Drinking age?

What do you think?

Here in N.Z.,the law was recently changed to allow 18 year olds to buy alcohol....can't say that I think it has been altogether successful:(

18.

They're legal adults now, they should have legal adult rights.

It's 19 where I live, but only 18 in Quebec and Alberta.

I think really the age limit should be 18- but on the way there are all sorts hurdles.


Y'see- most kids once they hit 18 or even 16 haven't been allowed to drink- they don't know thier limits and how much they can have- so they hit the piss hard- they wind up doing dumb things they know they will regret.

However- if at about 14 the childrens parents slowly introduce them to alcahol- say 1 glass every Saturday night then it is a lot healthier- and as they reach about 16 then let them enjoy alcahol in a a safe, supervised enviroment- hence when they leave home for University or even turn 18 they know thier limits :)

Thats what my parents did with me- and guess what- it worked extremely well

My friend's parents did that with him as well, and he has never overloaded himself. He's been drunk, sure, but he's always known his limits.

I'm with 18 being the legal drinking age as well. I think it is terribly unfair that for males in particular, there is a three-year gap between when they register for the draft and can be called into service to fight and die for their country, and when they can legally get a beer. That is a crock of shit, IMO.

The only good argument I have heard for keeping the drinking age at 21 is that if lowered to 18, the number of high school seniors that will drink and drive will increase dramatically. Speculative perhaps, but I bet there's some truth to it, and that is a legitimate concern.

The most ridiculous thing I heard of recently was here in NZ they wanted to push it BACK UP to 20....because of the amount of 13 and 14 year old kids getting drunk....now tell me, WHAT DIFFERENCE would it make if the drinking age is 18 or 20 when its the kids' parents buying them the booze? Something like half the amount of kids interviewed said their parents bought their booze for them. If they put it back up to 20 it's just going to put a few more thousand under age drinkers (18 and 19 year olds) on the streets.

I agree with the Jimster however, if the parents give them a little at a time in a safe environment its okay...not when the folks buy their 14 year old daughter a 40oz bottle of Jim Beam to take out onto the streets....

In my opinion they just need to knock some sense into the kids in NZ here cos they are going straight downhill....:finger:

Just my $0.02

-Dave

Originally posted by Toksin


I agree with the Jimster however, if the parents give them a little at a time in a safe environment its okay...not when the folks buy their 14 year old daughter a 40oz bottle of Jim Beam to take out onto the streets....



Just my $0.02

-Dave

Classic example..

http://onenews.nzoom.com/onenews_detail/0,1227,130589-1-7,00.html

Almost word-for-word circumstances as you suggest.I had the unpleasant task of sitting on the jury.

I think it was a mistake to simply shift the line at short notice.In my limited experience of these things,it seems that a lot of teenagers have taken away completely the wrong message from this law change.I don't know of any parent who has even taken the trouble to discuss the implications and responsibilities[beyond drink/driving] with their kids.Seems to me that the prevailing opinion among young people is that it's o.k. to get hammered as hard and as often as you like,as long as you don't drive.

I'd pick the age thats not on there. 19. Everyone (but a few) is out of highschool and is treated as adults by law. They should have the right to kill their braincells like any other adult.

Well, my folks, when I was younger, threatened me with strict punishment etc etc if they ever found out I was drinking, so I hardly ever did, only on special occasions like New Years or whatever. They also did talk to me about the dangers beyond drinking and driving. I'm also of the mindset that if you're not legally allowed to do anything, don't do it. Otherwise, by the time you reach that age, you've got nothing to look forward to :)

They're gonna do it wether its legal or not...if its not legal they're gonna get slapped with a fine that they're 'rents will pay and take care of it all...most of the time its not even on their record...Who gives a shit? at 18 they're legal to do everything else, why not kill their bodies as well?

In Australia, the legal age for anything (gambling, porn, tobacco, alcohol, voting etc) is 18. It works fine. What Jimmy mentioned about parents introducing their kids to alcohol gradually was done to me and to just about everyone I know. From the age of 17 my parents bought alcohol if I was going to that type of party - but in a sensible amount (eg. 4-6 beers to be consumed over 6-8 hours). There is no need to change the law as it works just fine, there is a strong community sentiment against drink driving and there are no social problems associated with the age limit at it's current state. I would suggest that all societies currently experiencing problems, a rethink of community attitudes and public awareness is needed - not a reform of the law.

