Should the drinking age be lowered to 18? Why or why not?
490636
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.
424960
yes i would vote yes on this if they changed the age to 16
1118296
All states with the exception of three or four were 21 by the spring of 1985. In 1986 those last four caved under pressure from President Regan when he threatened to withhold Federal Highway money from them and raised the drinking age to 21.  Not sure which they were but one was Ohio.  I'm sure because I was there and was legally allowed to buy alcohol on my 19th birthday in 1985
678907
Actually, yes. In fact, we as a society descriminate daily. For instance, youths can not drink alchohol solely due to their age. Adults cannot have sex with minors solely due to their age. Not all descrimination is bad.\n\nThe only ones who believe all descrimination is bad are those ignorant of its true definition.
751523
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
339807
Although I don't think most people are ready by 18, some are mature enough and stay married for life. By the same token there are fools of all ages that marry without real thought.\nMore importantly than an age limit, I think what would improve success rates would be a waiting period...register and then marry a year later. There could be exceptions for extreme circumstances (illness, perhaps going away to war) but I think there'd be fewer divorces if people weren't allowed to marry impulsively.
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.
383373
I don't think so. I don't think one should be allowed to do a bunch of the things that are legal at 18...Voting, Smoking, Entering the military.. I think that at least when your 21 you are mature enough to handle these kind of things.
125898
My personal opinion is >>> If you're going to drink, weather you're 15 or 30, do it responsibly, dont drink and drive (I KNOW EVERYONE IS TOLD THIS, BUT ALOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN), and secondly, someone should know when enough is enough, because alot of women/girl get into horrible situations - oh yeah, and NEVER accept a drink from a "house party" from someone you dont know and trust :o)
1019689
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.
364815
Pretty much it's 21 through out this nation and I would keep it the same or raise it to 23.  \n\nI see these 19 - 21 year olds drinking and being stupid.  Just last week 3 19 year old teenagers where drinking and driving.  Guess what... they crashed into a tree and all three are now gone.  \n\nIt's stupid stuff.  I feel bad for these parents who lost their kids.\n\n\nBut I believe no matter what the drinking age is, kids will be kids and experiment with alcohol, smoking and drugs.  They are no different than we were kids.  We did the same crap, but somehow survived it.  \n\n\nLooking back at it now, I can see how foolish and stupid I was with drinking, smoking and drugs.  Thank God I came to realize what I was doing was not good for me and straighten my butt out very quickly.
287665
This is an idea that sounds like it might work, but it doesn't. \n\nMaryland used to have this setup: 18 for beer and wine, 21 for hard liquor.  But everyone knew you could just as drunk on beer and wine if you drank more of it, and this is the type of challenge 18 year olds are eager to take on.  So the rule was pointless. It created a sort of gray area where a strict adherence to black and white would be a better policy.\n\nMaryland scrapped the rule. Now it's 21 for everything.
643709
the age of majority in the us is 18 the age where you can be independant without consideration to any one else.\nyou just cant by liquor by the drink in alot of PLACES,AND CAN GO TO WAR AND DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY
401530
I feel that the whole drinking age thing is overrated. When I turned 21, I didn't even drink for about 3 months! Just didn't feel like it. And to answer your other question, alcohol is alcohol.
708146
Why not...if 18 is old enough to get sent to Iraq seems like it's old enough to have a Budweiser.
181214
You know I really don't see why not? After all people in Europe are allowed to drink at the age of 16-Germany---and in Mexico the drinking age was 18 until now that it's 21. I think the reason why it's 21 is because people in the US are too freaking retarded and dont' know how to act right. Why in foreign countries the drinking age is lower and they actually have less accidents or anyother problems? Think about that!
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.