18 or 21 to drink?!!

[hippiechick60]

:confused: what age do you think is a fair age to start drinking! and is beening 21 old enough or too old?!!

[AllIWantIsYourClutch]

21.

[EmoJoe]

21

[Brad Russ]

21. I say the longer we wait to let people drink, the better. I know that people who really want to drink, are going to before age 21 regardless, but still, I think age 21 is just fine. No need to change it.

Of course, Iv'e lived with an alcoholic who I love and care about, who has fallen down on the kitchen floor above me about four times a week, and has had seizures because of alcohol abuse for the last 6 years, so I admit that my view is kind of biased.

[Karen*]

21

[Central Perk]

18

[crystals]

Well, the legal age is 19 here in Canada, but I think the age should be 21 in Canada. No need to change the law in the states, though. I think the legal drinking age at 21 is just fine. The law shouldn't be changed.

[Brad Russ]

Well, the legal age is 19 here in Canada, but I think the age should be 21 in Canada. No need to change the law in the states, though. I think the legal drinking age at 21 is just fine. The law shouldn't be changed.

Exactly!! What difference would changing it make, other than allowing more people to become boozers?? Changing it is pointless, and makes absolutely no sense. You gotta make a certain number the legal age to drink. What's wrong with 21??

[peter may]

18

[~LadyJess~]

21. It's been in place for awhile now and seems to be working just fine.

[tdf4077]

Well, I don't drink (much), so to me, it makes very little difference. I don't know that the law should be changed 'cause I think there's a huge maturing process that naturally occurs between 18-21. However, if you are old enough to die for your country and to vote for your leader at 18, and, teaching high school, I KNOW a lot of teens sneak around and do it anyways, I can see why some may favor a younger age. Either way, people need to be taught moderation and the like.

[Hollow]

21. the less legal drunken idiots threatening people's lives, the better.

[Kay Scarpetta]

21 seems fine.

All 21 means is that you can order alcohol in restaraunts and buy it in stores. Doesn't mean you can't go to ****-faced parties and get older people to buy it for you.

[Lex Luthor]

21

I like the way it is in the US (although may have disagreed when i hit 19 in Canada).

People are more mature and less likely to abuse it (drinking/driving) at 21.

[Stuck In The '70's]

18

[Lamont]

21

the 18-21 age bracket
statistically has the most alcohol related issues

[hippiechick60]

what??!! are you crazy thats like way,way too young to start drinking at 16 years old no! thats too young besides i think your too young to know what your really doing at 16 drinking wise that is! but no 16 is wayyyy too young

[Lamont]

i dont think any teens should drink

[Jenya]

what??!! are you crazy thats like way,way too young to start drinking at 16 years old no! thats too young besides i think your too young to know what your really doing at 16 drinking wise that is! but no 16 is wayyyy too young

16 is the drinking age in most of Europe.

[Lamont]

yes, but 16 year olds are generally more responsible with alcohol in europe than in the us

[Jenya]

yes, but 16 year olds are generally more responsible with alcohol in europe than in the us

Well maybe parents in the U.S. should try and fix that! ;)

Same goes for erotic movies. In Quebec, a 13-year old (in France it's 12 years old, btw) are allowed to watch erotica moves with full nudity and mild sexual intercourse.

Nobody makes a big issue about it, because young teens can usually tell the difference between sexual relationship issues and pornography. ;)

[Lamont]

yes i understand but morally speaking
i dont want my 16 year old drinking and i sure dont want my 13 year old watching full nudity and sexual intercourse

no matter HOW mature they might be

[Jenya]

I'll let my daughter watch erotic movies when she turns 13, because I believe she'll be mature enough to see the difference at that age.:)

[Lamont]

I'll let my daughter watch erotic movies when she turns 13, because I believe she'll be mature enough to see the difference at that age.:)

does anyone else besides me find something reallllllly wrong with that?? :(

[Jenya]

What's wrong with it?