Having said that, as an 18yo in a current location where the age limit is 19yo (BC, Canada) I have had NO trouble getting a beer at any bar/bottle shop that I have gone to. I have been asked for ID once in more than a dozen visits, presented it (clearly said 18) and was still allowed in. :confused:

Oz

Well, I'm 17 and have had my fair share of alcoholic experiences. I voted for 18, because I think it should be lowered (it's 19 in Ontario) since everyone here crosses the bridge and gets anything from Quebec (18 there as Heep mentioned).

I'm not really in a position to say anything though, I'm still yougn and my opinion is obviously more influenced than an adult, who has much more freedom. I'd really like to see more restrictions or something put on it, casue as Toksin said, the amount of 13 and 14 year olds getting drunk is just bad.

The problem is, it can't be stopped, if people want to do something, they'll find a way to do, law or not.

Originally posted by Porsche
Well, I'm 17 and have had my fair share of alcoholic experiences. I voted for 18, because I think it should be lowered (it's 19 in Ontario) since everyone here crosses the bridge and gets anything from Quebec (18 there as Heep mentioned).

I'm not really in a position to say anything though, I'm still yougn and my opinion is obviously more influenced than an adult, who has much more freedom. I'd really like to see more restrictions or something put on it, casue as Toksin said, the amount of 13 and 14 year olds getting drunk is just bad.

The problem is, it can't be stopped, if people want to do something, they'll find a way to do, law or not.

Although I'm going OT- I just gotta say- Welcome back Porsche! I haven't seen you around here for AGES!!!!!

I think it should be 18, in the states you can go to war for your country, you can be put to death for homicide, you can vote, and you can make your own decisions just as well as a 21 year old. What is the difference between an 18 year old adult and a 21 year old adult? Do they think in three years they will be wiser and more capable of determining between right and wrong when it comes to alchohal? I think like most of you say the common sense starts at home with the parents and it should just be left at that, the legal age only keeps the youger people out of the bars, they just go somewhere else and have someone buy it for them.

Originally posted by Jimster


Although I'm going OT- I just gotta say- Welcome back Porsche! I haven't seen you around here for AGES!!!!!

Hey thanks! I've sorta just been reading stuff here more than posting. School's kicking my ass this year, so that's why I'm not around as much. :(

i dont think the issue is drinking, its drinking and driving. My buddy has a poster with some of the DUI penalties in other countries and they are make are own look like something Barney came up with.

Originally posted by WaNk
They're gonna do it wether its legal or not...if its not legal they're gonna get slapped with a fine that they're 'rents will pay and take care of it all...

Sounds like your parents are letting you down.My parents put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that I stayed on the right side of the law.I didn't appreciate it at the time,but like I said,I've sat on a jury and sent a 15 year old to jail for murder becaause her family didn't care where she was or what she was drinking.

Originally posted by Porsche
School's kicking my ass this year, so that's why I'm not around as much. :(

Ouch. On the good side - the school year is half over. Good luck on the rest :)

Originally posted by Oz
Having said that, as an 18yo in a current location where the age limit is 19yo (BC, Canada) I have had NO trouble getting a beer at any bar/bottle shop that I have gone to. I have been asked for ID once in more than a dozen visits, presented it (clearly said 18) and was still allowed in. :confused:

Oz

I think a lot of times that's just dumb bartenders/waiters getting a non-BC ID and wondering where to look on it, or what to do with it. I was at a restaurant in Ontario with a couple friends from NB when they were both still 18. This restaurant is notorious for not ID-ing people, so they both ordered beer. The waiter was just about to walk away with the order when he turned back and asked for ID. They both gave him their NB ID's, he looked at them a little confused (even though, on the back, it says in big letters "NOT 19 UNTIL: *19th birthday here*"), stood there confused for a couple seconds, handed back the ID's, and said "2 Canadians and a Coke it is" and brought them their beer.

Originally posted by Heep
18.

They're legal adults now, they should have legal adult rights.

It's 19 where I live, but only 18 in Quebec and Alberta.

