Drinking Age at 18? Why not?

[MrAngryFace]

I'd support it. Booze is good medicine. Long as they stay off the fukin roads I dont care how much they barf their brains out.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249460/?GT1=10252

“Raising the drinking age to 21 was passed with the very best of intentions, but it’s had the very worst of outcomes,” said David J. Hanson, an alcohol policy expert at the State University of New York-Potsdam. “Just like during national Prohibition, the law has pushed and forced underage drinking and youthful drinking underground, where we have no control over it.”

But Mark Rosenker, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, countered: “Why would we repeal or weaken laws that save lives? It doesn’t make sense.”   

Different laws in different states
As it happens, there is no such thing as a “federal legal drinking age.” Many states do not expressly prohibit minors from drinking alcohol, although most of those do set certain conditions, such as its use in a religious ceremony or in the presence of a parent or other guardian.

The phrase refers instead to a patchwork of state laws adopted in the mid-1980s under pressure from Congress, which threatened in 1984 to withhold 10 percent of federal highway funds from states that did not prohibit selling alcohol to those under the age of 21. By 1988, all 50 states had complied.

Libertarian groups and some conservative economic foundations, seeing the age limits as having been extorted by Washington, have long championed lowering the drinking age. But in recent years, many academics and non-partisan policy groups have joined their cause for a different reason: The age restriction does not work, they say. Drinking has gone on behind closed doors and underground, where responsible adults cannot keep an eye on it.

“It does not reduce drinking. It has simply put young adults at greater risk,” said John M. McCardell, former president of Middlebury College in Vermont, who this year set up a non-profit organization called Choose Responsibility to push for a lower drinking age.

McCardell offers what he calls a simple challenge:

“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,” he 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.”

So are they?

The federal government’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in 2005, the most recent year for which complete figures are available, 85 percent of 20-year-old Americans reported that they had used alcohol. Two out of five said they had binged — that is, consumed five or more drinks at one time — within the previous month.

[Saint Cornelius]

I'd rather they just legalize herb.

[MrAngryFace]

I wouldnt care if they did that either. I dont smoke the stuff but ive never seen somebody flip the fuck out from it.

Wow, I didnt know WA had such awesome drinking laws:

Washington
Under 21 may consume alcohol if parent or guardian is present

[Mupepe]

They need to legalize herb and ban alcohol.

[MrAngryFace]

SHUTHEFUCKUPMUPEPE

[Mupepe]

Wanna get high?

[Cyanista]

Cosign.  If you're old enough to elect to get your limbs blown off by an IED I think you are old enough to have a beer.

[TVC15]

Underage drinking, especially college students, is waaaaaaay too profitable for the legal age to ever be lowered.

[Phoenix Dark]

Seems like it would be a better idea to let kids drink before college, so they know there limits. So many kids get to college and go crazy.

At camp my brothers and cousin found some beer in my uncle's cooler, and wanted to know if they could have some; the real grown ups were away fishing, and I was just watching teh kiddies. I said sure, everyone get a cup and take a tad. They all hated it lol, including me; it was this light beer I've never heard of, which probably was the reason it sucked. I doubt they'll be too keen to drink beer anytime soon.   

Some would call that irresponsible, but hey, sometimes it's best to give kids what they want; that way they'll know what they're getting into later, and have some experience to combat the stupid peer pressure that is associated with alcohol. Like in Calvin and Hobbes when his mom let him smoke lol.

[Not Sure]

Yes please.

I am sick of the yankiedoodles coming here on the weekends.  They abuse our drinking age and can not handle our booze.

[MrAngryFace]

Im going to buy a bottle of E&J VSOP tonight and get tore up. *meatwad tm*

[Stocky]

I'd rather marijuana be illegal at this point. I can only imagine the amount of taxes they'd lay on it.

And drinking age? The way they changed it was nothing more than an act of extortion. If you're old enough to die for your country, you're old enough to drink.

