Lower the drinking age to 18 and let the kids drink. This is the sentiment of many colleges around the United States, who think that binge drinking will curtail if we de-criminalize drinking. Forbidden fruit does have its place and some teens just won't wait until 21 to tap the keg. Pump, tip, pump, tip...there it is - but scrape the foam off.
MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving - has another agenda. Keep the age 21 and discourage driving after the inebriation pursues. They have a great point, but drunk driving isn't as big an issue in other parts of the world. Make the penalties more strict, raise the driving standard, and criminalize the drunking driving offense, not the age of the drinker and driver. An 18 year old with a Miller Chill or Blue Moon at home isn't bad...but one on the road - now that's homicide and suicide.
Comments (5)
Now really, did any of us actually handle our alcohol when we drank under age for those of us that did? NO. I thank GOD that I wasn't the perpetrator of a homocide by way of vehicular man slaughter while under the influence when in my latter teens.
I understand and have the torn FEELING concerning our youth that are old enough to die for their country but not old enough to drink. But their youth is the whole point behind dying for their country.
Let's face it, if you signed up a bunch of 30 year olds for the military the foxholes would stay full with no one charging the front line or the foxholes would be empty b/c of the number of enlistees that went AWOL.
The military gathers the youth of society b/c there is an obvious void of sound judgement. I hate to be this blunt but truth is truth; I say this while maintaining great respect for those who put themselves in harms way for the rest of us.
So do we only let military enlistees drink at 18? Maybe.
But I know some of the people I grew up w/ along w/ my own youthful wrecklessness; and I am sure that most people reading this, if being honest, remember the same about the majority of their peers growing up as well.
Drinking at 18 means more fatalities involving motor vehicles and further social unrest.
Posted by Charles Burns | August 19, 2008 5:55 PM
Posted on August 19, 2008 17:55
I would have to say no, if 18 year olds are not responsible enough to throw a nickel in a slot machine in vegas, then they're not responsible to drink either.
Posted by shawn | August 19, 2008 10:01 PM
Posted on August 19, 2008 22:01
Oh my we say that our younger generation is old enough to vote for our leadership - they can join the military at age 18 without a parents consent - why the question about allowing them to accept the responsibility of handling alcohol consumption - may very well stop some of the incidents at colleges due to the thrill of drinking under age? Don't want them to drink legally, then don't let them vote and don't let them join the military until they are 21, the mythical age of good judgement. Legal or not it will not stop the problem we have with college parties and binge drinking.
Posted by joe l | August 24, 2008 5:12 AM
Posted on August 24, 2008 05:12
well i think that everybody should drink and have fun!!!
Posted by ronique lewis | August 27, 2008 1:17 PM
Posted on August 27, 2008 13:17
EVERAYONE JUST PARTY && DRINKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by alexxx. | November 2, 2008 3:45 PM
Posted on November 2, 2008 15:45