Seven states are considering lowering the drinking age to 18, reports Fox News. (Some states are proposing this just for the military, others for all.) The federal government is likely to put financial pressure on states not to do this, and for good reason. What's the advantage to lowering the drinking age? "Demystifying drinking" doesn't seem like a strong enough reason to us.
And there definitely doesn't seem to be any advantage to just lowering the age in a few states, as it will just lead teenagers in surrounding states to hang out in the states with this new law.
We certainly would not like to be on those interstate highways at two in the morning when bar hoppin' teens are on their way home across state lines.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. I think it should be lowered... but I also think that punishments for driving while intoxicated should be much more severe. That way you can curb drunk driving.
Tony Messinger at 11:18AM on Apr 30th 2008
2. I must say, as a responsible 20 year old, that being punished for having a glass of wine with my meal is unreasonable. It is irresponsible on the part of the government to waste their time and taxpayers money prosecuting me because I happen to believe that a good glass of wine can enhance a meal. I'm not saying that breaking the rules as they stand now is correct, but I believe that there should be allowances for those, like myself, who drink for a purpose other than getting drunk. I may only be 20 years old, but compare the maturity of myself and most 30 year olds, and you will not find me lacking. It is unreasonable to assume that 1 year is going to mature a person if they do not want to mature. For that matter, why is it that our soldiers are mature enough to fight and die for our country, but they cannot have a drink in a bar to celebrate making it home alive? Maybe the government needs to grow up, not young adults.
Katie at 11:35AM on Apr 30th 2008
3. Ada, you've posted before about European countries and why should we not imitate them? So why not lower the drinking age? Isn't it 16 in France? I know I purchased beer in Germany at 16.
American kids can't handle it, period. With obvious exceptions to the rule, we have a generation of poor parenting and children with no consequences for any of their actions. For the same reason I hate American kids going ANYWHERE, because they are never taught how to properly behave in public. We as a culture have a "screw you" attitude when it comes to caring about what people think. Unless of course, we're considering what somebody we'd like to impress thinks. Otherwise, kids couldn't care less.
Making the drinking age lower will definitely make things worse, until we can get a generation of parents who actually know what they're doing and actually train their children to contribute to our society as a responsible CITIZEN.
And I'm 27, so don't try to make this an age thing.
Strados at 11:45AM on Apr 30th 2008
4. I think it should be lowered. I am in law enforcement and at twenty years old I already had my job and my own apartment. It is strange that the government thought I was mature and responsible enough to carry a firearm and possibly take someone's life if necessary but I couldn't buy beer or offer visitors to my house a drink. The thought process is a bit absurd and backwards if you ask me.
Patricia at 12:06PM on Apr 30th 2008
5. The only real problem that lowering the drinking age would have here as opposed to European countries, is that those countries don't have the same number of personal automobiles per-capita as the USA so, obviously, the number of drunk-driving incidents would increase.
That said, the problem I have with the law as it stands now is that it attempts to have the cake and eat it too. On one hand, we deny persons under the certain ages the right to vote, drink, buy cigarettes, marry, serve in the military, hold certain jobs, buy/own/possess firearms--all on the basis that, due to their youthfulness, they are deemed incapable of making such decisions in a mature, responsible manner. Yet, when they offend, we try them as adults because they "knew" what they were doing was wrong. Okay...then, if being 'knowledgeable' is the gauge we will use for maturity and accountability, what makes them less 'knowledgeable' if they decide to drink?
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 12:32PM on Apr 30th 2008
6. patricia well said. if ure old/mature enough to buy and sell property, vote, die for your country, and what have you when u turn 18, then u ought to be old enough to drink. as for the dui laws, they're quite lame. i got rear ended by a drunk driver 2 years ago but since it was dark out and i couldnt verify that the man in the drivers seat was the driver he didnt get a ticket for dui. cop claimed that any lawyer worth free advice could claim that his "buddy" was driving and he slipped into the drivers seat. dumb i know but sadly true. prohibition didnt work and this age law doesnt seem to work either. and for the record im 34.
Jay at 12:34PM on Apr 30th 2008
7. When I was 18, I was arrested for underage consumption at a bar that I WALKED to. It was my only beer to celebrate getting into my top college. What a waste of my time and tax payers money to be prosecuted for committing such a bad "crime". Not every parent in America raises their children irresponsibly. If the drinking age is 21, then why is it legal to be there when you're 18? Crack down on DUI and real crimes that risk people's lives. Do real police work and quit arresting a kid at a bar with X's on his hands.
