Maybe it's because I'm of legal age now, but I think that the legal drinking age should be 18. At 18, you can move out on your own, vote for president of the United States, be charged as an adult in a court of law, join the Military, but you can't drink? Maybe it's me, but thats BULLSH*T
Aaron
Originally posted by SkorjThe legal drinking age surely has to be be interpretted differently.
The drinking age should be constitutionally fixed to the minimum age for military service. After that, you can fight all you want about what that age should be.
Here in Holland it is 16 for beers and wines (which you can buy in a supermarket) and 18 for heavier drinks.
If you go to a restuarant and your 11 and 14 year old children want one drink of lovely red wine to accompany their steaks; medium rare, then surely that should be no problem either?
Originally posted by geniusObviously a fully developed liver can handle half a bottle of vodka in a way a child's liver can't.
the way i see it, 18's about the right age to start drinking. when your 18, you're more able to handle it etc. except, when it's 18, 16 and 17 year olds attempt to buy alcohol...😉
i think you can but non-spirits in restaurants when your 16, but you've gotta be 18 for spirits and off-lisences...
But, one beer. Or one glass of wine ain't gonna kill nobody.
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a lot of the mysism over drinking comes from it being forbidden to kids. If you compare societies where drinking age is strongly enforced they have much more problems with alcohol abuse in all ages than societies such as France & Spain where drinking in moderation at 'all' ages (eg. a glass of watered down wine for children with their meal) is accepted as the norm.
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Originally posted by shavixmiryeah-for the responsible drinker. but how many responsible drinking 16 year olds do you know?...
Obviously a fully developed liver can handle half a bottle of vodka in a way a child's liver can't.
But, one beer. Or one glass of wine ain't gonna kill nobody.
and belgianfreak-isn't alcoholism a major problem in a lot of these countries. i know it is in france...
Originally posted by geniushmmm, you're right. I was taking from the perspective of drinking age. If you have a sudden barrier to drinking then you throw kids in at the deep end, and they will jump right in because it has been forbidden for so long. I was suggesting that removing the taboo of alcohol improves this situation.
yeah-for the responsible drinker. but how many responsible drinking 16 year olds do you know?...
and belgianfreak-isn't alcoholism a major problem in a lot of these countries. i know it is in france...
You're right that alcoholism is a major problem in France. This may be due to the same social acceptability of drinking that allows children to drink wine which allows people to drink too much. It could also be linked to the fact that some studies show as much as third of the population of France is prescribed anti-depressants.
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Originally posted by Alpha10you can drink at 18 in some states in the US though?
Well here in America our "perfect" law enforcement would probably Rodney King your ass if they caught you drinking under age
But yes, in America they do seem a bit stuck up about it, apparently a British passport in not valid ID to get into a bar, or so I was told in Boston once!
Andrew
Originally posted by Alpha10Isn't one of the thrills of youth to drink under age?! By asking for a reduction in the legal age of 3 years you are denying this pleasure to millions of Americans.
Maybe it's because I'm of legal age now, but I think that the legal drinking age should be 18. At 18, you can move out on your own, vote for president of the United States, be charged as an adult in a court of law, join the Military, but you can't drink? Maybe it's me, but thats BULLSH*T
Aaron