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.

[*Kathleen*]

Well i think it should be lowered...we are debating this in my class and i didnt want it but i got stuck debating this side...and i have come to find out something interesting...Most countries have the drinking age at 18...some even lower....they have found that even though the drinking age is low...few teens drink....much of the time teens drink to rebel against those that make the laws to try and "prove" something.....so with thew drinking age lower they cant get introuble for doin it....so they dont drink as much.....i have a foreign exchange student in my school from germany....the drink age there is 18...he says many of his friends drink....but do not get wasted or drunk...because what is the point there is no adventure in it when its illegal.....

Well, you have to realize that those countries aren't the United States. They have other laws, too. One problem I see with the United States is the fact that we're too lenient (sp?) on many things, and this is one of them. People are letting all these accidents go, not being careful. People are ignorant to what will happen when they get behind the wheel, drunk, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE TOLD MILLIONS OF TIMES! Sheesh.

-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.

Okay, if you read my whole long opening paragraph, I already refuted that first point. The second point, I'm pretty sure I made it clear that it will stop more of them from doing it. Third point, I just refuted that in this post previously. Last point, it's not a guarantee that the younger kids aren't still going to do it. They'll see that the police think it's okay for people to drink that are younger than twenty-one, and in fact, they'll join with them. I'm sure they have friends closer to their age at eighteen, and can get alcohol easier that way. Anything else?