[~LadyJess~]

Well maybe parents in the U.S. should try and fix that! ;)

Same goes for erotic movies. In Quebec, a 13-year old (in France it's 12 years old, btw) are allowed to watch erotica moves with full nudity and mild sexual intercourse.

Nobody makes a big issue about it, because young teens can usually tell the difference between sexual relationship issues and pornography. ;)

The cultures of the US and Europe are very different. The United States has a very prudish culture when it comes to things. Europe is much more open about issues such as drinking and sex. If you want to make the argument that the drinking age is 16 in Europe, you also have to consider the different culture and societal values.

[Lamont]

What's wrong with it?


lets see, you are going to let your 13 year old daughter watch "EROTIC FILMS" and u think its ok???? well in the USA its ILLEGAL for one thing to show erotic films to children and for good reason

[~LadyJess~]

lets see, you are going to let your 13 year old daughter watch "EROTIC FILMS" and u think its ok???? well in the USA its ILLEGAL for one thing to show erotic films to children and for good reason

She's not saying that she is going to allow her daughter to watch porn. Most foreign films have some form of nudity and/or sexual intercourse in them because it is considered a normal part of life and not something to be ashamed of in most cultures. In the United States, we grow up in a society that teaches us that sex is "bad" and needs to be kept behind closed doors when in reality, most of the world does not see it that way.

[Lamont]

there is also a big difference in "Films that have sexual scenes" and "Erotic Movies"!

[Jenya]

The cultures of the US and Europe are very different. The United States has a very prudish culture when it comes to things. Europe is much more open about issues such as drinking and sex. If you want to make the argument that the drinking age is 16 in Europe, you also have to consider the different culture and societal values.

I already see that between two Canadian provinces. Alberta- which is a traditional "Bible Belt" conservative province, and Quebec- which is a more Liberal province. It boils down to how one raises their own child. You try to restrict them from these things, they become more rebellious and curious, if you don't, they learn to become much more mature as young adults. ;)

[Lamont]

or there is a third option also that you have missed

"you raise your children with strong morals and they dont fall into the trap of rushed sexuality, alcohol and drug abuse!"

[Jenya]

there is also a big difference in "Films that have sexual scenes" and "Erotic Movies"!

Erotic movies do have sexual scenes. They contain two adults having intercourse and the film usually is about relationships in general.

Porn is different. Porn movies contains scenes that are directed to the viewer to sexually stimulate them. That's the difference. :)

[PZelda]

EDIT

[Jenya]

PZelda:

I brought that subject up because often times alcohol and sex do mix.;)

But you are correct. How many of us women play with dildos every day?

Porn is nothing more useful than for a cheap fantasy for a boring single guy. Fact! ;)

I'm just telling Lamont that YOU can raise you child properly, if you make them aware of the obvious dangers in life. It is also my responsibility to make my daughter understand that boys (and men) will stare at her breasts, and her ass often in the public. So, in my opinion, I want my daughter to know what she's in for by the time she turns 13. Know what I mean? ;)

[platinumblondelife]

Porn is nothing more useful than for a cheap fantasy for a boring single guy. Fact! ;)


Actually a good percent of porn is bought and watched by women before sex to highten their arousal.....that's what I've heard at least. Anyway, to answer to question, I believe it should be 18.

[Brad Russ]

For all the people who think the legal age of drinking should be 18, I have a question for you, why do you think that?? There has been one explanation as to why, and so I'm just trying to understand what the reasoning is behind thinking that?? What's wrong with the current law, and how would lowering the age benefit anyone?? I'm just curious.

[Lex Luthor]

For all the people who think the legal age of drinking should be 18, I have a question for you, why do you think that?? There has been one explanation as to why, and so I'm just trying to understand what the reasoning is behind thinking that?? What's wrong with the current law, and how would lowering the age benefit anyone?? I'm just curious.

If I was 17 or 18 I could give you a really good reason, it is easy for us who have passed the mark to say 21 but when I was 19 (Canada is 19) I would have been really choked if it got bumped up another 2 years.

