Repealing the Drinking Age?

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RotatingColumn

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Oct 21, 2008
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Unfortunately this (total repeal of a drinking age) will probably never happen because no one wants to have their name and political career tied to the mess that will happen during the adjustment of our society to this. The drinking age has led to ridiculous "coming of age" madness surrounding drinking. Instead of people growing up around alcohol and drinking in moderation we have a society that keeps it from everyone until right about the time they are leaving home and exerting their independence; what a horrible combination. Instead of drinking being no big deal it is tied in our society to exerting independence and coming of age. There will be a horrible adjustment for our society to finally get into a healthy relationship with alcohol.

I think the breweries could back (buy) the right people to get this through.

If you leave it up to state you would surely have Colorado, Missouri, and Wisconsin changing the age to 16-18.
 

jbhtexas

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Oct 20, 2006
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This one seems easy enough to enforce with breathalyzers now. You show up with alcohol in your system and youre getting a suspension.

And then there would be fights and court battles over why someone should be suspended from a public school for doing something that is specifically made legal by a law.
 

cowgirl836

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Sep 3, 2009
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Its the only reason it went to 21 in the first place, and this type of law shouldnt be allowed. Hell, its one of the better examples of the negatives of the 17th amendment- there is no way senators elected by state legislators would have allowed that type of control over state governments.

At very least we need to remove that form of federal blackmail, and then let states decide for themselves. Some would likely still be 21, but at least states could decide for themselves.

For a local angle, its no coincidence that problems at veishea first occurred after the 21 law came into effect. With half the student body underage (and the drinking not stopping, despite the law) this just moved half the student body from controlled functions on campus or in relatively controlled campus area bars to house parties. House parties, as fun as we all know they could be, are also where most of the trouble is. Thats where the parties get to a size unmanageable for the host. Thats where you see some kid getting alcohol poisoning because there wasnt a bartender with the requirement to say 'you're done' (or a per-drink price at least slowing down the consumption). That's most often where you see someone walking home unsafely from and ending up in the lake or such.

And yes, i think as a society we might benefit from it being more accepted to have some drinks even earlier than 18. It makes no sense that we expect young kids to learn alcohol responsibility from their equally inexperienced friends. Kids should be learning alcohol responsibility at home, with moderate amounts of beer\wine (like with dinner) so they are well aware of their limits before they are thrown out into the world.

Absolutely agree on the bolded.

I'm pretty sure this is how a lot of European countries are. Now, no one should be giving alcohol to little kids, but giving your 14 year old a taste of your wine or sharing a beer with your teenager at a sporting event goes a long way toward taking away the forbidden aspect of alcohol.
 

QCCyclone

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Feb 10, 2013
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Unfortunately this (total repeal of a drinking age) will probably never happen because no one wants to have their name and political career tied to the mess that will happen during the adjustment of our society to this. The drinking age has led to ridiculous "coming of age" madness surrounding drinking. Instead of people growing up around alcohol and drinking in moderation we have a society that keeps it from everyone until right about the time they are leaving home and exerting their independence; what a horrible combination. Instead of drinking being no big deal it is tied in our society to exerting independence and coming of age. There will be a horrible adjustment for our society to finally get into a healthy relationship with alcohol.

Excellent points throughout this statement. If the legal drinking age is lowered, there will inevitably be immediate negative consequences that no politician wants to be linked to. The very first time some 19 year old kid dies at a bar from over consumption, the media would have a frenzy. I could see the age being lowered at some point, maybe a few states to start with, but it's going to take some serious cajones by more than one politician.
 

jbhtexas

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Oct 20, 2006
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It is estimated that 25-40% of the people taking up non-maternity hospital beds are being treated for complications of alcoholism. This would seem to indicate that the US has an alcoholism problem. And of course, a large percentage of the cost is borne by the taxpayers. I don't know what the answer is, but we need to find one soon.

