I don’t really care what the age is (though 21 with an 18 age of enlistment is rather silly) the problem is still our attitude toward alcohol. We don’t talk about appreciating the drink for its flavor, or its ability to enhance a meal, or for its own sake. The stories we tell usually begin with, “Man, I was so hammered” and end with “and I had such a great time.” We emphasize the getting drunk part. We also make drinking a socially acceptable taboo. I don’t know how we did it, but drinking is both expected and verboten. You’re a bad person if you get drunk, but you’re a bad party guest if you don’t. You were drunk so not responsible for your actions, but you were irresponsible to get drunk in the first place. And it goes on.
I don’t mind 18 mainly because of the military. The military ignores the legal drinking age as a matter of course; you have to be assertive if you don’t want to drink in the military. It also doesn’t make sense to have the right to vote and the right to serve, and the right to smoke, but not the right to drink. Some people may remember a time in the not-too-distant past when the voting age was 21. These are arbitrary ages anyway. I recall an article I read on msn.com that purported the human brain isn’t fully developed until the age of 24 – so why not push all that stuff up to 24 since we aren’t fully grown until then?
Whatever we do we need to change our attitude toward alcohol. We aren’t going to get rid of it, and most people don’t want to. Demonizing the drink just drives more people to be stupid with it.
When I was in college in a southern state many years ago, we had 18 – 21. 18 yrs old for beer & wine, 21 yrs for liquor. I think that is some what of a compromise. Then again, the bars closed at 12 midnight on Saturday because you could not sell alcohol on Sundays. Sunday started at 12:01 am.
That’s another thing I’ve never understood, differentiating between alcohols. Beer and wine get people just as drunk as hard liquor, yet are treated to a lower standard. It’s all alcohol people. Granted, your average beer has a lower alcohol content than your average wine which is less than hard alcohol. But when people want to get drunk they make up for it in volume. I realize the government gets less money from beer and wine than from other liquors, but that’s their problem. Treat all alcohol the same, otherwise the problem is perpetuated.
McCardell may be on to something with allowing 18-20 yr olds to drink, but have to prove they passed the education part. It does appear Europeans are smarter than we are since they won’t drive if they have been drinking.
Lets get real, America has become a society seemingly without principles. Not by choice, but rather by personal selection of values. Once again government is going to HELP up by lowering a standard instead of rewarding values and standards that individual Americans choose to live by. In doing so there will be less illegal consumption by teen agers because the law will excuse poor behavior.
Just like eveyone else I dont think it’s ok to tell an 18 year old you can vote, smoke,serve for our country,buy a house, get married, have kids, and the one thing you cant do is have a drink. Come on!
All very good comments….until Bob! You can’t compare the era of Vietnam to the 90’s and now 2008. With few exceptions it is responsibility and moderation. Regardless of your opinion on this subject here some facts to consider. Although LA did pass legislation to comply with the federal act we did not have a fine associated with violating the law. MADD caught it and pushed for a penalty….we made it $25. Oh and did I mention that our law basically made it illegal to “buy” booze under the age of 21, it was perfectly legal to drink it. Fast forward many years/fights with MADD later we are in total compliance with the spirit of the ACT. All that said New Orleans is open for business 365 days 24/7, there is never a time you do not have access to buy a drink….and yes for those wondering Johnny White’s on Bourbon St. was open during and after Katrina!
That said with proper parenting, teaching of responsibility and exposure our 18 yr olds are better prepared and we had no more accidents related to drinking then states with stricter laws and “less availability”.
If you can vote at age 18, if we’re sending our sons and daughters to war at age 18 – then they should have ALL the rights of an adult – Doesn’t it all start with parenting at home?
We have updated our privacy policy to be more clear and meet the new requirements of the GDPR. By continuing to use our site, you accept our revised Privacy Policy.
I don’t really care what the age is (though 21 with an 18 age of enlistment is rather silly) the problem is still our attitude toward alcohol. We don’t talk about appreciating the drink for its flavor, or its ability to enhance a meal, or for its own sake. The stories we tell usually begin with, “Man, I was so hammered” and end with “and I had such a great time.” We emphasize the getting drunk part. We also make drinking a socially acceptable taboo. I don’t know how we did it, but drinking is both expected and verboten. You’re a bad person if you get drunk, but you’re a bad party guest if you don’t. You were drunk so not responsible for your actions, but you were irresponsible to get drunk in the first place. And it goes on.
I don’t mind 18 mainly because of the military. The military ignores the legal drinking age as a matter of course; you have to be assertive if you don’t want to drink in the military. It also doesn’t make sense to have the right to vote and the right to serve, and the right to smoke, but not the right to drink. Some people may remember a time in the not-too-distant past when the voting age was 21. These are arbitrary ages anyway. I recall an article I read on msn.com that purported the human brain isn’t fully developed until the age of 24 – so why not push all that stuff up to 24 since we aren’t fully grown until then?
Whatever we do we need to change our attitude toward alcohol. We aren’t going to get rid of it, and most people don’t want to. Demonizing the drink just drives more people to be stupid with it.
The legal drinking age in Louisiana is 21, it is not 18.
LSA R.S. 93:11 makes it illegal to sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of twenty-one years.
LSA R.S. 93:12 makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase or have public possession of an alcoholic beverage.
When I was in college in a southern state many years ago, we had 18 – 21. 18 yrs old for beer & wine, 21 yrs for liquor. I think that is some what of a compromise. Then again, the bars closed at 12 midnight on Saturday because you could not sell alcohol on Sundays. Sunday started at 12:01 am.
That’s another thing I’ve never understood, differentiating between alcohols. Beer and wine get people just as drunk as hard liquor, yet are treated to a lower standard. It’s all alcohol people. Granted, your average beer has a lower alcohol content than your average wine which is less than hard alcohol. But when people want to get drunk they make up for it in volume. I realize the government gets less money from beer and wine than from other liquors, but that’s their problem. Treat all alcohol the same, otherwise the problem is perpetuated.
McCardell may be on to something with allowing 18-20 yr olds to drink, but have to prove they passed the education part. It does appear Europeans are smarter than we are since they won’t drive if they have been drinking.
Lets get real, America has become a society seemingly without principles. Not by choice, but rather by personal selection of values. Once again government is going to HELP up by lowering a standard instead of rewarding values and standards that individual Americans choose to live by. In doing so there will be less illegal consumption by teen agers because the law will excuse poor behavior.
There’s no way MADD will let this happen…they have too much control over the politicians….
Just like eveyone else I dont think it’s ok to tell an 18 year old you can vote, smoke,serve for our country,buy a house, get married, have kids, and the one thing you cant do is have a drink. Come on!
All very good comments….until Bob! You can’t compare the era of Vietnam to the 90’s and now 2008. With few exceptions it is responsibility and moderation. Regardless of your opinion on this subject here some facts to consider. Although LA did pass legislation to comply with the federal act we did not have a fine associated with violating the law. MADD caught it and pushed for a penalty….we made it $25. Oh and did I mention that our law basically made it illegal to “buy” booze under the age of 21, it was perfectly legal to drink it. Fast forward many years/fights with MADD later we are in total compliance with the spirit of the ACT. All that said New Orleans is open for business 365 days 24/7, there is never a time you do not have access to buy a drink….and yes for those wondering Johnny White’s on Bourbon St. was open during and after Katrina!
That said with proper parenting, teaching of responsibility and exposure our 18 yr olds are better prepared and we had no more accidents related to drinking then states with stricter laws and “less availability”.
If you can vote at age 18, if we’re sending our sons and daughters to war at age 18 – then they should have ALL the rights of an adult – Doesn’t it all start with parenting at home?