Underage Drinking

[EricNau]

I have one question regarding underage drinking in the US:
Is drinking when you are underage a crime? Or is it only a crime for the one who bought you the alcohol?

Both the drinker and the purchaser gets in trouble.

Not necessarily. The law varies from state to state. All states enforce the age of 21 years as a minimum age for purchasing or public possession of alcoholic beverages, although some states do not ban the consumption of alcohol by those under the age of 21 in a private setting, while others do.

Plus, it can be dependent upon other factors as well. For example, in every state anyone under 21 caught with a BAC above 0 while driving will be arrested.

Also, if your caught purchasing alcohol for anyone under 21, you may be held responsible for their actions while under the influence.

 

[EricNau]

Enlighten us as to the scientific basis behind 21 being the legal drinking age. I am quite interested (and have my Embryology and Development texts nearby).

As others (and myself) have already pointed out in this thread, your brain continues to develop until about the age of 21, and consuming alcohol during this time can cause stunted brain growth.

If you want scientific proof, there's plenty out there, and you can find it just as easy on Google as I can.

Although, here's a nice site that addresses some of the "myths" that have been thrown around in this thread: http://www.why21.org/myths/

 

[MacNut]

The main issue is are kids mature enough to get **** faced at 18, the answer is usually no. I would argue that the driving age should be raised as well. I would rather make everything legal at 20. Add 2 years for smoking and driving and shave a year for drinking. What person in their right mind should start smoking at a young age. I didn't drink when I was younger and I dealt with it.

The drinking age in this country is total ********. 21? **** that. I can vote, buy cigarettes, get charged as an adult for any crime, get jury duty, etc. at 18 but I can't buy beer.

Oh, so people under 21 are not responsible enough to drink, right? I could go sign up for the Army right now, be through basic in like 12 weeks, and be out in the streets of Baghdad with an M4 by next spring. But I still can't go buy a beer. That's ********.

You can also get married at 18 too, does that mean everyone should.

 

[EricNau]

. . . I would rather make everything legal at 20. Add 2 years for smoking and driving and shave a year for drinking.

I'm not sure what everyone's infatuation with a universal age is. In no way is it unreasonable for different activities to have different age limits.

Or... we could just make the retirement age 20 as well, along with the at which colonoscopies start, then everything will be perfect.

 

[MacNut]

I'm not sure what everyone's infatuation with a universal age is. In no way is it unreasonable for different activities to have different age limits.

Or... we could just make the retirement age 20 as well, along with the at which colonoscopies start, then everything will be perfect.

Entitlement issues, everyone thinks that because they are an "adult" that they deserve everything handed to them.

 

[walangij]

Entitlement issues, everyone thinks that because they are an "adult" that they deserve everything handed to them.

True. I think the opinions in the thread vary by age as well. When I was younger I thought that underage drinking is nothing big, but looking @ my younger cousins and their friends, ect. It worries me a lot more than it did since I realize how impaired their judgment is even w/o alcohol (and how mine was just as impaired a few years ago).

 

[Rhosfelt]

EricNau
I'm not sure what everyone's infatuation with a universal age is. In no way is it unreasonable for different activities to have different age limits.

Or... we could just make the retirement age 20 as well, along with the at which colonoscopies start, then everything will be perfect.

Entitlement issues, everyone thinks that because they are an "adult" that they deserve everything handed to them.

colonoscopies...handed to them... where did this thread go?!

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

I was thinking about this thread... One real good argument I did come up with to keep the drinking age at 21 is the fact that at 18, many kids are still in high school. I think it would be kinda dumb to "allow" in the legal sense high schoolers to drink - kinda counter productive to their intent of finishing up such a crucial time in ones life.

 

[nbs2]

Both are voluntary and are major decisions in your life, and quite frankly fighting in combat is more likely to get you killed.

There are a lot of things that can get you killed. Training for combat is designed to allow you to keep a clear head during the event. The idea is that you can actually think and exercise all of your mental faculties while engaged. Alcohol is designed to impair the thought process - to keep you from appreciating what is going on around you.

I would patently disagree with the puritans out there who argue that they don't need to experiment with something to have an informed opinion about it. Not knowing about something is ignorance...especially not knowing about something that is experiencial. For example, I could say that I don't like to play baseball, but who would care about my opinion after I told them I had never held a bat or tossed a ball? Don't misunderstand me, there are plenty of things I think are wrong, or don't like, that I have not done. I am technically ignorant about those things (recreational drugs, murder, theft, unprovoked violence, the frayed edge of sexual behavior), and I am happy to be ignorant of them.