[Saint Cornelius]

Underage drinking, especially college students, is waaaaaaay too profitable for the legal age to ever be lowered.

What?

[Mupepe]

I remember stealing my dad's beer when I was younger.  It was delicious even then.  I remember jacking off in Betty Boop's face too.

[Candyflip]

Wow, I didnt know WA had such awesome drinking laws:

Washington
Under 21 may consume alcohol if parent or guardian is present

I want weed to stay illegal too. If anything they should just decriminalize it, as the current penalties are fucking ludicrous in some areas.

[Phoenix Dark]

Underage drinking, especially college students, is waaaaaaay too profitable for the legal age to ever be lowered.

How would making it legal negatively effect their profits?

[Madrun Badrun]

Down to 18 is the way it should be. 

[Phoenix Dark]

If people can die for their country at 18 they should be able to drink as well

[Smooth Groove]

If people can die for their country at 18 they should be able to drink as well

add fuck to that.  Some of the state laws regarding consensual sex between teenagers are just embarrassing. 

[Mupepe]

I've gotten drunk under 21 at a bar with my mom before.  i love texas

[bagofeyes]

It is in my country

[Smooth Groove]

I've gotten drunk under 21 at a bar with my mom before.  i love texas

   What happened after you both got drunk? 

[bagofeyes]

thats how he learnt lovin'

[Phoenix Dark]

Himu did say Mupepe's mom was a MILF with big ole dairy bags

[Mupepe]

I've gotten drunk under 21 at a bar with my mom before.  i love texas

   What happened after you both got drunk? 

We went back to my house and I showed her my HD DVD player.  She started taking a look at my dvd's while Kiss Kiss Bang Bang played.  She bent over to pick up a DVD and I came up behind her and put my hands on her hips and began to rub....

[Smooth Groove]

I've gotten drunk under 21 at a bar with my mom before.  i love texas

   What happened after you both got drunk? 

We went back to my house and I showed her my HD DVD player.  She started taking a look at my dvd's while Kiss Kiss Bang Bang played.  She bent over to pick up a DVD and I came up behind her and put my hands on her hips and began to rub....

  

[TVC15]

Underage drinking, especially college students, is waaaaaaay too profitable for the legal age to ever be lowered.

How would making it legal negatively effect their profits?

It would make law enforcement numbers look bad.  Taking one drinker and putting him through the underage ringer is definitely more profitable to the state than the amount of money they'd get from him drinking legally, a pittance in comparison.

[Phoenix Dark]

Underage drinking, especially college students, is waaaaaaay too profitable for the legal age to ever be lowered.

How would making it legal negatively effect their profits?

It would make law enforcement numbers look bad.  Taking one drinker and putting him through the underage ringer is definitely more profitable to the state than the amount of money they'd get from him drinking legally, a pittance in comparison.

OHHH. I thought you were saying the alcohol company's would take profit hits

[DJ_Tet]

I've gotten drunk under 21 at a bar with my mom before.  i love texas

   What happened after you both got drunk? 

We went back to my house and I showed her my HD DVD player.  She started taking a look at my dvd's while Kiss Kiss Bang Bang played.  She bent over to pick up a DVD and I came up behind her and put my hands on her hips and began to rub....

I want to finish this story way too badly...

[bluemax]

Because you're not ready from a genetic and developmental standpoint.

[Stocky]

Because you're not ready from a genetic and developmental standpoint.

If you're not Irish.

[Phoenix Dark]

STOCKY

[bagofeyes]

black people arent irish so you cant drink

[DJ_Tet]

black people arent irish so you cant drink

And the English would beg to differ that point.

Distinguished black fellows of Europe are the Irish.

[BobbyRobby]

Underage drinking, especially college students, is waaaaaaay too profitable for the legal age to ever be lowered.

College underage drinking barely ever gets punished with fines in NJ.  If caught by campus security, you usually you just have to do some community service. 

