drinking age

[kimpossible]

Lately I've heard a lot of noise to change it back to 18. What do you think?

[kusojiji]

In theory, I'd like it to be 30 or so, but as soon as you're old enough to sign a contract, vote, and pick up a gun to defend the nation you ought to be able to have a damn beer.

[LaiSteve66]

18, I don't support the 21 drinking age.

[SunWuKong]

hell, make it 16.

[cloudzero]

25 for america, 12 for france

[tommyhtown]

I think you need to take a drinking/driving combo test. If you can't drive after 6 beers then you won't get either a driving permit or drinking permit.

[popculturepooka]

18. Sorry, but when I turned old enough to be drafted and possibly die for America I should at least be able to have a (legal) drink.

Now, if they changed the draft age to 21 I'd be okay with it, I'm not really a drinker anyways.

Err, I mean, I won't be that much of a drinker when I turn 21...yeah...that's what I meant...

[Broomer]

I would like to see 21 but I've known kids, myself included, how've been drinking since they were 12 (and we don't mean just sneaking a sip from dad).

Australian's (as a generalisation) gives the mean of the term "Zhou Gwei" (Pardon the bad pinyin).

Ka

[Craig]

25 for america, 12 for franceIn the areas where "30 is the new 20" and "50 is the new 30", we should make the compromise that "40 is a good substitute for 25" ...

[TB4000]

I don't even drink (sans maybe a low alcohol beer occasionally), so I don't really care either way. If it is changed back to 18, is there really any honest to God reason why it would have an impact, aside from just younger kids happy they can buy their shit legal?

[Broomer]

I don't even drink (sans maybe a low alcohol beer occasionally), so I don't really care either way. If it is changed back to 18, is there really any honest to God reason why it would have an impact, aside from just younger kids happy they can buy their shit legal?

I agree. It's like telling kids not to have sex, they're still going to do it.
Personally, I'd chose education over prohibition. Kids are going to do it anyway, might as well make sure they're aware of the consequences.

Ka

[mrcfo]

I would like to see 21 but I've known kids, myself included, how've been drinking since they were 12 (and we don't mean just sneaking a sip from dad).

Australian's (as a generalisation) gives the mean of the term "Zhou Gwei" (Pardon the bad pinyin).

Ka

12 is pretty fcuking early!!!

I had my first drink at 16!

[kusojiji]

I don't even drink (sans maybe a low alcohol beer occasionally), so I don't really care either way. If it is changed back to 18, is there really any honest to God reason why it would have an impact, aside from just younger kids happy they can buy their shit legal?


There would certainly be a spike in drunk driving related deaths.

[Broomer]

12 is pretty fcuking early!!!

I had my first drink at 16!

It's not a badge I'm proud off.

[sandra]

i think they should lower the limit and also add a cap - like at 35 or something.

[NegativeBeef]

If you're old enough to serve the army, you should be old enough to drink.

[TB4000]

If you're old enough to serve the army, you should be old enough to drink.

There are more kids willing to drink than there are willing to serve in the army, so it's kind of a moot point.

[sandra]

well, what are the risks of lowering the drinking age? how would an 18 year old drinking be different from a 21 year old, or even a 25 year old?

[SunWuKong]

i think most 18-year olds that want to drink are able to get their hands on alcohol anyway.

[Broomer]

Personally the biggest problem with drinking is really that parent aren't teaching their kids about RESPONSIBLE drinking. I've seen too many parent just hand their kids a beer without teaching them about the "unspoken rules"

Namely things like this:
1) Never drink a drink that you haven't seen where it was poured from (especially if you're a lady)
2) Never drink alone
3) Never drink if you're depressed

So on and so on.

Problem I see with kids drinking these days is that they make it seem like it's something that's it's expected and taken granted for. Like a birthday present during your birthday.

In a way, drinking when they're younger isn't necessary a bad thing. The damage they do to others is limited and more importantly, the opportunity to teach them to drink more responsibly is there.

These days, sex ed is taught around 15 and 16, and since the two seems to go together, in the mindset of people these days, then it makes logical sense that it's taught at the same time. More as a protection to young girls more then anything else.

All up, prohibition has never worked.

Apologies for the mini rant.

Ka

[mrcfo]

Personally the biggest problem with drinking is really that parent aren't teaching their kids about RESPONSIBLE drinking. I've seen too many parent just hand their kids a beer without teaching them about the "unspoken rules"

Namely things like this:
1) Never drink a drink that you haven't seen where it was poured from (especially if you're a lady)
2) Never drink alone
3) Never drink if you're depressed

So on and so on.

Problem I see with kids drinking these days is that they make it seem like it's something that's it's expected and taken granted for. Like a birthday present during your birthday.

In a way, drinking when they're younger isn't necessary a bad thing. The damage they do to others is limited and more importantly, the opportunity to teach them to drink more responsibly is there.

These days, sex ed is taught around 15 and 16, and since the two seems to go together, in the mindset of people these days, then it makes logical sense that it's taught at the same time. More as a protection to young girls more then anything else.

All up, prohibition has never worked.

Apologies for the mini rant.

