Posted on 07/18/2005 10:19:10 AM PDT by Last Dakotan
"The fact that an 18-year-old can't have table wine at a family gathering is outrageous."
In many states, Texas included, a parent or legal guardian can legally supply alcohol to their own minor child, including at restaurants. (I believe this also works for spouses.)
OK, let some states decide the drinking age should be 18, let others make it 21 - or even higher - but make it the STATE's choice.
The Fed Gov has no d@mn business being involved in this question.
OK, let some states decide the drinking age should be 18, let others make it 21 - or even higher - but make it the STATE's choice.
The Fed Gov has no d@mn business being involved in this question.
I really think that the increase in drug use among the under 21 crowd has a lot to do with raising the drinking age.
I spent the first two years of high school in Virginia (drinking age 17) and then moved to Kentucky for the last two (drinking age 21). Alcohol was harder to procure in Kentucky and there were a lot more kids doing drugs ... easier to get & easier to conceal. I never did drugs and worked to keep my friends from doing drugs as well.
My solution: Lower the drinking age to 17 but only allow Low Alcohol beer/wine to be consumed by those under 21. Make the under-21 drink a case of beer to feel even a slight buzz, but let them feel that they are stepping into the adult world. Keep 'em off drugs, keep 'em safe, keep 'em out of jail, and collect taxes on the alcohol sales.
As a college student.... Legal age does not matter. Its not hard to find someone to buy for you. Beer pong (or Beirut) is practically a NCAA recognized sport on campuses now.When I was running a CR chapter in the mid 80s, the university sanctioned "Greek Week" included the Beer Marathon (quickest team to empty a pony keg w/o you-know-whatting) and the Beer Relay (an obstacle course where you had to chug a beer at various stops).
-Eric
"Fortunately, we no longer have Dimocratic senators. "Voinovich is usually okay, and as much as I dislike DeWiner, he's better than "the apalling Howard Metzenbaum" (to quote P. J. O'Rourke).In Ohio, one has to question whether that's really a victory!
-Eric
I have never figured out why people who are old enough to serve in the military are not considered old enough to drink alcoholic beverages. Doesn't make any sense to me.
I have never figured out why people who are old enough to serve in the military are not considered old enough to drink alcoholic beverages. Doesn't make any sense to me.Apparently, it takes more maturity to be trusted guarding nuclear weapons with an automatic rifle than it does to be trusted with a beer.
-Eric
Ahhhh Greek Week... Really don't remember too much.. Just kidding I'm not much for binge drinking. There is a C/R chapter in another Michigan school who is hosting a Cocktail party this year... It is however for 18+ but only 21+ can drink, they bring in cops/bouncers to enforce this.... I am interested to see how it goes.
21 does not matter if you live near Canada as I and most people my age in Michigan do. It is only 19 and as long as your not driving you can come back into the states.
You have no idea how much I agree with that statement. When I was a supervisor of young 18-20 year old troops I felt the drinking age thing was stupid. At least let them have a few beers on base where they can walk to their dorm room. Instead they got permission to move off base then got drunk in an apartment or worse at a friends apartment then tried to drive home.
Military should be allowed to drink on their base at the very least. Then we can ask em to go stand in front of people shooting at them.
It depends on the surrounding area. CONUS, 21 is the drinking age. In overseas assignments, 18 year olds can generally drink because the laws outside the gates allow it.
"My solution: Lower the drinking age to 17 but only allow Low Alcohol beer/wine to be consumed by those under 21. Make the under-21 drink a case of beer to feel even a slight buzz, but let them feel that they are stepping into the adult world. Keep 'em off drugs, keep 'em safe, keep 'em out of jail, and collect taxes on the alcohol sales."
How about: 17 if in HS and have a cumulatie and semester 3.3 or above GPA, with parental permission. 18 if you are a H.S. graduate. 19 for GED 21 for everone else.
Better yet, how about 18 as long as you're enrolled in a college or university? Encourage more kids to go into higher education, where for the most part you don't drive to the parties on campus, but walk.
Sort of. Here is the reg; the kicker is the last paragraph:
"In the case of a DoD installation located in more than one State or in one State but within 50 miles of another State or Mexico or Canada, the minimum drinking age on that DoD installation shall be the lowest applicable age of the State in which the DoD installation is located or the State or jurisdiction of Mexico or Canada that is within 50 miles of such DoD installation.
[I am sure this helped base alignments in Texas, I kid not.]
The minimum drinking age on a DoD installation located outside the United States shall be 18 years of age. Higher minimum drinking age will be based on international treaties and agreements and on the local situation as determined by the local installation commander.
The commander of a DoD installation may waive the above requirements, if such commander determines that the exemption is justified by special circumstances. Special circumstances are those infrequent, non-routine military occasions when an entire unit, as a group, marks at a military installation a uniquely military occasion such as the conclusion of arduous military duty or the anniversary of the establishment of a military service or organization. The event must be held on a military installation. The commander shall ensure that appropriate controls are in place to prevent endangering Military Service members or the surrounding community."
[While my experience is dated to GWI, and the exceptions have been tightened, the "special circumstance" were generally things like "Saturday."]
I don't like it either.
I hate to be so clishe, but I agree that if you can die for your country, it makes no sense that you can't drink.
I used to have that opinion. I have changed it to, if you are in the service, or have been in the service and honorably discharged, you can legally drink.
Having a 21yr old drinking age encourages reckless drinking at house parties. At a bar, you will at least be cut off by the bartender or thrown out by the bouncers. Either way, it teaches to be a little more responsible when drinking.
Another problem is the second we turn 21, we forget the cause because it no longer affects us.
We're continuing to allow our kids to be arrested and getting criminal records for doing what young adults are supposed to do: have a good time.
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