I couldn't agree more, the problem here though is that most people drink for the sake of getting drunk. Other countries it is merely something to quench their thirst, thus why the drinking age in Germany is so low, literally.

Well, I can tell you in South Africa that the drinking age is 18, but you can't get served in most bars until you are the 'official' legal age of 21 anyways, and then in some, 23 even.
From what I have seen here in PA, having the legal drinking age at 21 puts some people who should now be young adults into a second teenage year cycle.....

Ray

Originally posted by Polygon


I couldn't agree more, the problem here though is that most people drink for the sake of getting drunk. Other countries it is merely something to quench their thirst, thus why the drinking age in Germany is so low, literally.

Exactly, Look at all the publicity drinking over here gets. "Girls Gone Wild" "Spring break party out of control" These days kids asscociate getting drunk with any social gathering they attend, I know I did:bloated:

Originally posted by YogsVR4


Ouch. On the good side - the school year is half over. Good luck on the rest :)

Bigger ouch next semester, I still have to write exams, and I'm taking Calculus again :( but after that it's smooth sailing to a hopefully good Univeristy.

I agree that some teenagers get drunk just for the sake of getting drunk. But then some will drink because they are depressed or something is wrong....some of us know about that. (I'm not mentioning any names....kate ) but then some drink at a social gathering. If you think about it what is for, its just to drink to have fun. Do it at a party. I think that there should be a limit, but I think that 18 is proper. The older teenagers get and as they go to college they're gonna do it, and all thats gonna happen is theyre gonna get a fine. Most of the time mommy and daddy dont find out what happens at school or spring break. There should be limits or there should be stricter better inforced laws.

Just my 10 cents.

I also hate school; Grade 12, it sucks. ANd my physics teacher lacks teh necessary teaching skills; the class went from 30 to 8, and the marks are modified to fit the bell curve. Madness....

But any way, I think the legal age should be 16; if I can drive a car and kill myself and many other people, i should be able to drink.

Originally posted by Chris
I also hate school; Grade 12, it sucks. ANd my physics teacher lacks teh necessary teaching skills; the class went from 30 to 8, and the marks are modified to fit the bell curve. Madness....

But any way, I think the legal age should be 16; if I can drive a car and kill myself and many other people, i should be able to drink.

I maintain 18 is a better age, even in light of your comment. I think allowing people to drink AND drive in the same year sends a VERY mixed message. Also at 16, there is much WIDER mixture of maturity accross the board than there is at 18. Plus, having 2 years driving experience before you can legally drink and drive (in the majority of countries you can have 2-3std drinks and still legally drive) has innumerable benefits.

The legal age in Italy is 16- same with France (I think- feel free to correct me Stephanel)

We also have very little drunken behaviour- why because- Itallians are bought up with alcahaol- but given it in extremely gradual dosese- uat 10 years old it is not uncomomon to drink watered down wine given to you by your parents. This really re-inforces my point of having it given to you responsibly

Oh yes, i agree; starting to drink in small amounts when you are young is a good idea; I have been given alcohol if i ask for it, so i dont have a great urge to go out and get plastered.

Of course, some ppl go too far, and will drink wayyy to much alcohol at once their first time, and they can die from alcohol poisioning.

Originally posted by Chris
Oh yes, i agree; starting to drink in small amounts when you are young is a good idea; I have been given alcohol if i ask for it, so i dont have a great urge to go out and get plastered.



Oh hell yeah- same thing with me- in the words of my mum- If you wants a beer you have a beer- but you tell me when you has a beer:D

as long as it is small amounts:thumbup:

here in germany the lmit for beer and wine is 16
for harder stuff 18
but nobod cars


cheers!

I think 21 is fine in America. it keeps a lot less drunks on the raod than if it was lowered. I mean kids do it already, but at least some think twice about driving afterwards and getting caught. The only problem I see is that some people when they are in college or the military they can't drink for another 3 years. That's the only ordeal I see which is minor. I can't even legally drink till I'm out of college.

here in germany when you´re caught by the police driving drunk with more than 0,4 or was it 0,5% you´ll losse your license for 6 month..
even if you drive a bicycle you´ll loose your drivers license...

I hears it's tough out there, is it true the police can shoot you in a car chase if you are just running from the police? let's say if your unarmmed?

in germany no...

That must be Russia then!