Even off campus, they will rarely punish underage drinking.  In the two cases cops had probable cause to enter my house and break up my party, they didn't arrest or fine a single person for underage drinking.

Is it different in other states? 

[Ichirou]

Drinking age in Puerto Rico is 18, and I don't think drunk driving is a bigger problem there than anywhere else in the States.  It all depends on parents teaching their kids about moderation and what to do if they're inebriated and can't drive home.  I don't think it's a big deal and I think it's kind of silly that people can vote, get married, join the military at 18, but can't take a sip of alcohol till they turn 21.

[TakingBackSunday]

I couldn't give a shit either way–fact is, it's so fucking easy to drink as a minor and not get caught.  Really, the only hiccup in any of my group of friends' drinking plans is just knowing the person to get it for you.  As long as you've got a cool source and a comfortable environment, it's just natural.

It's mroe of me getting caught by my parents than getting caught by the cops.

[Phoenix Dark]

I remember Shake telling me he'd stay out real late at night, then come home drunk but attempting to act sober lol. He said his parents didn't notice but that sounds like bullshit: they sound like shitty parents to me

It ain't hard to smell alcohol, or witness it's effect on people who drink waaay too much. He made it sound like he staggered into the room, hugged his mom, high fived his dad...then went up to his room. No wai!

[TakingBackSunday]

And that was after drinking one Lite beer!

Yeah, I've had similar instances.  I've always been able to sober it up before I walk in the door, and I'll hang around them for like 5 minutes and explain my night to them.  This one time though, for some fucking stupid reason, I got to my door and it was locked.  I was reeeeeaally drunk this night (the worst I've ever been without throwing up), so I begin what I guess was humping my door to try and get my dad's attention.  First thing I do when he opens to door is trip over the doorway.  He asks me "what have you been doing tonight" and I say "Dad, I just don't want to fucking talk about it–please go to bed to mom."  I then passed out on my bed.  Of course, they realized what I did.

They don't really care honestly, just as long as I don't drive, which I never do.

[Takuan]

I wouldnt care if they did that either. I dont smoke the stuff but ive never seen somebody flip the fuck out from it.

Funny story, the first (and presumably last) time a friend's classmate smoked, he kept complaining that he was burning up, so he went into the washroom to "cool down"... an hour later they find him sprawled on the toilet completely naked, passed out.

I've heard of and seen bad reactions to weed, but they never involve one person hurting another. It always involves the individual freaking out, then calming down or passing out. And it's always amusing.

[Candyflip]

I remember Shake telling me he'd stay out real late at night, then come home drunk but attempting to act sober lol. He said his parents didn't notice but that sounds like bullshit: they sound like shitty parents to me

It ain't hard to smell alcohol, or witness it's effect on people who drink waaay too much. He made it sound like he staggered into the room, hugged his mom, high fived his dad...then went up to his room. No wai!

I've done a couple lines 10 minutes before talking to a friend's parent, but alcohol is a bit different. Still, if you're used to it, it's not that hard to play it off.

[BobbyRobby]

I remember Shake telling me he'd stay out real late at night, then come home drunk but attempting to act sober lol. He said his parents didn't notice but that sounds like bullshit: they sound like shitty parents to me

It ain't hard to smell alcohol, or witness it's effect on people who drink waaay too much. He made it sound like he staggered into the room, hugged his mom, high fived his dad...then went up to his room. No wai!

I've done a couple lines 10 minutes before talking to a friend's parent, but alcohol is a bit different. Still, if you're used to it, it's not that hard to play it off.

If anything, I think coke would make me better in tense social situations.

[Stocky]

I've had some bad reactions while smoking, but it was always when I was smoking with this one dude. He always used to buy, so who was I to say no?

I've thrown up once, but I think it was more because that dumbfuck niggerlipped the shit out of the blunt we were smoking to tighten it. Anyone else I've smoked blunts with uses honey.

[Bloodwake]

Kentucky - consumption not prohibited.

Well, this state had to fucking win somehow.