Mind you it really never stopped us as kids I probaby drank more between 16-19 than I have in the 16 years since I was "legal"

[Brad Russ]

If I was 17 or 18 I could give you a really good reason, it is easy for us who have passed the mark to say 21 but when I was 19 (Canada is 19) I would have been really choked if it got bumped up another 2 years.

Mind you it really never stopped us as kids I probaby drank more between 16-19 than I have in the 16 years since I was "legal"

Yeah, that's a very good point. I don't know, I guess with me, since Iv'e had to deal with really bad alcoholism in my family, and since I think alcohol tastes absolutely sickening, I just have trouble understanding how anyone can like the stuff. Once they make an alcohol that doesn't have that nasty flavor, and tastes like chocolate or something, then maybe I'll be into it, but until then, I can say that it's just not my thing. Anyways, thanks for answering my question. You made some very good points!! :)

[platinumblondelife]

For all the people who think the legal age of drinking should be 18, I have a question for you, why do you think that?? There has been one explanation as to why, and so I'm just trying to understand what the reasoning is behind thinking that?? What's wrong with the current law, and how would lowering the age benefit anyone?? I'm just curious.
We're adults in every other way...we can go to war and fight, we can vote, we would be tried as an adult, and buy cigarettes even. So why shouldn't we be able to drink. It's not like people under 21 find it that hard to find alcohol anyway, I'm in college and I dont know anyone under 21 who has trouble finding alcohol anyway...we're all intelligent, functional people, and I don't believe the police should penalize us for drinking just because we're a few years younger...

[Brad Russ]

We're adults in every other way...we can go to war and fight, we can vote, we would be tried as an adult, and buy cigarettes even. So why shouldn't we be able to drink. It's not like people under 21 find it that hard to find alcohol anyway, I'm in college and I dont know anyone under 21 who has trouble finding alcohol anyway...we're all intelligent, functional people, and I don't believe the police should penalize us for drinking just because we're a few years younger...

I'll admit that the laws in America can be quite goofy at times with there inconsistancies, I just don't see that as a good enough reason to change the current law. The way I see it, if there are no indications that it will benefit society, then it's kind of pointless to change it. I mean, If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Anyway, I totally respect your point of view, I just don't agree with it.

[PZelda]

I just noticed my post got edited.

See... Point proved. And apparently I can't repeat what my original post said "because it's not suitable for a PG-13 site." HEY, THANKS!

[~LadyJess~]

I just noticed my post got edited.

See... Point proved. And apparently I can't repeat what my original post said "because it's not suitable for a PG-13 site." HEY, THANKS!

Allison, that just means you rock! :yourock:

[Bobby F.]

I just noticed my post got edited.

See... Point proved. And apparently I can't repeat what my original post said "because it's not suitable for a PG-13 site." HEY, THANKS!

I liked it!! It turned me on!!! Say...uh...you doin' anything Sat. night???:D

[KissMyGrits]

I think that 21 is definitely fine.

Jenya,

If you have a son are you going to teach him to respect women? When a girl says no she means no? Is it okay for a boy to treat a woman however he wants? Should he have the same level of responsibilty as a woman/girl does? I have a 9 year old son and am trying to teach him respect for everyone. Males have a different maturity level than females. Girls mature faster than boys.

I can definitely say that I wouldn't want my son to think that he can treat his girlfriend with any less respect than he would give me. I don't agree with letting 13 year old children watch erotic films, but that is a whole different subject.

[LuLu Rogers]

I think it should be 21. Even though I'm not quite 21 yet, I'm 19, I know that most 18-19 year olds are too immature to drink. Though some 20-22 year olds are as well.

[hippiechick60]

i find that very wrong yeah i wouldn't want my kid watching whose kind of movies i mean she can do whatever she wants when shes no longer living with me and a grown up woman but i'm not going to let her watch stuff life that i mean God thats just plain sick and very unparent like!