If someone does not like drinking, they are free to hold that opinion, so long as they are honest about why they hold that opinion. If they are ignorant of drinking, they shouldn't go waving around statistics (a dirty science as far as I'm concerned) or anecdotes "prove" their stance "right". Be happy with your opinion and don't discount/bastardize the value of experience.

I'm baffled.

In my ignorance about murder, I can acknowledge that my opinion that murder is wrong, but I can't utilize statistics? I suppose we shouldn't challenge the death penalty. The folks whose families were victims of the convicted criminals are the only ones to experience that unending pain, they are the only ones equipped to justify or refute the death penalty. Recidivism rates and crime rates are meaningless. Stories of those reformed or (even worse) later found innocent are just anecdotes, so don't even think of bringing those up.

Look, you may have gotten wasted, and think that by getting wasted you are uniquely equipped (versus the "puritans") to address the dangers and ills and benefits of drinking. But, in the end, you are providing nothing more than anecdotes and statistics based off of a sample of one. To argue that those who haven't experienced what you have carry less weight in their opinions just doesn't make sense. Do you have kids? If not, then aren't your opinions on what should or shouldn't be taught to children, well, meaningless?

As an aside to the complaints, 21 is the law is the law is the law. Work to change the law, argue against the law, challenge the law, and support those who work/argue/challenge. If the law is overturned, your risk will be rewarded and many will benefit from your efforts. If it isn't, then the law is the law is the law. Don't whine and cry about the law and hide in your house or dorm proclaiming yourself the big bad man you think yourself to be.

 

[J@ffa]

Plenty of people in this thread have noted that the drinking age here in the UK is 18 — I, and most of my friends started drinking from the age of 15-16. At the beginning, of course, we all got blind drunk repeatedly and did stupid things we wouldn't do sober. It didn't last for long, however, and we quickly took it a little more calmly and it lost its novelty pretty fast. Of course, some of us (yours truly included) drink way too much from time to time, but we and anyone else on this thread who has done that has his or her reasons.

From what I can gather though, the majority of you in the U.S. tend to see underage drinkers indulging in stuff like drunk driving. Over here it's massively taboo, to the point that anyone who even considers it aloud will be met with shock (even from people having difficulty standing up!). Lots of people have proclaimed that they are teetotal. Nothing wrong with that, but to use 'it's dangerous/stupid' as a reason is a little dull, surely?

 

[carbonmotion]

It is ridiculous, 18 and we get tried as an adult and can get sent off to die for this country, yet we can't have a freaken' drink.

What gives?

But yes, everything in moderation.

if you fight for your country, you can drink at 18

 

[mgargan1]

to all of you that are under 21... with the exception of 20 year olds...

The day after you turn 21, drinking isn't that big of a deal. And in fairness, it's actually kinda nice to be able to go to a bar, and not have teenagers there.

That being said, when I was 18, I thought the drinking age should be lowered. I felt the same way, that since I can die for my country, I should be able to drink alcohol.

Then when I thought about it, I realized that half the fun in underage drinking is that it's illegal. You're not supposed to do it... that makes it that much more appealing. I don't know the last time i went to a keg party like I did in college. When you're older, it's just not that appealing anymore.

So, I guess the point of this post, is to hope that you guys open your eyes... don't do anything stupid. If you're going to drink, drink... just be smart about it. Like I said, half the fun of underage drinking is the fact that it's not allowed...

Oh, and by the way, beer doesn't taste bad, bad beer tastes bad!

 

[bc008]

^^^ i agree

im 14 and i have never drank at all, and whenever someone has some at a party i simply go inside or go home.

it seems all my friends just drink because they shouldnt be doing it, and they think there cool.

 

[mgargan1]

^^^ i agree

im 14 and i have never drank at all, and whenever someone has some at a party i simply go inside or go home.

it seems all my friends just drink because they shouldnt be doing it, and they think there cool.

Well, 14 is a bit young but, don't be afraid of alcohol. You should understand what it does, how it does it, and in all honesty you should respect it... (I know, i know... I sound like a father). But really, you shouldn't use a gun before you understood how it works. You shouldn't get in a car before you knew how to operate it. You shouldn't play around with a PC's registry if you don't know how to do it!!! Just be careful, and understand that now is the age where alcohol can mess you up, physically and mentally. Just respect it...

 

[Rhosfelt]

This weekend I am going to a friends college ( the same college I had my first drinking experience with this year) and at that time I wasn't really thinking about getting together with the girl I am now.

We really like each other but haven't put a label on our relationship yet because meh a combination of lazy and just making sure distance can work (she is a senior in my hometown about 2 hours away) however, I told her that I wasn't going to drink this weekend because I am afraid I will mess things up.

