Comments on: Why is the US Drinking Age 21 in the First Place? http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:47:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ricky http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-1526098 Ricky Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:40:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-1526098 People at 18 drink whether or not the age is lowered. Therefore, they can drink and drive whenever they want. People who argue that this is not the case really don't know that alcohol is readily available to anyone. Also, people who "have the right" to die in a war cannot go out and drink? Yet we are adults? That is extremely unfair. Giving the right to drink to only people who are enlisted still isn't justified because we still, at any time, can go off to war. Yet, we still can't do whatever we want however, people still look to us to be responsible and be adults now. If that's the case raise the legal adult age to 21. People at 18 drink whether or not the age is lowered. Therefore, they can drink and drive whenever they want. People who argue that this is not the case really don’t know that alcohol is readily available to anyone. Also, people who “have the right” to die in a war cannot go out and drink? Yet we are adults? That is extremely unfair. Giving the right to drink to only people who are enlisted still isn’t justified because we still, at any time, can go off to war. Yet, we still can’t do whatever we want however, people still look to us to be responsible and be adults now. If that’s the case raise the legal adult age to 21.

]]> By: Billy http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-965176 Billy Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:04:41 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-965176 “It’s really the parent’s fault in the first place for not being in control of their kids…” I completely disagree with this statement. Although parental control may be a possible reason for the problems that have erupted regarding underage drinking, it is definitely not the primary cause. Every year, thousands of eighteen year olds graduate from high school and flee off to college. This is where the vast majority of underage drinking takes place, completely out of reach for most parents. Students may figure that they are far from home – who’s watching? In this instance, how can any parents be the ones put to blame? Being sent off to college suggests a spirit of independence, a rite of passage. It has been clearly misunderstood that this “rite of passage” should also include drinking. Recently, a large sum of college presidents signed a statement urging politicians to lower the drinking age. If any mother from MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) were to express their grief and misery after the loss of a child due to a drunk driver, the arguments of any college presidents who signed the statement to lower the drinking age would be mute. Twenty four years ago, the federal government saved countless numbers of lives by rising the drinking age to 21 and now college presidents (of all people) want to lower it. Everyone argues that eighteen year olds who go off to war deserve a beer. If having a beer at eighteen is that big of a deal, then perhaps the military can provide some sort of supervised drinking for those enlisted. Otherwise, those students given the “legal right” to drink at 18 will inevitably be responsible for more alcohol-related deaths. “It’s really the parent’s fault in the first place for not being in control of their kids…” I completely disagree with this statement. Although parental control may be a possible reason for the problems that have erupted regarding underage drinking, it is definitely not the primary cause. Every year, thousands of eighteen year olds graduate from high school and flee off to college. This is where the vast majority of underage drinking takes place, completely out of reach for most parents. Students may figure that they are far from home – who’s watching? In this instance, how can any parents be the ones put to blame? Being sent off to college suggests a spirit of independence, a rite of passage. It has been clearly misunderstood that this “rite of passage” should also include drinking.
Recently, a large sum of college presidents signed a statement urging politicians to lower the drinking age. If any mother from MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) were to express their grief and misery after the loss of a child due to a drunk driver, the arguments of any college presidents who signed the statement to lower the drinking age would be mute. Twenty four years ago, the federal government saved countless numbers of lives by rising the drinking age to 21 and now college presidents (of all people) want to lower it. Everyone argues that eighteen year olds who go off to war deserve a beer. If having a beer at eighteen is that big of a deal, then perhaps the military can provide some sort of supervised drinking for those enlisted. Otherwise, those students given the “legal right” to drink at 18 will inevitably be responsible for more alcohol-related deaths.

]]> By: Jim http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-813695 Jim Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:12:29 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-813695 Although here in the UK it is 18, you have to look over 25 so as not to be asked for I.D. It went up from 'Must Look 21' not long ago and in some ASDA supermarkets they won't even allow you to buy drink unless everyone you are with has I.D! Once they wouldn't allow my girlfriend to buy some wine because she had her cousin with her who is 10 years old! Makes me wonder what they say to a family who go shopping together and the mother/father want to buy some beer/wine...obviously isn't for their 5 year old sons/daughters! Although here in the UK it is 18, you have to look over 25 so as not to be asked for I.D. It went up from ‘Must Look 21′ not long ago and in some ASDA supermarkets they won’t even allow you to buy drink unless everyone you are with has I.D!