[Lamont]

i find it realllllll weird too

[hippiechick60]

well i'm very glad this turned out to be such a big debate i'm glad i think this is the most talked about i've ever had on all my posted but i would just like to say a few words here!...now i know that when your 18 that makes you a grown up and i agree with what some of you have to say about drinking...but i do think that when your 21 then you can drink cause when your 18 your too young your not muture enough! you may think you are but your not...now i grow up in a well some good some not so good family (mostly on my moms side!) but i have very good parents now they never told me the birds and the bee story or not to take drugs or anything like that they didn't need to cause i know already from whats right and whats wrong and i don't drink or do drugs...all i'm saying is that i think the law on how old you have to be to start drinking couldn't be more better if i thought of it my self!...but it has me worried that some of you may be fighting about all of this and not actually talking about it! so lets not try and prove whos wrong and whos right ok! its a simple and fun debate! thats why i put it on here!

thank you!

[PZelda]

I liked it!! It turned me on!!! Say...uh...you doin' anything Sat. night???:D
No. I'm not interested. Go find someone your age. ;)

[Jenya]

I think that 21 is definitely fine.

Jenya,

If you have a son are you going to teach him to respect women? When a girl says no she means no? Is it okay for a boy to treat a woman however he wants? Should he have the same level of responsibilty as a woman/girl does? I have a 9 year old son and am trying to teach him respect for everyone. Males have a different maturity level than females. Girls mature faster than boys.

I can definitely say that I wouldn't want my son to think that he can treat his girlfriend with any less respect than he would give me. I don't agree with letting 13 year old children watch erotic films, but that is a whole different subject.

Yes, and samething applies the other way around. Some women don't work and depend and spend money from their boyfriends/husbands. Is that respect too?

Secondly, what makes you think all girls say no?

What if he meets a Russian exchange student one day in school, and she'll do ANYTHING for him to stay in the country? It happend a lot when I was in the International Student Program in McGill University in Montreal from exchange students. Using their boyfriends to try to stay in Canada. I took the work visa route, so my visas were good for 3 years, and I could always renew them.

As for my daughter watching erotica films at 12 or 13, that is also the age when her hormones kick in. And whether I like it or not, she will be playing with herself at times at that age discovering how to pleasure herself sexually. I can't tie her hands behind her back for that. I was doing the same thing at that age.

So to me letting her at that age to watch those movies will allow her to see how adults can enjoy a healthy relationship both with love and commitments, and sexually.

Boy, If this keeps up, TJ will soon have to open a private forum for us to discuss adult topics and raising children. :lol:

[hippiechick60]

ok guys i know freedom of speech and everything but this is not a sex thing ok its a drinking thing so lets just all stick to the topic at hand ok!

[Bobby F.]

No. I'm not interested. Go find someone your age. ;)

Damn! Ah well....it was worth a shot.:D

[Jenya]

ok guys i know freedom of speech and everything but this is not a sex thing ok its a drinking thing so lets just all stick to the topic at hand ok!

When you drink, do you think about sex?:p

[KissMyGrits]

Yes, and samething applies the other way around. Some women don't work and depend and spend money from their boyfriends/husbands. Is that respect too?

Secondly, what makes you think all girls say no?

What if he meets a Russian exchange student one day in school, and she'll do ANYTHING for him to stay in the country? It happend a lot when I was in the International Student Program in McGill University in Montreal from exchange students. Using their boyfriends to try to stay in Canada. I took the work visa route, so my visas were good for 3 years, and I could always renew them.

As for my daughter watching erotica films at 12 or 13, that is also the age when her hormones kick in. And whether I like it or not, she will be playing with herself at times at that age discovering how to pleasure herself sexually. I can't tie her hands behind her back for that. I was doing the same thing at that age.

So to me letting her at that age to watch those movies will allow her to see how adults can enjoy a healthy relationship both with love and commitments, and sexually.

Boy, If this keeps up, TJ will soon have to open a private forum for us to discuss adult topics and raising children. :lol:
Oh boy! There is so much you don't know about raising children!!