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0813-excessive-alcohol-use.html
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p1017_alcohol_consumption.html
http://www.alcoholpolicymd.com/alcohol_and_health/costs.htm
 
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ISUCyclones2015

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25-40% of the people taking up hospital beds are being treated for complications of alcoholism. That would seem to indicate that the US has an alcoholism problem. And of course, a large percentage of the the cost is borne by the taxpayers. I don't know what the answer is, but we need to fine one soon.

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0813-excessive-alcohol-use.html
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p1017_alcohol_consumption.html
http://www.alcoholpolicymd.com/alcohol_and_health/costs.htm

The major problem is that the U.S. is geared towards "LET'S GET DRUNK AS ****" whereas other countries just drink to be social not treat it as a who can get the most drunk contest.
 

mdclone

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Nov 9, 2006
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It is estimated that 25-40% of the people taking up non-maternity hospital beds are being treated for complications of alcoholism. This would seem to indicate that the US has an alcoholism problem. And of course, a large percentage of the cost is borne by the taxpayers. I don't know what the answer is, but we need to find one soon.

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0813-excessive-alcohol-use.html
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p1017_alcohol_consumption.html
http://www.alcoholpolicymd.com/alcohol_and_health/costs.htm

That number really jumped out at me, so I looked into it and big surprise it's complete BS. I read the underlying study and I can't see where it says anything even close to that. First the study is only about Medicaid and Medicare costs and it combines alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Then they take average length of stays for heavy smoker, drinkers, drug users versus non users and that's where the 25% increase number comes from.
 

WooBadger18

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Sep 5, 2012
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I agree lowering the age would probably be a good idea. Something they do in Germany which I think is a good idea is they actually have two different drinking ages. You can have wine, beer, champagne at 16 and hard liquors at 18. I don't know if you lower the ages that much, but I like that idea.
 

Angie

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Getting shot in the dome in Iraq hurts brain development too.

I would think consistency should definitely be the case here - if you're going to make one later because the cognitive development and decision-making part of the brain isn't old enough to drink, it shouldn't be old enough to choose to go and potentially die in a foreign country.
 

Al_4_State

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And then there would be fights and court battles over why someone should be suspended from a public school for doing something that is specifically made legal by a law.

Lol. You mean like how we have constant litigation over public intoxication/open container laws?

You're just anti-alcohol/any mind altering substance. Your track record on this site indicates as much. You're anti-drinking and think that the government should take measures to curb that behavior instead of letting it be an adult's choice.

Admit that, and we can all move on.
 
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Al_4_State

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It is estimated that 25-40% of the people taking up non-maternity hospital beds are being treated for complications of alcoholism. This would seem to indicate that the US has an alcoholism problem. And of course, a large percentage of the cost is borne by the taxpayers. I don't know what the answer is, but we need to find one soon.

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0813-excessive-alcohol-use.html
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p1017_alcohol_consumption.html
http://www.alcoholpolicymd.com/alcohol_and_health/costs.htm

So the US has a higher alcoholism problem than countries that allow (and culturally encourage) alcohol consumption at a younger age?

Don't you think that the current state of alcohol regulations might play into that just a little?
 

Cyclonesince78

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Mar 8, 2012
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So the US has a higher alcoholism problem than countries that allow (and culturally encourage) alcohol consumption at a younger age?

Don't you think that the current state of alcohol regulations might play into that just a little?

Sometimes forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest, doesn't it?

IpDlY.png
 

Daserop

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Feb 9, 2011
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I figured that the no alcohol before 21 law was because the U.S. government determined that individuals who are under that age are not responsible enough to handle it. However, when you turn 18 you are responsible enough to do these things:

Marry
Have children
Adopt a child
Purchase firearms
Purchase tobacco products
Serve in the armed forces (and take another persons like if needed)


******* stupid law.
 

SoapyCy

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Oct 10, 2012
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How much alcohol consumption is because kids are stuck in places with very little culture and no means to leave without a car? What is the alcoholism rate in NYC vs rural Iowa?