important idea here. As a person, I know I was not mature or responsible enough at 18. I also see kids and young adults who have absolutely no idea what they are doing to themselves. The only way for some was to be arrested and shown the truth. I do not believe it is in anyones best interest except alcohol distributors to lower the drinking age, oh yes and for politicians to get votes. This would be a huge mistake on so many levels. As for 18 year olds in the military? Yep, if you are old enough to fight for the country then by all means you are old enough to drink. Vital in this is not just the "fighting" issue. The military instills discipline which is often missing in the home. Reponsibility and priveledges ALWAYS go together, something that many teens and adults do not understand, and you can't learn it by drinking. This is a very bad idea.

Posted by Rob on 20 Oct 09 06:00 AM EDT

This comment may appear to not be related to the topic, but it is more related than many of the comments. This is why responsibility must ALWAYS accompany priveledges. To Ron on 15 March 09...You're the type that scares me in today's world. Instead of sitting behind a broad stroke that commits you to nothing, take a stand and develope your own beliefs. What you said is just plain nonsense. Unless you value nothing then your statement make no sense.

Posted by Wow on 21 Oct 09 05:28 PM EDT

People should not be considered an adult until they are over the age of 20. Anything that ends in teen should still be considered a teenager. Most of the age stipulations on many things were put into effect at times in history when they were more appropriate. When the age 18 pronounced one as an adult it was back when many people "kids" in fact, (especially men) were unable to even finish school for the most part because they had to go to work on the family farm or where ever to help their families survive. Women were married very young and were mothers while they were children themselves. People worked way harder, had way more responsibilities and had to grow up way sooner than kids today. 18 isn't a magic number, it just means you have hopefully completed your high school education and have for the most part reached your physical maturity but certainly not you mental maturity. 21 isn't a magic number either, but it is 3 more years of life experience out of your mommy and daddy's home and does help to make people better decision makers and problem solvers. People should not be able to get married, join the armed forces, gamble, smoke or drink until they are no longer teenagers! There is no reason that we should lower the drinking age. We should reconsider increasing the age we are considered adults across the board.

Posted by Teen on 02 Nov 09 04:19 PM EST

well it says there is no control over teen drinnking...Then maybe they should think of a better way to take control instead of giving up on our generation! making that change could save someones life from a stupid mistake. lowering the age just gives us even more insentive to do it, becaue theyre giving up hope on helping us...

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