My husband has a wonderful job. I work because I like being able to have extra money. I didn't work for the first 18 months of my sons life. My choice, because I wanted to be with my son during his first months of life. Not because I was "living" off of my husband and didn't want to work. Far from it. I have a college degree and a wonderful career that I love. We are moving to Alabama and are going to be able to pay off the new house we buy. My husband "wants" me to take some time off of work. I still haven't decided whether I will or not. It would be nice, but personally I love having the money for a nice trip whenever I want to take it.

As a Christian I am teaching him to have respect for his body and to respect women. First and foremost he is not to hit or touch a girl. It is called keeping my own personal space. If a girl says no, then she means no. Not maybe, not possibly but no! No means no!

I hope that I instill my values in him to obey the laws of our country and tell any Russian exchange student who wants to use him for a greencard, to take a flying leap. That is what my exbrother-in-law did to my sister.

[Jenya]

Oh boy! There is so much you don't know about raising children!!

My husband has a wonderful job. I work because I like being able to have extra money. I didn't work for the first 18 months of my sons life. My choice, because I wanted to be with my son during his first months of life. Not because I was "living" off of my husband and didn't want to work. Far from it. I have a college degree and a wonderful career that I love. We are moving to Alabama and are going to be able to pay off the new house we buy. My husband "wants" me to take some time off of work. I still haven't decided whether I will or not. It would be nice, but personally I love having the money for a nice trip whenever I want to take it.

As a Christian I am teaching him to have respect for his body and to respect women. First and foremost he is not to hit or touch a girl. It is called keeping my own personal space. If a girl says no, then she means no. Not maybe, not possibly but no! No means no!

I hope that I instill my values in him to obey the laws of our country and tell any Russian exchange student who wants to use him for a greencard, to take a flying leap. That is what my exbrother-in-law did to my sister.


AlabamaBound:

I will raise my child the exact same way my parents raised me (and 7 other sisters). It worked great for my family, I think it will work the same for raising my children.

My parents never made anything a big issue, they supported my decisions all the way. That's why I decided to move to Canada on my own to pursue my own success.

It worked. I was granted a work visa in Quebec, went to school and worked on my own, and I got married in Montreal. I had a daughter, and like you, I just moved out here to Alberta to get even a higher paying job. So both my husband and I are both working. He works for the police force here, I am a Production coordinator at Technicolor Laboratories.

My point is many women (and I've seen it myself when I lived in Montreal) don't bother to work, and depend entirely on their husband/boyfriend's income to support them.

Out here, I've even actually seen the reverse. My cousins (3 of them), for example, from Russia just got work visas and a skilled trade job at Shell Oil in Red Deer, Alberta.

One of my cousins is a drilling engineer. She is making approximately $90,000 a year, and is paying her condominium mortgage herself. Her so-called "boyfriend" moved in with her 4 months ago, and works part-time at a HMV in a local shopping centre selling CD's and DVD's. Guess who keeps borrowing money from who? That's right. Her "boyfriend"!

So I have seen both sides of the coin, and i'm not too impressed with what I see in most relationships today.

I guess with you and me, and both of us having good incomes, and our husbands with good incomes, things are different?

I don't really know myself.

[KissMyGrits]

AlabamaBound:

My point is many women (and I've seen it myself when I lived in Montreal) don't bother to work, and depend entirely on their husband/boyfriend's income to support them.


I could never do that. What happens if something happens to your husband and you have no career to fall back on? Sad really.

Was talking to my husband tonight and he smiled and said "Cutural differences. It is something hard for us to accept." I guess if I was raised in another country or Europe I might feel differently.....

The thing is, we all do what we can to raise our children the best way we can. Keeping them away from drugs and pedophiles. Regardless of the differences in cultures, we can all agree on one thing:Keeping our kids safe is the #1 priority in our lives....

[Jenya]

I could never do that. What happens if something happens to your husband and you have no career to fall back on? Sad really.

Was talking to my husband tonight and he smiled and said "Cutural differences. It is something hard for us to accept." I guess if I was raised in another country or Europe I might feel differently.....

The thing is, we all do what we can to raise our children the best way we can. Keeping them away from drugs and pedophiles. Regardless of the differences in cultures, we can all agree on one thing:Keeping our kids safe is the #1 priority in our lives....


