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Should the drinking age be lowered?

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Skier1478
Posts: 188 - Karma: 68
Well, here we go at my 5th attempt at making a better than complete shit thread.
Inb4 Super shitty thread

Anyway,
I'm currently doing a research paper on this and wanted to know what the opinions of NSG are. Should  the US drinking age (21) be lowered to 18 (or lower, whatever your opinion is.) ?

Discuss.

Hopefully this won't turn into a Spiderman thread like last time.
Nov 12 2012 3:05PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,500
I'm actually doing a persuasive speech on this for school because I'm turning 21 on Saturday I feel like I get a little bit more credit than being a high school kid chanting I want to drink alcohol
Nov 12 2012 4:02PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
yes, you can vote and kill your lungs at 18 why not be able to kill your liver legally too?

Nov 12 2012 4:03PM
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leninlover
Posts: 560 - Karma: 148
hurp durp durp hurp most countries with fewer drinking problems have minimum drinking age a lot lower than 21. Also, it only hurts your development if you consume in massive amounts. #create #laws #that #promote #safe #drinking. Instead of stupid Mothers Against Drunk Driving bullshit that forces it underground and makes it more life threatening for the underage drinkers of America.

THINK ABOUT IT: Would you rather have kids at house parties where no one can or will tell them to stop drinking or driving home? Or would you rather have them at public drinking establishments where their keys will be taken and their drinks will be limited? No doubt house parties will continue but at least people will make smarter decisions.

Nov 12 2012 4:04PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,500
Because the drinking age was raised for specific reason it's to try to help people Not drink and drive and it failed miserably this argument doesn't work because going to war and drinking alcohol are not the same thing.
Nov 12 2012 4:04PM
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PeteSpin
Posts: 316 - Karma: 18
If the drinking age for beer and wine was lowered to eighteen or nineteen, that would be rad.

That way, it could be harder for punk kids to get belligerent and people might learn how to control themselves while intoxicated. Easing the general public into drinking is the idea.
Nov 12 2012 4:07PM
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leninlover
Posts: 560 - Karma: 148
handling post traumatic stress disorder might be easier with a beer though right? How is an 18 year old brain supposed to be able to handle killing someone for the rest of its life and at the same time not expected to be able to handle a drink? You have a terrible stance.
Nov 12 2012 4:07PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
for some reason it works in just about every country that has it at 18 or 19...

the us has a substance abuse problem that is so deep rooted i dont think it would make a huge difference in the short run. but over time i feel lowering it would be hugely beneficial...
Nov 12 2012 4:08PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
21 is considered pretty damn crazy in the vast majority of the world's countries, but the us is also considered pretty damn crazy in the vast majority of the world's countries, so maybe it's there for a reason.
Nov 12 2012 4:10PM
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accualyisdolan
Posts: 3295 - Karma: -192
In most of Europe it's 16 as it is for legal girls
Nov 12 2012 4:12PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,500
That had nothing to do with my argument so what you're saying is soldiers come home and drink beer because they're stressed out. As I stated before I'm going to turn 21 very soon and i agree it should be lowered I'm just saying if you're debating someone saying.if you can go to war and you can drink a beer argument it pretty stupid and The idea behind it is if less people have access to alcohol less people will drive it has nothing to do with your brain it has to do with getting less people drunk so they don't drive also no one's going to take you seriously in an argument there are much better reasons to lower the drinking age.
Nov 12 2012 4:14PM
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Round-Four
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 174
absolutely should be 18. no way you can be a soldier but cant sit at the bar.
Nov 12 2012 4:22PM
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leninlover
Posts: 560 - Karma: 148
You should think a little harder next time. One of the most common arguments against lowering the drinking age involves the thought that it is harmful to drink before age 21 because the human brain hasn't developed until then.

The fact that people can go to war at 18 DOES make this argument stupid though. That is because war is also bad for your brain. Did you know that every single Marine war vet that returns is diagnosed with PTSD?? Is that not bad for your brain? Can an underdeveloped brain handle that? Probably not. So if the argument is not to do bad things to your brain before you're developed, than they should stop sending people to war before they are 21. Either that or you abolish that argument and drop the drinking age.
Nov 12 2012 4:22PM
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Potatoes
Posts: 1131 - Karma: 14
no.

more often than not, the only people who want the drinking age lowered are those under the legal age. american kids today are absolutely bat shit crazy and would end up injuring/killing themselves and (worse) others. definitely not worth lowering the limit just to make some shitheads happy about the ability to drink in public.
Nov 12 2012 4:23PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Show me a scientific research study that states 100% of Marines develop PTSD. You have 5 minutes.
Nov 12 2012 4:30PM
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act.resist
Posts: 8875 - Karma: 513
So you're saying you condone alcoholism to handle stress? Now that's just stupid.
Nov 12 2012 4:36PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
insightful
Nov 12 2012 4:36PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51263 - Karma: 157,454
Also I think you have the right to do what ever you want to your own body when you're an adult. So 18 makes sense.


i chuckle at some of the arguments though. I'm sure this thread will produce the millionth time I've heard somebody say "But liek I ken fight for my country but I drink berr and thats wrong"
Nov 12 2012 4:46PM
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pmw
Posts: 5760 - Karma: 829
out of curiosity are you liberal?
Nov 12 2012 4:48PM
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NotGhood
Posts: 2809 - Karma: 1,255
i've never understood why its 21 in the states
Nov 12 2012 4:48PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51263 - Karma: 157,454
Depends. In the sense of the two parties I'm a registered republican.


