What is the reason for having a different age for drinking than for legal adulthood?
397903
The legal drinking age is a non-legal term descibing the situtation that exists from the application of various alcohol licensing laws.\n\nIn a principal instance, it sets the minimum age of customer below which licensed retailers of alcoholic beverages may not supply. Alternatively, the legal drinking age is applied more extensively as a prohibition on persons below the minimum age being on premises licensed to sell alcohol. At its strictest, the term describes the age below which persons must have their alcohol intake properly supervised by those responsible for them. Rarely will the minimun age be consistent in all cases. Indeed in each case, certain exceptions will exist in some jurisdictions\n\nIn most countries the minumum age to purchase alcohol is 18, but there are notable exceptions. Some countries distinguish between drinks with lower alcohol-content (such as beer and wine) compared to stronger spirit-based drinks.\n\nGenerally, a lower minimum age (say between 12 and 16) is applied in relation to those persons who are not allowed on the premises of a licensed drinking establishment. This prohibition will either be absolute or partial, being limited to certain times of the day, like the evening and night. Exceptions may exist when the premises are licensed but not open to the public (i.e. are private members clubs) or when substantial meals are also served together with alcohol (e.g. restaurants and hotels).\n\nAn even lower age may apply in some jurisdictions that allow minors to drink in private with parental permission.\n\nFinally there is a de facto minimum age below which minors should not be given any alcohol under any circumstances, and to do so would be an act of negligence or recklessness or constitute a criminal offence.\n\nWhile the legal drinking age is 21 in all states, the legal details vary. Some states do not allow those under the legal drinking age to be present in liquor stores or in bars (usually, the difference between a bar and a restaurant is whether food is being served). Contrary to popular belief, few states specifically prohibit minors' consumption of alcohol in private settings.
51916
Absolutely...if you are old enough to serve in a war, then why can you not go out for a beer??? It is completely insane to me. I served in the military for four years. I was over 21, but had many friends that were not. We were in Iraq for 6 months...Desert Storm, and they could not legally have a beer when they got back to the states??? I do not agree with under age drinking, but if you are serving our country, keeping us safe and free, then by all means, you deserve a drink.
73837
Its a united states law that you have to be 21... doesnt matter what city your in, if your drinking in this country, you must be 21. (with the exceptions in some states that say that if you are married to someone over 21, they can legally purchase alcohol for you or if your with a parent and youre over 18 they can legally purchase it also)
853465
maybe use an example...i know that in Germany, the drinking age is 16 with a parent, but no one enforces it...as a result, you rarely see Germans passed out in the streets and drunk out of their minds...drinking and driving is not a big issue either...the reason is that there is virtually no drinking age, thus there no extreme desire to be rebellious...it's that whole pandora syndrome...if you tell someone they can't drink, of course they're going to want to...just open it saying that drinking age is not a big deal and people don't overdo alcohol as a result
506010
I really do not see the harm for either sex provided that both are in close age proximaty. If an 18 year old and a 16 year old want to screw I see no groups for statuatory rape at all. Why is it that 18 is the magic number for most things, and 21 is the magic number for other (drinking), and a judge can determine to prosecute someone as an adult at nearly any age ? I think that the drinking age needs to come down to 18, and if we are going to define 18 as an adult, then 18 is an adult WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.
1175901
The national drinking age is 21.
12201
Drinking and driving is a great concern here (in the US) where many teenagers have access to the family automobile.  It is possible to learn how to drive in a relatively short time for example using Drivers Ed (I began on my 16th birthday - 67 years ago today!) but it takes much longer to integrate all the new knowledge with experience behind the wheel.  For example a skilled driver can spot danger well ahead even while wistling their favorite tune while a beginner may be entering a rotary (roundabout?) for the very first time.\n\nExperiments have proved that if two piano players start to drink until both are drunk at a given blood alcohol concentration, the less experienced piano player (with newly learned skills) will perform well below normal ability far sooner than the piano Pro (with well ingrained skills).\n\nTherefore it follows that new drivers drinking while still integrating skills under age 21 are more prone to lose their skills and judgement and cause fatal accidents, killing themselves and their friends and people standing or driving nearby.  Many below the age of 21 are still in high school and even drive to school.  Eighteen to 21 is an important transition age in many ways.  \n\nNo one should drink and drive - and no one wants to lose their teenaged sons or daughters.\n\nIt is good that UK children are taught moderation, hopefully in all things.