Once they wouldn’t allow my girlfriend to buy some wine because she had her cousin with her who is 10 years old! Makes me wonder what they say to a family who go shopping together and the mother/father want to buy some beer/wine…obviously isn’t for their 5 year old sons/daughters!

]]> By: Polx http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-812561 Polx Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:52:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-812561 So if you are accompanied by a person of 21 years and are in a private residence it is legal to drink under the age of 21? SO what about that lady who was arrested and ultimately lost her house job family and life effectively because she provided beer at her sons 17th birthday party? I do find US puritanical laws weird. So if you are accompanied by a person of 21 years and are in a private residence it is legal to drink under the age of 21?

SO what about that lady who was arrested and ultimately lost her house job family and life effectively because she provided beer at her sons 17th birthday party?

I do find US puritanical laws weird.

]]> By: Martin http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-811795 Martin Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:50:16 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-811795 @Jerse: "It’s really the parent’s fault in the first place for not being in control of their kids…" Agreed. However, I believe this is the kind of law designed for those who *don't* have good parents to tell them what they should do. Of course, such a law doesn't stop anyone from getting alcohol, but that doesn't mean the *law* is wrong. @Jerse:
“It’s really the parent’s fault in the first place for not being in control of their kids…”

Agreed. However, I believe this is the kind of law designed for those who *don’t* have good parents to tell them what they should do.

Of course, such a law doesn’t stop anyone from getting alcohol, but that doesn’t mean the *law* is wrong.

]]> By: Christophe http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-811697 Christophe Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:18:04 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-811697 @ted : I had the same idea ;) More seriously, I met a 'taster' working on the quality lab for 'pastis' (south of France alcohol) and I don't envy his job : it made him a nearly alcoholic. I'm more interested by the religious loophole, there's a possibility to create a good sect here :) @ted : I had the same idea ;)
More seriously, I met a ‘taster’ working on the quality lab for ‘pastis’ (south of France alcohol) and I don’t envy his job : it made him a nearly alcoholic.

I’m more interested by the religious loophole, there’s a possibility to create a good sect here :)

]]> By: Tom http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-811504 Tom Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:19:42 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-811504 I thought of wine tasting right off the top of my head. Probably brewmasters as well. I thought of wine tasting right off the top of my head. Probably brewmasters as well.

]]> By: ted http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-810563 ted Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:09:16 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-810563 What legal employment involves drinking alcohol, and where can I get an application? What legal employment involves drinking alcohol, and where can I get an application?

]]> By: Justin http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-810459 Justin Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:47:31 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-810459 It just seems a bit ridiculous that we classify people as adults in every way: They can vote, they can serve in the armed forces, and they can be locked away forever, but they can't have a beer. While it may seem silly to some, people 18-20 are simply 2nd class citizens. But I guess it's ok to do this because its not about skin color or religious preference. It just seems a bit ridiculous that we classify people as adults in every way: They can vote, they can serve in the armed forces, and they can be locked away forever, but they can’t have a beer.

While it may seem silly to some, people 18-20 are simply 2nd class citizens. But I guess it’s ok to do this because its not about skin color or religious preference.

]]> By: Jerse http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-809920 Jerse Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:53:07 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-809920 Wasn't it actually because all of those mothers, whose 18yo children died in drunken car crashes, started MADD and petitioned the government to raise the drinking age? Seemed logical enough back then - anyways, those who binge drink have other problems than age. It's really the parent's fault in the first place for not being in control of their kids... Wasn’t it actually because all of those mothers, whose 18yo children died in drunken car crashes, started MADD and petitioned the government to raise the drinking age?

Seemed logical enough back then – anyways, those who binge drink have other problems than age. It’s really the parent’s fault in the first place for not being in control of their kids…

]]> By: John http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-809627 John Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:45:05 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/26/why-is-the-us-drinking-age-21-in-the-first-place/#comment-809627 This law is typical of the federal extortion racket. When Congress couldn't find a Constitutional basis to make a law raising the drinking age, it just threatened to cut off states unless <i>they</i> did. The law should be repealed if for no other reason than the criminal means used to enforce it. This law is typical of the federal extortion racket. When Congress couldn’t find a Constitutional basis to make a law raising the drinking age, it just threatened to cut off states unless they did. The law should be repealed if for no other reason than the criminal means used to enforce it.

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