Apparently I was a "hit" at the party (because of my personality ) last time and a bunch of my friends girlfriend's friends liked me...so I told my girlfriend (for lack of a better word) that. And I am making the decision not to drink in fear that I could mess something up that I really truly don't want to. I think that I made a pretty mature decision, and if you can make decisions like that or some even tough ones (not to drive of course/resist taking off your clothes ) than you are mentally mature enough in my opinion.

 

[mgargan1]

This weekend I am going to a friends college ( the same college I had my first drinking experience with this year) and at that time I wasn't really thinking about getting together with the girl I am now.

We really like each other but haven't put a label on our relationship yet because meh a combination of lazy and just making sure distance can work (she is a senior in my hometown about 2 hours away) however, I told her that I wasn't going to drink this weekend because I am afraid I will mess things up.

Apparently I was a "hit" at the party (because of my personality ) last time and a bunch of my friends girlfriend's friends liked me...so I told my girlfriend (for lack of a better word) that. And I am making the decision not to drink in fear that I could mess something up that I really truly don't want to. I think that I made a pretty mature decision, and if you can make decisions like that or some even tough ones (not to drive of course/resist taking off your clothes ) than you are mentally mature enough in my opinion.

so you're 18 (I just checked your profile) and you're making these decisions, you should be able to drink... in moderation of course. But lets face it, if it weren't for alcohol, many of us wouldn't be here. Our father's wouldn't have had the stones to meet our moms'. Alcohol is liquid confidence, and it always will be... we just need to not abuse it, and make it liquid female repellent.

 

[supremedesigner]

I'd much rather play Halo 3 online than to drink

 

[Rhosfelt]

how old are you?

18

 

[yellow]

t just makes me think-- MOST of these cops drank in college too.

Ah the ignorance of youth.

I'm not sure where you live, but I don't think too many of those cops went to college. But the point is valid. Most of us have drank underage and didn't think it was a big deal, but you won't understand until you're older and you realize that you really have something to loose..

 

[mgargan1]

Ah the ignorance of youth.

I'm not sure where you live, but I don't think too many of those cops went to college. But the point is valid. Most of us have drank underage and didn't think it was a big deal, but you won't understand until you're older and you realize that you really have something to loose..

well said...

 

[carbonmotion]

This law is not an immoral law, it is merely a set limit to ensure public safety. It's like saying the speed limit should be 50 instead of 45 on X street. It's also not likely to change soon as most of the people who can vote can drink and don't think in the same terms as 18 year olds.

 

[atszyman]

I think they need to up the military enrollment/draft age to 21 and for anyone who enlists your first three years of college are free (to a non-private college). After your third year you can opt to go into the military, or take your final year and do your service after receiving your degree.

I don't see the voting age as a compelling argument for lowering the drinking age, nor do I see driving age as one either. Would you really want kids getting their driver's licenses and being able to drink on the same day? That's a recipe for disaster.

 

[Victor ch]

Im going to be honest, I used to drink a lot (for a teenager) some of my friends still do, now Im not too much into the let gets drunk weekly thing. Now you must take into consideration that Costa Rica is one the most "alcoholic" countries, we have the 3rd largest popular party regarding the consumption of beer, right behind Oktoberfest and Mardy Graw (its called Palmares). When I go to a party/reunion I usually dont drink more than 5-6 beers (at least 8-10 really "hits" me) hate hard liquors (except whisky) and very rarely get drunk. Here just one time have I been asked for an ID (and yes I have a fake one) so it wasnt a big deal, my country is really "used" to underage drinking. Every now and then my father invites me to my favorite beer (Heineken, just love it) and this trust is the reason I wont get intoxicated at parties, it just seems wrong to abuse the confidence someone has on me.
In my opinion people under 16 shouldnt be allowed to drink without parental agreement and after that, beers and soft liquors should be made available just for pleasure and not intoxication (by limiting supplies), regarding health more awareness and campaigns should be done. People must realize that alcohol can damage you and try to diminish alcoholism, not threat people or try to put things like a very high limit age as this things are just like when they tell you as a kid dont touch this button which you consequently do. Let them know its bad but not scare the living sh*t out of them.BTW im 16.
IN summary, have consideration, be aware, don't be stupid.

-Victor

 

[Rodimus Prime]

^^^ i agree

im 14 and i have never drank at all, and whenever someone has some at a party i simply go inside or go home.

it seems all my friends just drink because they shouldnt be doing it, and they think there cool.

Yeah smart move. At 21 the enter thing with drinking loses a lot of it appeal because it is legal. Not to say that I have not been plastered a few times since turn 21.

It is just the appeal of the part of drinking because it is wrong is gone. General I try to stay under 5 drinks because after that point I am rather gone and will drink anything put in front of me which explains the plastered part. You know you are drunk when keystone taste good.

 

[Fiveos22]

Edit: I just don't have the time to properly address this thread.