Ka

Dont French kids drink at a very young age with parental supervision? Like I heard it was pretty common place over there for say 12 yr olds to have sips and small doses of wine...

Dont most kids start off with shit like sub zero, lolli drinks etc? All those come in bottles of UDL cans, I almost always drink from cans/bottles or taps...hardly drink any mixed shit.

9/10 people I know learnt the dangers of alcohol whilst being drunk the first time...once you get over that really bad hangover/vomiting experience, you'll learn not to do it too often!

[tommyhtown]

I got fucked up drinking yesterday. I got sick last night and swore off alcohol. I was telling my toilet bowl that alcoholic beverages should be banned for all ages in all states except may be in Lousiana. After lunch, my friend txted me about another happy hour. I am going.

[TB4000]

I got fucked up drinking yesterday. I got sick last night and swore off alcohol. I was telling my toilet bowl that alcoholic beverages should be banned for all ages in all states except may be in Lousiana. After lunch, my friend txted me about another happy hour. I am going.

Like 95% of the human populous, the reaction to getting drunk don't deter you unless you die. LOL.

[kusojiji]

Dont French kids drink at a very young age with parental supervision?



You can't go by the French though. If you used them as the example you couldn't argue for things like gun control, 'cause arm them all you want and they're still gonna surrender at the first opportunity. Or someone might hold them up as 'proof' that hairy unwashed women are the way to go.

[Broomer]

Dont French kids drink at a very young age with parental supervision? Like I heard it was pretty common place over there for say 12 yr olds to have sips and small doses of wine...

Dont most kids start off with shit like sub zero, lolli drinks etc? All those come in bottles of UDL cans, I almost always drink from cans/bottles or taps...hardly drink any mixed shit.

9/10 people I know learnt the dangers of alcohol whilst being drunk the first time...once you get over that really bad hangover/vomiting experience, you'll learn not to do it too often!

Can't believe I'm about to agree with the French but if this is their practice, I'm actually all for it. I'm actually against the alchopop crap (eg, UDL) that's floating around these days. It gives kids the wrong impression of what alcohol is - something to be respected not abused.

The big problem these days is that the kids experimenting with alcohol are the same kids driving high powered cars. If you're out for example, just google the local Australian media for some pretty stupid idiots (read Darwin potentials).

Ka

[robotic]

Dont French kids drink at a very young age with parental supervision? Like I heard it was pretty common place over there for say 12 yr olds to have sips and small doses of wine...

I read an article on BBC saying that France has an "alcohol epidemic" on their hands -- French families initially thought they could stray their kids away from the drinking culture commonly seen in Britain (amongst the youth) if they exposed their kids to little bits of alcohol early on in their life. They would then be less likely to go out and get massively drunk. But that doesn't really seem to be working, because youth will be youth - whether you're in Britain, or in France. Stereotypically, especially in bigger groups (bars and parties namely), peer pressure doesn't allow you to drink responsibly. So what the French are seeing is just a replication of what they were trying to avoid for so long. Interesting spin on the whole thing XD but yeah, I think advice on alcohol should go hand in hand with any exposure to it.

[Sunflare]

I got fucked up drinking yesterday. I got sick last night and swore off alcohol. I was telling my toilet bowl that alcoholic beverages should be banned for all ages in all states except may be in Lousiana.

*sipping on a bud(weiser)*

I lost count of how many times I've told myself that. LOL.

Generally speaking though, IMHO, I cannot understand why alchohol is glamorized as the perfect social drug (despite the harm it can cause, especially in underage youths), and *not* legalize marijuana. Really, alcohol is physiologically and psychologically devastating to the body if abused. People can die from DT's if they abruptly stop alcohol consumption. Not to mention the serious medical complications that come with it with people who drink to excess over a extended period of time (several years) and become alcoholics as a result. Cirrhosis of the liver, cardiopulmonary disorders of all sorts, mental disorders induced by the drug, in extreme cases diabetes and deterioration of the nervous system and the brain . . . .

Marijuana use isn't exactly healthy for people either, true, definitely, can't argue there. But weed doesn't do even a fraction of the damage that alcohol can. Or cigarettes for that matter. Plus I hardly ever heard of people committing crimes under the influence of marijuana.

Interesting how this society glamorizes alchohol and tobacco consumption and at the same time demonize other recreational drugs that are technically pharmacologically much less harmful. I mean even heroin withdrawal usually wont kill a person. But alcohol definitely can. I saw a family member die like that.

Hey dudes, live happy and drink merry, but just be careful about how you drink, please.

*Disclaimer- I am not trying to necessarily advocate the use of marijuana because of the obvious legal implications of it --- to each one his or her own, but I would think it's good for ppl to know more about the facts over all the recreational drugs that are out there before they use them with discernment and moderation. Alot of the things we read about the effects of drug abuse of any sort of substance is nothing more than hype or myths and carry a biased slant on the message . . . .

Edit: Did I mention the fact that many abused OTC and prescription meds can also kill in OD? But on the flip side it's practically impossible to OD off marijuana ? How ironic it seems . . .

I'm sure this is nothing new to you guys but I just thought I would bring this up as side point.