Lower Drinking Age? Options

[cnelson]

Not sure if this has already been brought up or not.. However I am bored, and have always thought that this was a good topic to debate on.


Recently I started my freshmen year at college. I'm going to Coastal Carolina University, if anyone lives around the Myrtle Beach area you probably know that nearly are whole football team was suspended due to alcohol related incidents. I have been a "legal" adult for over a year now. I just turned 19 a couple weeks ago. Being away at school my parents and myself both knew I was going to drink. I guess my family is very open and my parents trust me enough not to make any decisions to put myself or others at risk. I have been drinking probably since I was about 16.. Always socially, not by myself or anything like that. So lets say I am.. "Drinking Responsibly"

Now I, more than most probably understand the need for laws. I also understand the need for equality. Although I know no one can ever truly win this argument I believe that I have some good points that I would like to get off my chest..

We can start off with a few simple points. The whole.. "If I'm old enough to die for my country, be convicted for a crime, pay child support etc.. at 18, than why am I not old enough to drink?" This is probably the most influential point anyone can make.. Look if I can go fight a war, but I can't drink a damn beer. Someone has there facts mixed up, because last time I checked fighting a war is much more dangerous than drinking a beer, or even a few beers for that matter.

I know a lot of people think that teenagers are not responsible enough to drink, and do it with a adult manner. WRONG. A lot of people also think that teenagers don't care about drinking and driving. WRONG. The fact of the matter is, I am right in the crowd with these very people.. Of all the things I always see, the one I see most is.. Friends not letting another friend drive home because he's had to much to drink, or giving someone a ride home because you know there is no way you would want them to drive, or someone asking for a ride home because they know there is no way they should be driving.

My final point is simply this.. People are going to drink and drive at any age, 21, 31, 41, 51, 91. It doesn't make a difference. The only thing that makes a difference is if we are properly educated about the risks with drinking and drive. My message is, Stop throwing the issue under the table by saying teens aren't responsible enough. Start by educating people, teaching them that you can drink and still maintain a right state of mind.

I know there will always be people who disagree, and I'm sure there will be many people who do not like my comments, and people who agree with me. I would like to make a change, and although I am only one young person.. We are growing in numbers everyday. Right now politicians may be able to ignore us because we aren't the majority vote, However soon enough our voice will be heard and questions will not be able to be thrown away. One day we will have a common voice as young people, who can make a difference on any situation, not just the drinking age. Thanks for any comments you may have.

This post has been edited by cnelson: Dec 15, 2008 - 4:07 PM

[Nial]

In the UK you can drink at 16 and buy at 18....we have a huge drink related problem with violence....binge drinking (drinking huge amounts in a short period) and alcohol related illnesses......do you really want the same problems?

[GriffGirl]

In the UK you can drink at 16 and buy at 18....we have a huge drink related problem with violence....binge drinking (drinking huge amounts in a short period) and alcohol related illnesses......do you really want the same problems?

That's in the UK though, not all of Europe, that problem, right? I think it would be a similar phenomenon here... in regions that are similar to the UK like here where I am in the Pacific Northwest, I think there would be more alcohol related problems with kids than maybe in California, or anywhere from the middle to the southern thirds of the country, where it's not so gray and rainy for so many months of the year. I actually think a lot of that is weather related in how it affects your mood.

I also want to go on record as saying that I am completely 100% in favor of legalizing marijuana. I know that's not the topic here, but it's been brought up so I thought I'd touch on it too. I don't personally use it much at all, maybe once a year on average. I just don't care much about it either way. But I have no objection to it being legalized - it's absolutely true that you see FAR fewer marijuana related accidents and illnesses than you do with alcohol. You never hear about some pot head beating his wife up or going on a shooting rampage at a McDonald's.

As for the legal age of using it however, I think it should be consistent with whatever the legal drinking age is. If there was a massive government-funded campaign to educate, I mean really EDUCATE and not use fear-mongering tactics, kids and adults about alcohol use, and destigmatize it, I think there could be the possibility for a healthy respect for alcohol and the age limit could be lowered. Same for marijuana. I very firmly believe that if alcohol and pot wasn't made to be so alluring by putting tight restrictions on it, and not talking openly about it, it'd be far less of an issue.