Strube at 12:34PM on Apr 30th 2008
8. OK... here's my two cents: I really think is stupid the way the government si trying to hide hypocresy behind moral issue. The truth is kids drink underage because they think is cool to get a fake id and sneak in a bar and because maybe is the only thime they might get away with it they get wasted beyond the point of recognition. hat gives us the high rate of DUI in underage drivers.
I come from a country that you can actually be 14 and walk into a store and buy beer for your parents. Heck! I did it even wearing my school uniform!!! But when we, kids, did it, it wasn't that need to accomplish the impossible... did we get plastered everytime we did it? NO. Because to a certain point... it was acceptable.
Now I agree with Keith... at 18 not old enough to know drinking can kill you but old enough to be charged with DUI and tried as an adult and given a gun to fight in a war for someone with a grudge? or a greed for oil? PLEASE... Give me a break! I'd say demistify it, lower the age of drinking and tougher laws for DUI. You know kids.. with power comes responsibility...
BTW, I am 29... and I no longer drink...
Rose at 1:01PM on Apr 30th 2008
9. I'm 53, which means I'm in the "lucky" generation that was 18-21 the last time the drinking age was 18, was "allowed" to drink in college, etc. I thought it was a good idea then, and I think it's a good idea now.
I also think, however, that the *driving* age should be raised to 21, or 25, or 30. But then, I grew up in NYC, where a car was not, is not, and never will be a necessity.
dr jay at 1:15PM on Apr 30th 2008
10. I don't know if the drinking age should be lowered, but I know weed should be legalized...
reasonthis at 1:54PM on Apr 30th 2008
11. You are 20, right! Grow up for goodness sake. You have less than a year left. Then, legaley, you can drown your self in what ever swill you prefer. I hope you reflect on this when a relative, co-worker, or close freind looses some to an under age co-ed form the local High Brow U, drunk off his/her butt. Further, if your parents let you have wine at home that is a family issue. A drink with dinner at home and stay home after dinner. This is the rule at my house. I have picked one my children up from jail for DUI. Thankfully this one has learned the lesson. Many children and adults do not. So, grow up. Live the rest of your childhood having fun. At 21, get drunk, or drink safely and as often as you like.
Harvey Pillor at 6:58PM on Apr 30th 2008
12. I think the drinking age should be raised to 25 not lowered....I don't think people are mature enough to handle things until they are about 25 years of age....After all the insurance companies think the same way....
Judith Turner at 7:25PM on Apr 30th 2008
13. I'm 18 now, and no one is probably going to believe this, but the most alcohol I drank in my life was a glass of wine last Christmas. People should know their limit to how much they drink, which now so many people can't do. I really don't see the point in drinking anyway, it smells bad, and people do really stupid things, and then forget in the morning while being sick. How is that fun? I find it degrading. But I guess it's a personal decision whether drinking is good or bad.
Sim at 2:41PM on Apr 30th 2008
14. I turned 21 last summer, and didn't get drunk. Why? I do not like being unable to control my actions when I am drunk. I admit that I had been drunk twice before I turned 21, and have only been twice drunk since then. I drink responsibly, and do not drive if I have been drinking. I've never blacked out from drinking too much, and only once drank too much and vomited because of it (learned my limits on that one, oh yes).
Now, almost a year after turning 21, I have pretty much stopped drinking. I don't think I will ever be getting really drunk again, but I still may have small amounts with dinner and I do use alcohol in some of my favourite recipes.
In the past, several times, I have toured in Europe and Australia/New Zealand, where the drinking age is generally 18, and sometimes 16. The kids in Europe, however, are generally raised to be more responsible and considerate than those in the U.S. I have many friends overseas who are appalled at the lack of education and manners displayed by American teens/young adults. This alone does make me consider the fact that maybe kids here aren't responsible enough to deal with a younger drinking age.
More teenagers in the U.S. have their own cars than the teens in Europe, and that alone could make lowering the drinking age a bad thing. Of course, it doesn't stop most of them from drinking and driving anyways, as many people find out on prom night, graduation night, etc.
As I see it, a reasonable solution would be to lower the drinking age to 18, but have severe penalties if the teen is caught drinking and driving. So severe that they wouldn't even try to risk it. As a matter of fact, we should do that for ALL drunk drivers, not just teens. Perhaps a mandatory 1-year prison sentence for the first offense, or maybe an enormous fine ($10,000 would be good).
Emmy at 2:54PM on Apr 30th 2008
15. In New Orleans it is legal for those 18+ to possess and consume alcohol in a private home, residence, or club. I attended Loyola University, where I was allowed to drink in my dorm room, with friends, with no risk of legal repercussion. I never drove while intoxicated, and, surrounded by friends, support services, and university police, none of my friends were ever involved in any drunk driving incidents.
compasiva at 3:24PM on Apr 30th 2008