why is the drinking age 18?
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
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.
249219
Legal drinking age\nThe legal drinking age is the minimum age one must be to drink alcohol. In most countries this is 18, but there are notable exceptions such as Armenia, which has no minimum drinking age and the United States, where the minimum drinking age is 21. Some people claim that this elevated drinking age actually promotes underage alcohol consumption. Some countries distinguish between drinks with fairly low alcohol-content (such as beer and wine) and stronger spirit-based drinks. Beer is sold in vending machines in Taiwan which has a limit of 18. Many countries have banned alcohol advertising aimed at the youth market.\nThere is a state by state map showing the drinking laws of each state on this site:\nhttp://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/index.asp?Type=BAS_APIS&SEC={0D5C719E-FCE8-4E15-A367-4145C655505F}&DE={E6F19624-0ADC-437F-917D-5E7CBC9F58B9}\n\n \n\n\n\nThe legal age to drink seems to be 21 but did you know that in 2005 15 states do not specifically ban underage consumption and an additional 15 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage consumption laws. [2]\nFederal law explictly provides for religious, medical, employment and private club possession exceptions; as of 2005, 31 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage possession laws.
506479
In a way yes cuz 21 year olds arnt very mature, and they get drunk and wanna act stupid and cause accidents.Dont get me wrong cuz im 21 myself and all my friends shouldnt drink either, cuz then they like to drive!
647490
That's a very good question. I guess the correct answer would depend on which side of the argument you are on. If you think it SHOULD bu illegal than they are just slow to getting there. But you also have to remember that they are just totally different cultures, they are aloud to go out drinking at the age of sixteen but can't drive until they are eighteen. Things are just different over there, maybe they haven't realized how bad it is yet, or maybe they think that people should be able to decide on their own.
245106
kids who start drinkin around the age of 15 yrs old r most likely to turn out to be alcoholics. it's not worth it.
1131642
When I was 18 - it was a legal drinking age at that time.  I truly don't understand it either.  I believe if we can send someone off to war at 18, we can surely allow them to have a drink.  That's just my opinion.
302629
There was (and really still is not) a federal law regarding drinking ages. From the time prohibition ended the age was left up to the states, which mostly limited it to 21. In part because of the Vietnam War and the fact that many veterans came home unable to purchase alcohol, many states lowered their legal drinking ages to 18. In 1984, under pressure from MAAD and other such groups, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which threatened to reduce highway spending by 10% if states did not increase the drinking age to 21.
881166
18 years old just like in other countries.
1175901
The national drinking age is 21.
970229
The age of consent is 17.
186815
18.  Probably 21 in some states if you want to drink. But at age 18, you can sign a legal contract, join the military and do many other things since you are now an adult and fully responsible for your actions.
440819
possession of alcohol under the legal age
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
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
49401
Here in Canada the drinking age is 19, I think that's fair. I think 21 is a bit high. Smoking should be 18...so should the legal age of consent, btw.
1093359
Yes, the only thing you are not allowed to do at the age of 18 is drink.  You may join the armed forces, decide who is to be leader of the country, have sex with as many people as you want...but you can't have one beer.  Tell me how much sense that makes.