I may be wrong but I seem to recall hearing that Europe has fewer problems overall with alcoholism and alcohol-related traffic fatalities. Some of this would be the fact they drive less than we do in many areas, but a lot has to do with their attitude toward alcohol. Yes, they have alcoholics, but they don’t treat the stuff the way we do. In Europe it’s pretty much another beverage. Again, I may be off my rocker.
Seems to me what we need is to stop villianizing the drink and start focusing on what really causes the problem – peoples’ actions and attitudes. Once we focus on that we’ll get to the root of a bunch of problems.
And all this from a non-drinker. Don’t care if others do, I’m just too cheap.
Great points, lastbat. I think it is not the drink, but the person and their actions. I am perfectly capable of having a glass of wine at a restaurant (I prefer wine with dinner because in many cases it enhances the flavor of the food), but I can stop at one until I get home and have a few more. Most of the drinking I do occurs in the home, and as a teenager I was taught MODERATION and RESPONSIBILITY. If you drink, don’t get behind the wheel, its pretty simple. The issue I have with lower the drinking age is that parents are not instilling these virtues in the kids. If parents will teach these things and kids listen, I think we could all act more responsibily; however, that is asking quite a bit. Don’t you think so?
I don’t see a problem with lowering the drinking age. I don’t think it will significantly increase the problems we currently have with people acting irresponsibly with alcohol.
Besides, how fair is it to tell an 18 year-old who has been fighting in Iraq that he or she isn’t responsible enough to have a beer? That’s kind of messed up.
However badly we want to try, we can’t legislate responsibility. No number of laws or penalties will make an irresponsible person suddenly become accountable for their actions. If it did, we wouldn’t have issues with drunk drivers or the like.
My parents were like yours, Dustin. They were very actively involved in my life and tried to use every available opportunity to teach me the importance of making smart choices like doing things in moderation.
I don’t drink but I have always had an issue around the idea that someone can vote, get married and die for their country but not drink. I think we should change all the rules to 21 or 18, but I think the split is downright odd.
I agree with Lastbat. Being married to a European, I have seen it first hand when we go visit his family. They happen to be big drinkers but not one of them will get behind the wheel even if they have had just 1 drink. They know that that the penalty for getting caught drinking and driving is much worse than risking it to get home.
I think it would be ok to lower the drinking age if we had stiffer penalties for getting caught drinking and driving. We give too many chances and let people who have been caught repeat their mistakes.
Since they are the only state I know of that has a legal age of 18. I think some of the decrease in DUI Deaths is due to the decreasing number of younger drivers
Talk to high school teachers who taught in the 18 year old legal drinking era. Seniors were selling to Juniors and younger – kids coming to school drunk, drinking in the parking lot. From what I understand the problem was not solved but shrunk significantly when the age went back to 21. Its not about drinking its about judgement and many 18 & 19 years old don’t have it. During the Viet Nam era I was an enlisted 18 year old, our saying was “old enough to fight old enough to drink” and by golly we did fight alot (and not with the enemy) when we got to drinking – and that’s why I think 21 is fine.
I think an open discussion would be helpful. Examine the stats and attitudes.
The European example is a good one. They may get smashed but they don’t drive.
The key is education.Teach self responsibility not fear of punishment.
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I may be wrong but I seem to recall hearing that Europe has fewer problems overall with alcoholism and alcohol-related traffic fatalities. Some of this would be the fact they drive less than we do in many areas, but a lot has to do with their attitude toward alcohol. Yes, they have alcoholics, but they don’t treat the stuff the way we do. In Europe it’s pretty much another beverage. Again, I may be off my rocker.
Seems to me what we need is to stop villianizing the drink and start focusing on what really causes the problem – peoples’ actions and attitudes. Once we focus on that we’ll get to the root of a bunch of problems.
And all this from a non-drinker. Don’t care if others do, I’m just too cheap.
Great points, lastbat. I think it is not the drink, but the person and their actions. I am perfectly capable of having a glass of wine at a restaurant (I prefer wine with dinner because in many cases it enhances the flavor of the food), but I can stop at one until I get home and have a few more. Most of the drinking I do occurs in the home, and as a teenager I was taught MODERATION and RESPONSIBILITY. If you drink, don’t get behind the wheel, its pretty simple. The issue I have with lower the drinking age is that parents are not instilling these virtues in the kids. If parents will teach these things and kids listen, I think we could all act more responsibily; however, that is asking quite a bit. Don’t you think so?
I agree with you both.
I don’t see a problem with lowering the drinking age. I don’t think it will significantly increase the problems we currently have with people acting irresponsibly with alcohol.
Besides, how fair is it to tell an 18 year-old who has been fighting in Iraq that he or she isn’t responsible enough to have a beer? That’s kind of messed up.
However badly we want to try, we can’t legislate responsibility. No number of laws or penalties will make an irresponsible person suddenly become accountable for their actions. If it did, we wouldn’t have issues with drunk drivers or the like.
My parents were like yours, Dustin. They were very actively involved in my life and tried to use every available opportunity to teach me the importance of making smart choices like doing things in moderation.
Too bad not every kid is as lucky…
I don’t drink but I have always had an issue around the idea that someone can vote, get married and die for their country but not drink. I think we should change all the rules to 21 or 18, but I think the split is downright odd.
I agree with Lastbat. Being married to a European, I have seen it first hand when we go visit his family. They happen to be big drinkers but not one of them will get behind the wheel even if they have had just 1 drink. They know that that the penalty for getting caught drinking and driving is much worse than risking it to get home.
I think it would be ok to lower the drinking age if we had stiffer penalties for getting caught drinking and driving. We give too many chances and let people who have been caught repeat their mistakes.
Most problem drinkers start between 12 and 13 years of age.
Since they are the only state I know of that has a legal age of 18. I think some of the decrease in DUI Deaths is due to the decreasing number of younger drivers
Talk to high school teachers who taught in the 18 year old legal drinking era. Seniors were selling to Juniors and younger – kids coming to school drunk, drinking in the parking lot. From what I understand the problem was not solved but shrunk significantly when the age went back to 21. Its not about drinking its about judgement and many 18 & 19 years old don’t have it. During the Viet Nam era I was an enlisted 18 year old, our saying was “old enough to fight old enough to drink” and by golly we did fight alot (and not with the enemy) when we got to drinking – and that’s why I think 21 is fine.
I think an open discussion would be helpful. Examine the stats and attitudes.
The European example is a good one. They may get smashed but they don’t drive.
The key is education.Teach self responsibility not fear of punishment.
Then maybe all of the other big decisions should be put off until 21 as well.