What would the effect be on our country if the alcohol age was 18 and the tobacco age was 21?
410819
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.
673932
Just like I'm 20, and I believe I should be able to drink alcohol. The people that make the laws feel that people aren't mature enough to make smart decisions. For the most part, younger people shouldn't vote because a lot of them aren't even aware of what's going on, or understand the importance of things. It may not be fair to you, but you're time will come. I'm not sure how old you are, but it usually goes by fast!
23242
Yes, the health effects of marijuana are no more harmful then tobacco and alchohol.  Personally i would much rather deal with people that are high, then people who are drunk
306955
Yes, along with the drinking age. The first time I voted, I voted my parents' choice. Now I vote mine. I would allow an exception for those serving in the military. I agree that if they're old enough to stand up for the country, they should have a voice in who's in office.
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.
619913
If it were treated like alcohol in terms of age restrictions and enforcement, and banned in public so the rest of us don't get your second hand smoke (including in 'just outside the building' corridors of smoke), I don't really care.  I don't think it is worse than alcohol, and it may be better for you. I'd let science decide on that point.
785002
Money!  And it would not work! Cigs have to be almost the most addictive thing I ever did! I stopped, but it was pure hell.\n\nProhibition didn't work, the govt makes a lot of money alcohol and drugs, including laundering money from cocaine!\n\nPot gets into the country, as does coke and designer drugs!\n\nPeople would still get cigarettes and the govt would be cut out and a lot of rich people would lose money!\nAlcohol is legal and it has probably destroyed more lives than any drug! It just takes a little longer!\n\nThe govt talks out of both sides of their mouths and it is all about money! The states made billions in settlements on alcohol and cigarettes for what they were doing to US!  Try and get the government to pay for patches and smoker cessation programs, or rehab for alcohol or drugs! Not a penny!! Your insurance pays or you don't get it, or you pay, one way or another!!
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.
423220
Hell yes.  I don't smoke it, but I see no reason why it is not legal.  It is in a few countries and they have less problems with it because they don't have to worry about the fines and court dates and sh*t like that.  The govt could tax it.  How is it any worse than smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol??? Cigarettes are HORRIBLE for your body, much worse than marijuana, and booze impales judgment as well.  There would be rules and regulations..just like there is with smokes and booze...and just like with those 2.. there will be people to break the law.  I just don't see society being harmed by it.  Sure, for the first few years, people might be going a little crazy with it...but after that it will level out and it will be no different than smokes and booze.\n:)
786010
Changing the driving age from 16 to 18 (yes they are talking about it,) banning drugs (pot use), smoking laws (banning smoking in public places). The pledge of alligeance (should you have to say under god, should it be said in schools?) Hope this helps
99467
Cigarettes and Alcohol
482240
Hey only in the USA the drinking age is so high, (and we are not taking into account here the countries were it is completely forbidden, like Muslim countries. They say that you have to be mature enough to handle any problems related to abuse. I other countries this age in lower or it does not exist. I many countries children drink extremely small portions of good read wine (for medical purposes) and they get used to it. I remember that when I was young  (14)my parents bought a bottle of the best wine in the market and I had to drink it alone everyday 20mm, the doctor recommended me. somehow I did not get a drunkard. This issue is very much culture and financially bound. the more problems a person has the more vulnarable he is to alcohhol, so I think that your goverment just knows it and instead of solving these problems it simply establish this high drinking age, and the ID rule
2389
Certainly at the very least the age at which you can be compelled to die for your country, and the age at which you can vote and the age at which you can decide whether or not you can consume alchohol should all be the same.  The only reason that they are not is because there are far fewer 18 to 21 year-olds in the US than there are 21+ year-olds.  Back when the amendment to the constitution was passed setting the voting age to 18 was when there was a forceable draft and when the baby boomers were all between 18 and 21 - they had the power then, and they have it now.
881676
The raising of the drinking age to 21 was due to strong arm tactics of the federal government supressing state's rights.  Sometime around the late 80's, the federal gov't threatened to withold federal highway funds to those states which did not raise their drinking age to 21 for all alcoholic beverages.  It was extortion considering that the citizens of the states were paying federal income taxes already.  The states couldn't afford to miss the redistribution of the citizen's money via the federal government and were compelled to raise the ages.  Buhana and Stephanie, It is not federal law but it is 21 for each state across all 50.  2 minutes on wikipedia would have told you so.
787996
The drinking age is 18 in some places too!\n\nI have not heard of that new law.
149422
there shouldnt be a certain age. instead, people should be taught to think in a rational & realistic manner. this way, such things wont be glamorized & wind up playing into pop cultre as a forbidden fruit. stigma removed, minor indulgences may not be taken seriously leading to decriminalization. legal issues, as everyone (should by now) knows, lead to social paranoias and drain the judicials recources while padding pockets of preditor officials & politicians with the money & property siezed from those accused of aleged crimes. crimes committed while intoxicated are never fault of illicit substances, merely a scapegoat for the irresponsible thus fukn up my rights to pursue alternative recreaton.
11218
if they outlaw smoking they should outlaw alcohol also...alcohol causes death,too. auto accidents,liver diseases, etc....