That is always an issue, AlabamaBound.

But we all learn for ourselves. It is important to keep your son safe, but be aware that he gets curious. He might be a person one day who wants to live in a different country with different cultures- like me. But he'll need to adapt to their society. That's what culture shock is all about. Me as an immigrant to Canada, I was surprised about their way of living. :)

But I always kept my guard, and still learned to adapt. That's what you can do for him. Make him aware of the differences in life and cultures, but give him the freedom to explore. He has a conscience, and much of it comes from your teachings to him from right and wrong over the years.

He'll appreciate it himself, and he will pass on the same tradition he learned from you to his own children over the years eventually. :)

[Jenya]

I could never do that. What happens if something happens to your husband and you have no career to fall back on? Sad really.


Alberta's economy is a little different than Quebec, AlabamaBound. ;)

Employeers here will train you in anything. Technicolor is more worried from someone quitting at a $20.00/hour job.

We offer a pension, medical benefits, vacation pay, overtime (time and a half and doubletime on weekends) etc. Yet, 85 people just quit my company alone in September. It seems that what we offer is not enough for most Canadians.

It's so bad up here, AlabamaBound, that the Canadian government will now grant a work visa to my sister in Russia just to work at Best Buy if she wants the job. Most Canadians don't want that job (they can quit and go elsewhere for the same wage), and Best Buy will pay her $18.00/hour and give her the same benefits package that my company would offer her, if she's willing to stay employed with them for at least 3 months.

The Quebec government offers alot of socialized government programs. A single person (a single mother especially) can qualify for alot of public services offered in the province, and live pretty well on them.

[Jenya]

well i'm very glad this turned out to be such a big debate i'm glad i think this is the most talked about i've ever had on all my posted but i would just like to say a few words here!...now i know that when your 18 that makes you a grown up and i agree with what some of you have to say about drinking...but i do think that when your 21 then you can drink cause when your 18 your too young your not muture enough! you may think you are but your not...now i grow up in a well some good some not so good family (mostly on my moms side!) but i have very good parents now they never told me the birds and the bee story or not to take drugs or anything like that they didn't need to cause i know already from whats right and whats wrong and i don't drink or do drugs...all i'm saying is that i think the law on how old you have to be to start drinking couldn't be more better if i thought of it my self!...but it has me worried that some of you may be fighting about all of this and not actually talking about it! so lets not try and prove whos wrong and whos right ok! its a simple and fun debate! thats why i put it on here!

thank you!


hippiechick60:

Life and everything changes. ;)

Think about what can be done with the Internet these days, and think about what can happen with it 10 years from now.

We can see and listen, and talk to someone by just using a webcam today. Can we touch, smell and feel them through the same computer TV screen 10 years from now?

Call me crazy, hippiechick60. But I think it's quite possible. :)

AlabamaBound's Son could technically chat with one of my Russian girlfriends today, for example. She would be living in Russia, he is living in the United States, and both of them can actually fall in love with each other just by communicating to each other with a simple computer.

How crazy is that? ;)

It is so crazy, that the Immigration department in Canada, can't really determine a real realationship if they got married. The Internet is all they need to know how to communicate.:)

[DarkLordDotan]

Eighteen.

If you're old enough to die for this country, you're old enough to enjoy all the rights and privileges it provides.


In fact for this reason I am almost tempted to say seventeen. Only the fact that no American soldier under eighteen has died in combat in the last twenty-five years lets me set the limit at eighteen.

[Courtnee]

Eighteen.

If you're old enough to die for this country, you're old enough to enjoy all the rights and privileges it provides.
yes. :clap:

[hippiechick60]

hippiechick60:

Life and everything changes. ;)

Think about what can be done with the Internet these days, and think about what can happen with it 10 years from now.

We can see and listen, and talk to someone by just using a webcam today. Can we touch, smell and feel them through the same computer TV screen 10 years from now?

