Drinking age

ZukoAlone:

I think keeping the legal drinking age at 21 is a good idea.
Granted, minors still get drunk BUT [at least in my area] they do it in secret mainly at ranches or secluded houses, backyards and such. This at least doesn't have a bunch of dumb drunk teens out in public.
21 SEEMS more mature and of having better judgement to not drive drunk or act a fool in public.
Lowering it to 18, from my experience, is not a good idea I've seen a lot more teens become destructive reaching this age, than act adult.

So when they get alcohol poisoning they are surrounded by equally drunk, irresponsible teenagers that probably won't know what to do.

I think it is better to be drinking in a bar or a club surrounded by peers but also adults, or at least more experienced adolescents. I've seen both scenario's happen and personally liked the second one a little better.

16 for beer and wine, 18 for everything stronger works good for me.

I think if the drinking age was changed to younger than it is now, particularly in the UK, teenagers who were suddenly of age would go crazy, and there'd be a little bit of trouble.

If the drinking age was to be changed, it should be phased in. Similarly to how they changed the age that you could get a provisional driving license in the UK?

The main reason I think that kids would go crazy is my own experience. I went on a school trip to Paris in 2008 - I was 18, so being allowed to drink wasn't a novelty to me, but being able to drink at 16 sent some people crazy. I distinctly remember vomiting off of balconies - nice.

Maybe the drinking age should stay the same, but be regulated more?? Because like Effy said, teenagers get together by themselves and drink way too much - that's what happened with my friend who choked on his tongue. Luckily, adults were nearby, in the same village, so they could help quickly. If younger kids find it harder to get ahold of alcohol or they're warned more about adverse effects, it might put them off. Maybe.

Effy:

So when they get alcohol poisoning they are surrounded by equally drunk, irresponsible teenagers that probably won't know what to do.

I think it is better to be drinking in a bar or a club surrounded by peers but also adults, or at least more experienced adolescents. I've seen both scenario's happen and personally liked the second one a little better.

16 for beer and wine, 18 for everything stronger works good for me.

wow.
they wouldn't know what to do?
I actually have a great example for this:
You are right about some teens not knowing what to do, but more than likely they do know what to do.
A house party was going on a couple of weeks ago and girl [around 15] made the choice of downing every and any drink she could to the point that she was walking around vomiting sporadically.
People at the party helped her sober up and not fall asleep in case she vomited again.
__

I think alcohol should be made harder to obtain for minors.
Face it their are 18 year olds who are friends with even younger kids.
Its already a problem that legal adults buy alcohol for minors.

ps: i wish i could word things better :/

I think a problem with setting the drinking age so high at 21 is that alcohol becomes that much cooler because it's "illegal" and unobtainable. You know what I'm saying?
In my experience, minors who drink are getting such a rush out of drinking before they're allowed, they tend to go overboard in an attempt to be cool.

Desmond Hume:

I think a problem with setting the drinking age so high at 21 is that alcohol becomes that much cooler because it's "illegal" and unobtainable. You know what I'm saying?
In my experience, minors who drink are getting such a rush out of drinking before they're allowed, they tend to go overboard in an attempt to be cool.

Because its so tempting it would be better to lower the legal age to purchase alcohol?
Say they do lower because of that reason, then 14 years will be extra tempted....and then maybe 12 year olds.
This situation reminds me of a story [modern parable] to let a child always grabing at the stove, burn himself so he can learn not to and in turn know the consequences.
[LOL on a lighter note: i may not be making sense]

ZukoAlone:

Desmond Hume:

I think a problem with setting the drinking age so high at 21 is that alcohol becomes that much cooler because it's "illegal" and unobtainable. You know what I'm saying?
In my experience, minors who drink are getting such a rush out of drinking before they're allowed, they tend to go overboard in an attempt to be cool.

