Legal Drinking Age Options

[*Kathleen*]

So my civics class was talking about it the other day, and I thought I'd like to share with you guys: Do you think the legal drinking age should be raised or lowered? Now, here's how I stand on this: I think it should be kept the same, although if I were to choose between raising or lowering it, I would definitely pick raising it. Here are my points.

-There are too many accidents that can be prevented because of drunk drivers. Now, I know what you're thinking: there are people out there who are of legal drinking age who already get in accidents. Those can be stopped, too, though. I'm just saying here that a few of the whole can be prevented by keeping the new, drunk drivers off the road by raising it. I think the average age to drive nowadays is sixteen (it is in Pennsylvania), and if you wait two years opposed to given the chance to drive and drink, then you would've had experience there. *Thinks to herself...yeah, I think I covered most things on that*

-Next, you might say: Well, we can fight for our country at eighteen. Okay, now I can easily refute this a few ways. Yes, you are (most of the time) handed a gun when you join our military, but...THIS IS FOR A GOOD CAUSE! You're handed a beer can...that's not helping our country in any way. See my point? Also, you must realize that by going through the service, you will [most likely] come out a better, more mature person. So what if you're able to serve your country at eighteen...who says that you're already mature enough to drink then?

-Third, this is not discrimination against teenagers. Obviously, your age will change. You can't change [most of the time...heh...*Thinks of Michael Jackson*] the color of your skin nor your gender [thinks again...most of the time!]. See my point?

-Lastly (I think), I looked around the room in my civics class to find that the only people wanting the legal drinking age lowered were those that drink already. Okay, we can't stop all the idiots who want to waste away their lives at that from drinking, but if it is highered or more strict, their chances of being caught and punished is higher.

So yeah, I think I made my point...heh...I'm about to leave, but yeah I hope this thread doesn't die soon.

[urbanychic]

I'm think it should be lowered, to be honest, I think it should be a LOT lowered.

In Europe, the drinking age is roughly 15 and the driving age is I believe, 18. Their philosophy behind this is to have the children get the drinking out of their systems BEFORE they start driving so the amount of alcohol related accidents is increadibly smaller than in American. Over 65% accidents in America are alcohol related, whereas in Europe, it's 33%. Dramatic difference. In Europe, alcohol isn't viewed as a taboo and something that is so horrible and blah blah blah, as it is viewed here. Yea, it makes you look 'cool' but people are still so opposed to it.

ANYWAYS...

I personally believe the drinking age should lowered and the DRIVING age raised. If you can fight for your country OR purchase a gun at 18 (which you can) why can't you buy alcohol? Shooting a gun will KILL you on impact, and drinking alcohol takes more of an effect to kill you on impact. Even if we are sending our children to fight for our country, we are still sending children fresh out of high school to shoot and KILL other human beings before they can pick up alcohol. I was just watching the news and say a 19 year old girl that was killed in Iraq. She never tried alochol, but she's dead because of guns.

It should be discussed in the education system the effects of drinking before middle/high school age so that we are always hearing what alcohol can do, regardless of your age. And, btw, I am legal to drink so that isn't affecting my decision, but I'm been adment on having it lowered seeing it was 18 for years until rather recently.