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.

[DisneyPrincessKa...]

I have fights for both.

Raised
-People are really immature these days, face it, even people in their 30's can't hold their alcohol all the time
-It can cause a lot of problems in socitey, so if you're older you'll hopefully know what you're doing
-If it's kept away for long enough you might lose interest
-It has a lot of health risks, if it's lowered too low you might not know them.
-More experience behind the wheel might help you to know when to not drive.

Lowered
-If you can die in battle why can't you drink?
-They're doing it anyway
-Other countries have no problems with people drinking at young ages.
-It would lower crime, because there would be less underage drinking.

You can make good arguments for both sides, so I'd say keep it the same.