I consider myself a libertarian.


I'm all for change in terms of progress, civil rights, but I don't like the government in my business.
Nov 12 2012 5:33PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
You're still missing the point. In this day an age, people go into war willingly. The drinking age is in place to protect people on the road who shouldn't have to be dealing with 18 year olds who don't have the good judgment not to drive drunk. Driving should be made as safe as possible, whereas war is almost guaranteed to have some sort of negative impact.

The drinking age isn't to prevent people from hurting themselves. It's to protect them from hurting others who aren't involved.


Anyway, it would be an absolute shit show if the US ever lowered the drinking age, so it's not really even worth discussing.
Nov 12 2012 5:47PM
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Pancake_Fucker
Posts: 1833 - Karma: 1,880
Saskatchewan might be lowering it from 19 to 18 soon.
Nov 12 2012 5:55PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
Through observing the fucktards that used to drive to school at my high school, I propose we raise the driving age and lower the drinking age both to 18.
Nov 12 2012 5:59PM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
completely agree. i keep my drinks between 5 and 8 at the most.. last night i went to the bar, had 3 pints, and it was a great night. enough alcohol to get a lil buzz and good conversation going. not slurring my words and looking like a retard.
Nov 12 2012 6:08PM
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MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
tard.
Nov 12 2012 6:09PM
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MASkier
Posts: 657 - Karma: 704
It works pretty well in europe but would not work in the US.
Nov 12 2012 6:37PM
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Dr.Gonzo
Posts: 2552 - Karma: 87
18 or 19 seem good. It all has to do with the attitude of the nation, the drinking age in places like belgium can be lower because there is no such thing as binge drinking like there is here. Anyways i think Quebec has it perfect, but no-where should change the laws, they've been in place for too long

I'll also leave this here, somewhat relevant.

Nov 12 2012 6:40PM
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Big_C
Posts: 243 - Karma: -9
i agree, many die in war for us and it isnt legal for them to drink?
Nov 12 2012 6:45PM
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JeremyClarkson
Posts: 1599 - Karma: 1,934
18 should be the universal drinking age. You can take a shot for your country but you cant take a shot for yourself? Honestly I lived in England for 6 years and the drinking age being 18 has had zero impact on the overall social climate. Sure you get alot of drunks roaming around at night but the attitude about achohol in europe is so much different than the attitude in america. Here its like "get as fucked up as possible as quick as possible". I think that attitude has had a big impact on the drinking age being 21 here. Can you tell im drunk right now?
Nov 12 2012 6:46PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51263 - Karma: 157,454
I don't think you can really kill it based off what would happen if the law suddenly changed tomorrow.

There have been a lot of changes in this country that weren't easy and weren't overnight.

A lot of people turn 21 and drink a bunch for a while and then mellow out. I feel like that could happen with the drinking age changing to 18. Clearly a ton of dumb kids would go and get hammered. I think it might lose some of it's allure after a little while though.

Maybe not. Idk. I just don't understand how you can be considered an adult, yet not be allowed to take responsibilities for your actions.

To me, when you turn 18(If that's when we want to continue to define the age of adulthood) you should be allowed to drink, smoke cigs, touch yourself while watching goat porn, do drugs, take off your seat belt and anything else that doesn't interfere with the lives of those around you.


I really don't see the logic in the setup we have these days. I mean it makes sense to most, because that's what we're used to.


I mean the seat belt law really?


It should also be illegal to

-leave the oven on
-smoke in bed if you're tired
-eat junk food if you're fat
-go in the water if you aren't a good swimmer
-wear high heels
- climb trees
- ski/snowboard without a helmet


And a bunch of other things. Where should we draw the line? Why can't people stop being such fucking pussies and take responsibility to their lives.


