[Illbay]

Back in the mid-70s, the states nearly all lowered the age to 18 (or 19 in some instances). The result was a BLOODBATH. Kids were killing themselves right and left and taking lots of innocent bystanders with them.

THAT is the reason the limit went back up to 21 after a few years. Something the Libertines will ignore or deny. But it is FACT.

[FreedominJesusChrist]

When people don't show personality responsibility with their lives and the lives of others, that is when the government has to come in and pass common-sense safety laws, of which drinking laws is one.

[truenospinzone]

While BLOODBATH is an overstatement, you are correct, there were more alcohol-related accidents in that time. Of course there would be; you have three more years of adults able to legally drink at bars. But by that logic, why aren't we clamoring to raise the drinking age to 25? That would save thousands of lives a year, would it not? Why not do this? Well, because we'd be taking away the rights of legal, tax-paying adults. Like those age 18-20.

[metesky]

I always thought the "bloodbath", as you call it, occurred because the kids suddenly went wild when they lowered the drinking age. If it had been 18 all along the spike wouldn't have happened.

Conversly, when the drinking age was 21, the same 18 year olds, although still drinking, would have been more low key.

I was around thirty and still in barroom/night club mode when they lowered the age back in the seventies.

Suddenly the local high school football team was hanging out in front of the bathrooms, making nasty remarks to the women and elbowing all the men going to take a leak.

It took a couple of really great brawls before the kiddies got the message, but things did quiet down.

[max61]

Back in the mid-70s, the states nearly all lowered the age to 18 (or 19 in some instances). The result was a BLOODBATH. Kids were killing themselves right and left and taking lots of innocent bystanders with them.

The drinking ages were lowered to 18 in the 70's as a result of the fact the persons were considered to be an adult at that age and not a minor.

You overexagerate the results, the large majority of DWI's are adult's in their 20's.

THAT is the reason the limit went back up to 21 after a few years. Something the Libertines will ignore or deny. But it is FACT.

More bull$hit, at least get your facts straight. The drinking age was raised to 21 as a result of federal law's blackmailing the states into raising the age to 21 or otherwise they would forfeit their federal highway funds. However, those drinking laws were not applicable to military installations.

Yet another pontificating control freak heard from.

---max

[Ace's Dad]

...in the mid-70s, the states nearly all lowered the age to 18 (or 19 in some instances). The result was a BLOODBATH

And the 18 year olds were buying for their 16 year old friends, who gave it to thier 14 year old girl friends. Sad, but true. Some spoiled it for the responsible.