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Rants / Debates (Serious)
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What Should The Drinking Age Be?
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If you can die for your country at 18, you can drink for it too. The problem is at 18 if you drink, you'll probably die on a back road. 21 is good. For some of us it should have been 30.
I think 18's probably where it should be. It's been done in New Orleans. I think they revoked it at one time... and then put it back. However, I also think it's important that the public, in general, should be educated about the danger of drinking and driving... and what options are out there for an alternative if a person has been drinking. For example, there's a program here in Little Rock that doesn't charge - a public-funded program - I don't know the number or the name of it, but basically, it's like a taxi service. I've heard my friends talk about it. The person can call it any time of night and someone will pick them up and bring them home. It keeps the drunks off the roads and lowers the incidence of drunk driving accidents in our area.
Stephen wrote: "If you can die for your country at 18, you can drink for it too. The problem is at 18 if you drink, you'll probably die on a back road. 21 is good. For some of us it should have been 30."
Don't kid yourself Stephen, kids drink in High School now. My opinion is if you can be drafted you should be able to drink. I have to admit I'm ignorant to what happens in other countries, maybe I'll do some research and be able to give a more intelligent alternative later.
Don't kid yourself Stephen, kids drink in High School now. My opinion is if you can be drafted you should be able to drink. I have to admit I'm ignorant to what happens in other countries, maybe I'll do some research and be able to give a more intelligent alternative later.
Maybe they should issue drinking licenses. You take a test about alcohol safety and you can then legally buy booze. If you screw up, your booze license gets suspended or revoked.
Heidi, Louisville does that for Derby week. It has cut down on the number DUI and traffic related deaths.
In case you all didn't know, folks around Louisville, and the environs get stankin' ass drunk and shout Woohoo! I know Arkansas never does anything like that. hehehehehehhehe
I don't know. I think the DRIVING age should be 18 so I don't think I want kids getting both of those at once. Maybe drinking age should be younger so they can figure out how to do that first. I actually don't have a problem with there being NO drinking age.RA your new nickname makes it sound like you just had your 64th child.
RA your new nickname makes it sound like you just had your 64th child. Faints at the thought of even a fourth
I think Heidi did the nickname, by the way. She's in charge of that sort of thing:)
Of the 70 countries listed the US has the highest drinking age at 21 (there are numerous exceptions to this for example in some states when accompanied by a parent you can drink before this age). 43 countries have a drinking age of 18, by far the most popular. Only 3 other countries besides the US have drinking ages over 18, while 23 countries have drinking ages below 18, with 10 having no drinking age at all. I agree with Gretchen in that I do not want kids starting to drink and learning to drive at the same time, would no drinking age make drinking no big deal by the time you could drive? Would alcoholism start sooner for some people, or would there be more? Too many questions before a full cup of coffee.
ETA:http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Lega...
ETA:http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Lega...
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This reminds me, a car full of high school kids pulled in front of me yesterday and nearly killed me - I didn't have my seatbelt on yet.
Morning MS Sally. How goes dissertation?
The first time I got drunk my father was there overseeing the whole thing. I learned a valuable lesson that night. Liquor is KraAZyy stuff
Maybe beer could be made legal at 18, and hard liquor at 21? I know, you can binge drink beer too, but it takes a lot more.
Jackie "the Librarian" wrote: "Maybe beer could be made legal at 18, and hard liquor at 21? I know, you can binge drink beer too, but it takes a lot more. "
Would wine be at 18 also?
Would wine be at 18 also?
I don't know, Jim. Wine's gotten a lot stronger than it used to be. Beer has an alcohol content of about 6%, right? Some wine is at 14% now. That's pretty strong. Maybe anything with less than 10% alcohol content?
Are you two going to turn this into a science discussion? Should I call the Discovery Channel? hehehehehe JUST KIDDING DAMNIT
Wine should probably be at a higher level than beer, simply because wine hangovers are so much worse. Although if my first alcohol experience had a wine hangover afterwards, I probably wouldn't be very inclined to drink again.