/ still stuck on that rant.
/rant
Nov 12 2012 6:52PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
Face it, you've clearly never partied with a bunch of European teenagers. They go fucking hard.
Nov 12 2012 6:55PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
I've always wondered why - with all of the other messed up laws in this country - we don't bring people up on charges when they attempt to commit suicide.
Nov 12 2012 7:00PM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
i can't imagine the drinking age being 21 here in Australia, i started drinking when i was 16 or 17, which late anyway, most kids on my school were drinking at 14 ( not a degenerate area either, private school in sydney pretty much on the beach) while we did like to get munted alot when we were younger (18-19 for me) drinking is mostly social now and im only 21, i rarely get smashed

Its funny watching american movies where kids are in the 18-22 range and drinking is like the most badass thing ever because its been illegal until they were fucking 21 so they drink like its a contest, which IMO kinda makes the purpose of the law invalid...
Nov 12 2012 7:00PM
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leninlover
Posts: 560 - Karma: 148
Im sorry, are you not literate? I said A beer.. which by every definition ever, is not alcoholism. And no I also didn't say I condoned it.. I also didn't say it was the best way to handle PTSD. And honestly, if one single beer actually does help someone rid themselves of the psychological problem that is PTSD, you would be insane not to legalize it. Give them whatever they can to help themselves.
Nov 12 2012 7:07PM
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aquinn
Posts: 824 - Karma: 217
I was ready to drink responsibly at about 20. at 18? No fucking way.

21's fine
Nov 12 2012 7:07PM
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skiRay
Posts: 7558 - Karma: 926
probably not, but the driving age should be raised in most states
Nov 12 2012 7:08PM
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beezey
Posts: 9027 - Karma: 428
Fuck no, American kids are not very responsible and when they hit 18 they already have new privileges, make them wait till they are 21 to get some of the stupid out of their blood
Nov 12 2012 7:10PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,500
If this was a debate you would've lost along time ago.
Nov 12 2012 7:17PM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
I think it would have the opposite effect, if I wasn't allowed to drink until i was 21 i would have gone on a fucking massive binge, not that I didn't when I was 18 but fuck it would have been so much worse.

Also IMO the drinking age isn't about being responsible, fuck that, if i'm suddenly allowed to drink i'm going to drink a shit load, its more about the human body being able to take the abuse, i was a skinny ass 18 year old and I drank ridiculous amounts and i was fine, if you have finished school and your allowed to drive, work full time, pay taxes, fight in the war and being an adult in every other respect, why the fuck should you not be allowed to have a beer?
Nov 12 2012 7:20PM
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beezey
Posts: 9027 - Karma: 428
I don't think kids fresh out of highschool are smart enough to access their actions very well until they are more socially devolved and can stay in control of themselves.
Nov 12 2012 7:22PM
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.frenchy
Posts: 18212 - Karma: 12,257
Your username+this post made me lose it.

You're wrong BTW. Say that to the marines face see what happens?
Nov 12 2012 7:24PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,270
no. people are getting increasingly less mature
Nov 12 2012 7:27PM
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plaplapla
Posts: 435 - Karma: 70
i don't understand why its not 19... it keeps it out of the high schools and stuff like that
Nov 12 2012 7:30PM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
No not at all, that's the beauty of it, the learning process, holy shit when i think of the dumb crap i did when i turned 18 (again i'm only 21) so much retarded shit, so much fun, so many stories, it was a really fun time.

Yeah sure kids get hurt but you can't tell me adults over 21 don't do the same, watch COPS, every drunk mofo on that show is like 25+. People are always going to do retarded shit when they are drunk, its fucking alcohol, that's how it work.

I think the 8 months between when i finished high school and went and did my first snow season were possibly the 8 best months of my life, just getting trashed with all my friends like 4 days a week
Nov 12 2012 7:35PM
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Ribss.
Posts: 3442 - Karma: 3,344
definitely not, it should stay 21
Nov 12 2012 7:42PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
i thought i posted in here earlier, but must not have hit reply..

i think that changing the drinking age is a double edged sword. without a change in the culture surrounding alcohol, i don't think you can safely lower the drinking age. however, you'll never be able to change that culture without lowering the drinking age.

unfortunately, in the short term, lowering the age would be an absolute disaster. there would be a sudden influx of "kids" binge drinking and there would be a lot of negative repercussions. (and regardless of how you are legally defined, at age 18 you are still a kid. you really don't become an "adult"" until probably closer to 25.) however, i think over the course of 10 or 20 years, we would hopefully start to adapt an attitude closer to that that you see in Europe with a much more responsible attitude towards alcohol.
Nov 12 2012 7:49PM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,500
He'll probably correct you saying that's a false Statistic.
Nov 12 2012 7:53PM
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Bodhisattva_
Posts: 5749 - Karma: 2,009
I drink to get drunk
Nov 12 2012 7:53PM
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Pancake_Fucker
Posts: 1833 - Karma: 1,880
So they can pick up a case of beer on the way home from their driving test. Brilliant idea. And we'll have more people drinking with less experience behind the wheel anyways.
Nov 12 2012 7:53PM
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Crispy.
Posts: 6102 - Karma: 7,626
Nope
Nov 12 2012 7:56PM
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