Call me crazy, hippiechick60. But I think it's quite possible. :)

AlabamaBound's Son could technically chat with one of my Russian girlfriends today, for example. She would be living in Russia, he is living in the United States, and both of them can actually fall in love with each other just by communicating to each other with a simple computer.

How crazy is that? ;)

It is so crazy, that the Immigration department in Canada, can't really determine a real realationship if they got married. The Internet is all they need to know how to communicate.:)


....ok forgive me for takeing so long to reply but i never read this post cause i thought it was all over with! but i don't know for the life of me what your saying has anything to do with being to old or not old enough to drink!???

[AB]

21, should be the legal age to drink. Even that seems kind of young to me. I really worry for the welfare of our young adults, because so many of that age group ends up getting badly hurt or killed when the combine alchol with driving. Within the last month our city has lost 4 young men, all under the age of 19 to this very thing. It is so very sad. Sometimes I wish there was no
such thing as alchol.

[Janice Johnson]

In France, young children are allowed to drink alcohol as long as it's mixed with water....................

[Yooch]

The question of legal age and drinking is irrelevant to me. Having it be 21 just delays the alcohol abuse for another three years. If an age must be chosen, then I'd go for 21--if it will save a few more lives from drunk driving, or dying from excessive drinking, as has tragically occurred in various college/frat situations.

The deeper question for me is that most Americans do not know how to drink properly and in moderation. They wait for this magic age of 18, 21 or whatever, when they can 'drink'--then overdo it. They're told it's taboo until then, but then "When you're 18, you can go to a bar!!" Proper drinking is not taught. I don't think alcoholism is a major problem in the southern Mediterranean region, where wine is a part of life, and served in a meal context.

Now I am not a teetotaler, and I have made some mistakes with alcohol in my life, thank goodness no major ones. I do drink socially and in moderation. I enjoy it, but know my limits--and use a designated driver if I feel the slightest bit impaired.

Sorry for this lengthy answer, but I felt compelled to give my reasons why I think our cultural approach to alcohol is infinitely more important than what particular age we are allowed to drink. I think we have missed the point entirely as a culture, and we need to change our attitudes in this area. We also need to respect those who, for whatever reason, choose to abstain from alcohol altogether.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

The question of legal age and drinking is irrelevant to me. Having it be 21 just delays the alcohol abuse for another three years. If an age must be chosen, then I'd go for 21--if it will save a few more lives from drunk driving, or dying from excessive drinking, as has tragically occurred in various college/frat situations.

The deeper question for me is that most Americans do not know how to drink properly and in moderation. They wait for this magic age of 18, 21 or whatever, when they can 'drink'--then overdo it. They're told it's taboo until then, but then "When you're 18, you can go to a bar!!" Proper drinking is not taught. I don't think alcoholism is a major problem in the southern Mediterranean region, where wine is a part of life, and served in a meal context.

Now I am not a teetotaler, and I have made some mistakes with alcohol in my life, thank goodness no major ones. I do drink socially and in moderation. I enjoy it, but know my limits--and use a designated driver if I feel the slightest bit impaired.

Sorry for this lengthy answer, but I felt compelled to give my reasons why I think our cultural approach to alcohol is infinitely more important than what particular age we are allowed to drink. I think we have missed the point entirely as a culture, and we need to change our attitudes in this area. We also need to respect those who, for whatever reason, choose to abstain from alcohol altogether.Hmm, I definately agree with a lot of that.

I think the age should be 21. People mention that kids at 18 have all of the other rights like going to war...but personally I think 18 is too young for THAT too. Really, what people need to understand is that you have to go into it knowing how dangerous it is and how to be careful. 18 year olds, and I know from experience because I see about 400 of them in the halls everyday at school, don't get it. They think alchohol, they think going out and getting smashed and having the times of their lives and nothing bad's going to happen to them. So, if the legal age IS 18, that makes it even worse because there's no boundries and nothing for them to hide from. Lots of 21 year olds are like that too, but at least it's better than 18.

[catlover79]

21 -- no question. But once you think about it, it DOES seem silly that you're allowed to vote and join the military before you can buy alcohol. :confused: