i dont get it why is at 16 you can smoke have a child and be married, but you cant drink yill your 18, surly getting drunk requires less responsability than having a family tell me the most messed up law from any country you know. winner gets to be my best answer, for my next three qustions and this one, so four times in total
204910
I don't think English law is messed up, it's just become needlessly complicated.\nyou want weird you should hear these.\nIn California it is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep down Hollywood boulevard at once.\nIn Washington, it is illegal to have sex with a virgin under any circumstances, including wedding night.
279372
You might be interested in a UK perspective: in the UK, you may legally drink alcohol from the age of 5 - i.e. you may be given alcohol to drink by your parents etc. in your own home etc.\n\nYou may not drink alcohol in a pub or restuarant until you're 18 (or 16 if it's with a meal).\n\nYou may not buy alcohol until you're 18.\n\nIt's interesting that the US has such (from my point of view) restrictive laws on the subject - particularly because you might think that all 18-21 year olds, when given the chance to vote, would try to change the law. I suppose it is the apathy of young voters (which is an issue in the UK too) which means that 18-21 year olds punch below their weight when it comes to politics.\n\nI personally don't buy the 'your brain isn't developed until you're 21' argument, and I can definitely sympathise with the 'if you can die for your country, you should be able to drink'. Although you could presumably extend the argument to practically anything that might cause harm to you but that doesn't harm anyone else.
182217
I think the big problem is drinking and driving, we need to one raise the driving age to 18 as well.  I think the effect wouldn't be that noticible because everyone over 18 already drinks, they would just get less under age drinking citations.  Every other country except Canada that I can think of allows drinking at 18, or in many tird worlds there is no drinking age.  If people are responsible and we use Europe as a guideline it can be something that isn't a big deal.
205681
Who would you rather share the road with a drunk or a stoner. Potheads dont beat their wives and generally dont cause the chaos and trouble that bad alcoholics do, the only reason reefer isnt legal and alcohol is, is because the government cant tax it and there are a lot of undercover drunks in Washington.
408403
I'm so glad that someone asked this question!  I have been wondering it myself.  I am a christian and I drink.  I don't all the time, and I have gotten drunk, very few times, but I have (and I know thats wrong, and can understand people having problems with that) However, my family and I have serious disagreements on this subject.  I don't think that there is anything wrong biblically speeking with having a social drink, some of my family disagrees but can't back it up.  I'm 21, legal and responsible with it.  I think its ok considering wine was pretty much the beverage of choise back in biblical times.  As far as marijuana, I think its wrong becuase the whole purpose of it is to get high and alter the mind and I don;t think thats godly.
224037
Part of me says YES it should lowered to 18. BUT I say this ONLY because at the age of 18 you can do ANYTHING that an adult can EXCEPT drink. BUT my biggest reason for saying yes, is because at the age of 18 you can go into the military and you can get drafted into the military and GIVE your LIFE to or for your country. BUT the government is going to say NO you can't DRINK because your not old enough. I feel if you are old enough to chance giving your life for your country then you ARE old enough to drink.\nBUT on the other side at 18 your still a kid and not old enough or should I say mature enough. BUT overall YES. Have a good debate in class. and let me know how it turns out thanks.
380386
i think 21 is a good age but for our men and women fighting for our country under 21 they should be allowed since the are fighting to stay alive for us if they are old enough to die for our country they are old enough to drink
567190
That law was probably put in place back in the settlement days when if you were 35 you were considered old since life expectancy was 35-40.  Back when there was no such thing as NyQuil and the flu could very easily kill you.  That was also the time when families married you more to get you out of the house so there would be more food to eat.\n\nI am not too familiar with Colorado law.  However I am sure that there are other laws in the books there that over ride that one.  We have learned over the years that a 12 year old girl getting pregnant isn't the healthiest thing for her to do.  Such as you cannot get married under a certain age with out consent of the parents, statutory rape laws, and consent laws.\n\nIf you read some of the laws on the books now you will see at the end "This law will take president and negate all laws before it" or something similar.  This is because it is a daunting task to go through all the laws and figure out which ones need to be removed then have legislative meeting to remove them.  Like in one state it is still on the books that you can only take a bath on Saturday on your front lawn.  It was made due to a water shortage that has since been rectified, but it is still on the books even though it is no longer observed.
72837
Come to Australia! the legal drinking age here is 18, so all clubs are 18 and over. woo!
53341
The same logic that allows an 18 to go to war, but not to drink until they are 21. It's retarded, my daughter had the same deal when she was 18. It's asinine.
430774
A good thing about it is that then kids have to be older to be able to buy smoking. They will be more mature to choose the right decisions, and lay out the consequences of smoking. Sadly most dont follow the law so it might not help much. According to Jonathan Edwards children are not born into an age of reason, and that is why they have parents. Eventually they will be able to reason, but after a while. People who are 18 are still young and many not mature enough to make decisions that can change their lives. I am only 16 and I have realised this. I am not mature enough. And though I am more mature than some teenagers, I know I am not mature enough to make that decision.
636156
I think 18 is a good age. Really its impossible to say because everyone is different. I have saw some 30 year olds that was not mature enough to make a decision like that. Some 16 year olds are very mature and can make rational decisions. Because it is impossible to set the law on a case by case basis, in America they determined that 18 was the proper legal age.
603310
The Legal age of 21 is good.\n \nALL PEOPLE need to take responsibility for their own actions.  If you are 21+, you can go out, drink legally, have fun and safely drive home.  Military personnel can drink at 18, on the base.\nI'm sure some 14yr olds could drive safely after a few drinks, but that doesn't mean we should lower the drinking age and driving age.  I've actually witnessed some 34yr olds, who can't drive after a few drinks.  Should it raised to 35 or worse, illegal to drink after the age of 33?  There will always be people under the age of 21, that find a way to get alcohol, but it's not OK.  If you get caught, you get in trouble.  If you're driving over the legal limit, you will get in big trouble and could serious hurt or kill people.  Don't ruin someone elses good time.\n\nIt's OK to drink, just know your limit and be responsible.  Call a friend/cab, take the bus or sleep in your car until you sober up.
348967
Michigan\n\n2006  House Bill 6124\nUnder current law, adults caught providing alcohol to minors may do some time in jail and pay light fines. Under the proposed law, adults can also have their driver’s license suspended for 90 days, which is the same penalty for underage drinkers. This has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.\n\nA defendant has the right to try to prove that he or she reasonably believed that the minor was of legal age.\n\nAs far as driving with someone under the influence, besides being foolish and dangerous, nothing legal can be held again you. Of course, that is as long as they are not a minor.
353650
Well, there is a lot of opinion about this issue. Within the US there are varying standards, and in other countries even bigger differences of opinion. Something illegal in the US might well be legal in England or Holland.\n\nI'd agree with you that there should be some changes, and some standardization of the law. One of the better approaches is to tie statutory rape to the age gap, rather than the age - so a 14 and a 16 year old would be OK, but a 14 and an 18 year old would not. Even then, the maturity of the couple should be taken into account.\n\nUnfortunately, the majority of the US is still highly puritanical, and consider the entire subject of sex unclean. They have more hang ups about sex than any European nation. Americans have convinced themselves that the showing of a nipple on national TV is far more offensive than outright violence being shown. Breast feeding is considered so dirty that mothers have to hide in 'lactation stations' to perform this perfectly natural function. And archaic rules that allow men to walk topless on a beach prevent women from doing the same thing.\n\nWe are as a nation, prudish and sexually frustrated, leading to intolerance in our society. Hopefully that will change with time. You can start that change - petition politicians, talk about it at school or in your church groups, and consider getting involved in one of the main political parties. Young people are the ones who can over time make a difference in this country.
491267
you were wrong for drinking in the car, and underage. i don't blame your cousin for leaving you, he did not want someone drinking in the car which is also against the law. you both could have been in big trouble for your dumb actions. he could have lost his driving privileges. where were your parents?
575284
In Canada, it WAS lowered to 14, the Government is looking to raise it back up again.  There are statutes that allow for 'within a certain number of years'  (for eg, a 15 year old with a 16 year old) \nI think it should be around 16, with 18 being the regular adulthood age.  I think it's silly that in the USA an 18 year old can join the military and potentially kill someone, but can't have a drink legally... now THAT is a weird one.