The one time I barfed from drinking was from drinking wine while eating Domino's pizza. Yes, it was at college, why do you ask?
Oh, and don't do that.
Drinking age should not be any higher than the age of consent. Not sure how accurate this information is, but the highest age of consent is 18:
http://www.4parents.gov/sexrisky/teen...
Ya know, by the time I was 13 I was giving consent. Then people tried to tell me I was molested. I said, "no, I was willing." As an adult I still stand by that.
South Dakotas number scares the shit out of me, 10 fricking years old. I first saw Alabama at 12 and thought christ that's young, but 10.
::goes and beats his head against the wall::
::goes and beats his head against the wall::
Okay, well, 10 and 12 are a bit too young for drinking. I was thinking more of the prevailing range for age of consent, which is 16-18.
OH yeah, off sex and back to booze. Wait a minute, doesn't one lead to the attempt at the other, which often ends with "don't worry babe, it happens to everyone."
Youndyc wrote: "Okay, well, 10 and 12 are a bit too young for drinking. I was thinking more of the prevailing range for age of consent, which is 16-18."
Sorry, I was sidetracked for a minute on the age of consent, but as far as drinking age, if the driving age is 16, the drinking age cannot be 16. 18 may be more appropriate, or change the age of being able to drive.
Sorry, I was sidetracked for a minute on the age of consent, but as far as drinking age, if the driving age is 16, the drinking age cannot be 16. 18 may be more appropriate, or change the age of being able to drive.
If I'm not mistaken, in some countries, there is no drinking age. France, maybe? Am I wrong about this? And no speed limit on the autobahn...I believe the thought system on that is the people are expected/trusted to use moderation and their heads in making good decisions.
Jackie "the Librarian" wrote: "I don't know, Jim. Wine's gotten a lot stronger than it used to be. Beer has an alcohol content of about 6%, right? Some wine is at 14% now. That's pretty strong.
Maybe anything with less than 10..."
Wine should probably go with hard liquor, and all the malt beverages with beer since the are all malted beverages no matter what name is on the label like Smirnoff, Bacardi etc.
Maybe anything with less than 10..."
Wine should probably go with hard liquor, and all the malt beverages with beer since the are all malted beverages no matter what name is on the label like Smirnoff, Bacardi etc.
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It's not you. It's been VERY quiet today, Sally. I blame Kanye West.
That old circle of blame.When I was 18, that was the drinking age in NY State. I had a fake ID when I was 17, and would often hang out in local bars, and routinely bought liquor at will.
I was lucky to have survived this, for sure. And I didn't kill anyone else, either.
I still say Sally's description of Spain makes a great deal of sense.
When I watch Friday Night Lights, I can't believe how much drinking goes on with highschoolers on that show. I just hope it's not realistic.
When I was 18, I went to college. My freshman dorm was literally in the same H-shaped building with four fraternities. I drank plenty of beer, but I could walk home to my room in a minute.
I think the HS drinking is more realistic than you think Larry.
Underage drinking is Taboo. Ergo, teenagers feel obligated by their vows as teenagers to break said Taboo.
According to my daughter there are parents who buy the alcohol for the kids. This past summer there was a parent that bought a 1/4 barrel for a HS freshman. I can't even imagine the message that sent.
I remember seeing a commercial/public service announcement reminding parents not to buy alcohol for their kids not long ago and thinking, "Who the hell would do that in the first place?"
That was my thought too RA, I thought she was pulling my leg, until her friends confirmed it.
Jim wrote: "According to my daughter there are parents who buy the alcohol for the kids. This past summer there was a parent that bought a 1/4 barrel for a HS freshman. I can't even imagine the message that ..."They would.
I don't know. I guess I don't mind keeping it at 21. At least make the kids work for their alcohol. Although I do get the whole "they're old enough to vote, old enough to join the military, old enough to drink" argument, too. Ok, maybe 18. I can't make up my mind.