900122
The United States has a Federal Government, not a National Government.  Each state is responsible for governing itself regarding matters within that state.\n\nAs for the drinking age, the states are free to set it as they please.  About 20 years ago the federal government passed a law that any state that was not age 21 would lose it's share of federal highway maintenance money.  All the states wanted the money so they changed it.
50719
You can fight for your country (volunteer) at age 18 because that is the age of majority when a person is deemed old enough to sign binding contracts (to buy a car or join the Army, etc.).\n\nYou can not drink (and drive) until you are 21 for several reasons.  If drinking was legal at say 18, it would be freely available to friends (in high school!) below 18, and lead to far more drinking/driving accidents.  It often does anyway among those who ignore the law.  Driving for many aged 18 or less is a new skill and alcohol can wipe out a new skill much easier than a well-ingrained skill, clouding judgement and coordination, leading to serious injury and death for friends and perfect strangers who merely got in the way.  The record speaks for itself.\n\nIn a perfect world, no one would abuse alcohol and there would be no war.  Those who drink beer illegally are also less apt to fight for their country - because they do not value the rule of law.\n\nFor those who survive to age 21, there will be plenty of time to drink beer and serve their country, as they choose.
459166
No.  I say this as a person who has recently been both.  I'm 23.  When I was 18, i was a freakin' idiot.  The judgement and maturity difference between the two ages is huge.  And by the way I am also in the military so the whole 18 to fight, 18 to drink argument doesn't hold water with me.
111991
To drink Alcohol: No (provided, of course, that you are of legal drinking age in whatever place you happen to live.)\nTo be Drunken: Yes, with no exceptions.
589551
I guess it is against the law. \nThe drinking age state laws are protected by Constitution. The 21st amendment basically gave states free reign for the drinking laws.[1]\nBut for gambling there is no such amendment, and 14th amendment should apply: giving people "equal protection under laws", so people under 21 but over 18 cannot legally be treated differently from everyone else. So there might be a constitutional case against such law.\n\nSo I suggest you bring a law suit to fix it. Then again the law suit will probably take WAY more then 3 years to litigate, so you might as well just wait to hit 21.
1105194
I am also for lowering the drinking age back to 18.  I am 31, mother of 2 girls, and a health teacher.  I would definitely vote it back in.  Once again, the federal government gives out millions to states who pass certain laws, this is one of them.  And if everyone did their research before they answered this question, they would know that it is not the 18-20 age group that ranks highest in drunk driving.  Change the drunk driving law, first offense:attempted murder.  In my opinion that is exactly what they are doing.  But punishing adults?  Give me a break.  I know repsonsible 18 year olds, and yet my dad who is 57 is a drunk and always has been.  Age has nothing to do with it.  If 18 is a legal adult, then it should be the age for everything!!!
1016373
Having alcohol in your trunk is possession of alcohol which is illegal if you are under age. I suppose it could be different if there were an older passenger in the car who could claim it as his.
523534
Having a drink or a cigarette is one thing; getting "messed up" is a foolish thing to do. Why would a teenager have a drink? Drinking is an adult thing, and teenagers are constantly working on asserting the independence that they so desire. The independence craving part is a good thing because they are learning to become self-sufficient adults. The one drink is not so relevant; it just happens to be one way of manifesting their growing up. Why do some teenagers get "messed up"? Either their reign at home is too tight so they are having trouble asserting their independence, so when the opportunity arises, "all gates flood open." Or, that is the example they have from people they look up to, often their families. You can help by setting an example that it's "cool" to keep one's composure.
531226
They mean they can be able to drink alcohol. A lot of people like to drink and its a sign of growing up; but they can't do that till they're legally 21.
664954
When you turn 18 you can get a job, move out, vote, join the military, get maried, get a tatto and smoke. But you can't buy alcohol, you gotta be 21 to do that.