What do you think should be the legal minimum age for drinking?

by jeanniebeanz 25 Replies latest jw friends

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  Oroborus21

  Greetings!

  One has to wonder with all of the underage drinking that occurs in the U.S. whether the 21 year old minimum drinking age makes any sense at all. It certainly has not deterred underage drinking. By the way, although teenage drinking and driving is a serious problem, I would venture to say that most drunk drivers are OVER 21, thus another reason to question the effectiveness of the law.

  IN my opinion, I do not think that underage drinking inside a private home or in an enclosed yard, or the drinking of wine or beer in a restaurant setting by a minor who is with their PARENT(s) or legal guardian should be illegal at any age. In all of these situations, the parent (or guardian) should be responsible for both introducing and educating the child about alchohol and for supervising their children's consumption as they see fit.

  I think that alcohol should not be sold to a minor under age 18 so minors would have to acquire their alchohol from an adult or out of their own home, again placing the responsiblity upon the parent or guardian (adults) where it belongs. Of course any actual public drunkeness, including drinking in public by a minor should receive a stiff penalty. Operating a car or machinery under the influence is already a crime with severe penalties for persons of every age so there is no change there, except maybe to make the penalties even more severe.

  -Eduardo
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  jeanniebeanz

  To purchase alcohol--at least wine and beer--I would say no older than 18, probably younger.
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  Dan-O

  I think if you're tall enough to reach the bar, you're old enough to drink.
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  fairchild

  I think if you're tall enough to reach the bar, you're old enough to drink.

  The dwarfs are going to be mad at you, Dan-o
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  Dan-O

  The dwarfs are going to be mad at you, Dan-o

  Well, so what? I'll just park my beer or an ashtray on their heads ...
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  Euphemism

  Jeannie... I'm not sure how to read your smilies. Does the idea sounds outrageous to you? The age is 16 in most European countries, and even that is rarely enforced.
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  jeanniebeanz

  Euph, I thought you were making a joke! lol The way I read your post, is seemed as if you were saying that people should not drink *past* the age of 18. Re-reading it, I can see that you were saying that the *limit* should be no more than 18, not that *people should not drink* past 18.

  Was reading more into your comment than was there!

  Jeannie
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  ohiocowboy

  As a young child, and while growing up, I was given beer, wine, ouzo, and different liquers in moderation. It never caused any problems.

  I think the drinking age at bars and public areas should stay 21, while at home it can be at the parents discretion.

  Hic....
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  dh

  I think it should be like it is in the UK. Any age at home, 18 in pubs/bars. I remember being in the US when I was 18, and people my own age were very immature/uneducated about drinking, they used to just want to get loaded because it was something they weren't allowed to do and that they had to hide even from their parents. Whereas in the UK it is fairly normal for kids to even drink a glass of wine with parents, so when they grow up it's not a big deal to be able to drink legally, I think here it is more of a social thing that everyone does. I feel like I am the odd one out most of the time because I very very rarely drink, but I think the way it is here is fairly balanced & educated.

  Edited to add: The people I'm referring to in the US when I was 18 were ironically also JW's with JW parents!
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  Peppermint

  From the age of about 14/15 I was able to buy alcohol from corner shops in my area, everyone did. I can say from my own experience drinking alcohol at this age on the streets led directly to crime.
  
  
  I do think that a relaxed view of alcohol in the home to a point is healthy. I would always tend to gravitate towards things my parents banned outright. It is however always hard to find the balance in these areas.
  
  
  On the whole I do think the government need to set an age limit outside of the home but not as high as it is in America.