Because its so tempting it would be better to lower the legal age to purchase alcohol?
Say they do lower because of that reason, then 14 years will be extra tempted....and then maybe 12 year olds.
This situation reminds me of a story [modern parable] to let a child always grabing at the stove, burn himself so he can learn not to and in turn know the consequences.
[LOL on a lighter note: i may not be making sense]

Valid point, its 18 where I live and you're right, drinking at 14-15 is not uncommon.

I think its 21 in the whole U.S :/

Desmond Hume:

I think a problem with setting the drinking age so high at 21 is that alcohol becomes that much cooler because it's "illegal" and unobtainable. You know what I'm saying?
In my experience, minors who drink are getting such a rush out of drinking before they're allowed, they tend to go overboard in an attempt to be cool.

I think you're right. That's why I think 18 is reasonable.
There's going to be illegal drinking whatever the legal age is.

Mike Skinner:

Desmond Hume:

I think a problem with setting the drinking age so high at 21 is that alcohol becomes that much cooler because it's "illegal" and unobtainable. You know what I'm saying?
In my experience, minors who drink are getting such a rush out of drinking before they're allowed, they tend to go overboard in an attempt to be cool.

I think you're right. That's why I think 18 is reasonable.
There's going to be illegal drinking whatever the legal age is.

Thats kinda like saying just because people do illegal things we should let them.

ZukoAlone:

Mike Skinner:

Desmond Hume:

I think a problem with setting the drinking age so high at 21 is that alcohol becomes that much cooler because it's "illegal" and unobtainable. You know what I'm saying?
In my experience, minors who drink are getting such a rush out of drinking before they're allowed, they tend to go overboard in an attempt to be cool.

I think you're right. That's why I think 18 is reasonable.
There's going to be illegal drinking whatever the legal age is.

Thats kinda like saying just because people do illegal things we should let them.

People are going to try to do things illegally no matter what. I'm not saying we should let them, but expecting people to not drink at all until the age of 21 is unreasonable. It's going to be done anyways.

Desmond Hume:

People are going to try to do things illegally no matter what. I'm not saying we should let them, but expecting people to not drink at all until the age of 21 is unreasonable. It's going to be done anyways.

So since it's going to be done anyway, it should be lowered?

ZukoAlone:

Desmond Hume:

People are going to try to do things illegally no matter what. I'm not saying we should let them, but expecting people to not drink at all until the age of 21 is unreasonable. It's going to be done anyways.

So since it's going to be done anyway, it should be lowered?

In my opinion it should never have been as high as 21, so it shouldn't necessarily be lowered, it should just have been lower.

Mike Skinner:

ZukoAlone:

Desmond Hume:

People are going to try to do things illegally no matter what. I'm not saying we should let them, but expecting people to not drink at all until the age of 21 is unreasonable. It's going to be done anyways.

So since it's going to be done anyway, it should be lowered?

In my opinion it should never have been as high as 21, so it shouldn't necessarily be lowered, it should just have been lower.

Yeah, I pretty much agree with this.

Of course, so what would be the ideal age then?

ZukoAlone:

Of course, so what would be the ideal age then?

18, like where I live. From personal experience, I think it's ideal.

Desmond Hume:

ZukoAlone:

Of course, so what would be the ideal age then?

18, like where I live. From personal experience, I think it's ideal.

And from personal experience, I dont think it's ideal.
Maybe the difference has to do with the area, idk. :/

ZukoAlone:

Desmond Hume:

ZukoAlone:

Of course, so what would be the ideal age then?

18, like where I live. From personal experience, I think it's ideal.

And from personal experience, I dont think it's ideal.
Maybe the difference has to do with the area, idk. :/

true, or the people, it always depends.

I was thinking that maybe the legal age should be judged on the area because of our points.
But that would just cause some kids from driving out of state to purchase alcohol if their state held a higher age

yeah, here in Canada, the age in most provinces is 18, but a few are 19. Doesn't make that much sense imo...18 or 19, it should be consistent for a country.