Okay Americans, I Require Information

[Noomi]

One of the only times I will be asking my American friends for assistance.

As you may know, the legal drinking age in Australia is 18 - this is when you become a legal adult, so it makes sense to have the drinking age at this time.
However, we also have a problem with teenage brats binge drinking - many fifteen and sixteen year olds have problems with alcohol. They get their hands on it regardless.

The drinking age in the US is 21, and I wonder if you guys have the same problems with underage drinking that we do?

There are some stupid people pushing to change the legal drinking age here, and bump it up to 21, claiming that this will stop binge drinking - which it won't, obviously.
I wonder if the people opposed to this will take a look at the US and see if there are any similar problems over there?

So what's the case, folks? Your kids can't drink until they are 21 - but do you still have an epidemic of underage drinking? Essentially, what I am asking is - does a drinking age of 21 prevent underage boozing?

 

[Gracie]

Drinking is common for kids under 21. Alcoholism starts early. But...if someone can be in the armed forces at 18 but they can't drink until 21 is ludicrous. If they are old enough to put their lives on the line in a war at 18, then they should be able to have a beer at 18.

Kids will get their high any way they can if they want it bad enough..regardless of age or restrictions or laws.

 

[S.J.]

No, it does not, and we have the exact same problem here. Kids are kids, no matter where they live, I guess.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

…do you still have an epidemic of underage drinking?

Yes.

…does a drinking age of 21 prevent underage boozing?

No.

 

[Kooshdakhaa]

Yes, Noomi, we have the same problem with underage drinking as you do. I'm not sure if it's entirely accurate to call it a "problem," though. It seems more like "the norm."

I say that because clear back when I was in high school, in the late 60s, kids were drinking up a storm. And from what my Mom told me, it was pretty much the same back in her day.

Changing the drinking age to 21 won't help anything, and may even make matters worse. You'll have even more people drinking illegally, that's what will happen! That's my two cents. : )

 

[editec]

One of the only times I will be asking my American friends for assistance.

As you may know, the legal drinking age in Australia is 18 - this is when you become a legal adult, so it makes sense to have the drinking age at this time.
However, we also have a problem with teenage brats binge drinking - many fifteen and sixteen year olds have problems with alcohol. They get their hands on it regardless.

The drinking age in the US is 21, and I wonder if you guys have the same problems with underage drinking that we do?

There are some stupid people pushing to change the legal drinking age here, and bump it up to 21, claiming that this will stop binge drinking - which it won't, obviously.
I wonder if the people opposed to this will take a look at the US and see if there are any similar problems over there?

So what's the case, folks? Your kids can't drink until they are 21 - but do you still have an epidemic of underage drinking? Essentially, what I am asking is - does a drinking age of 21 prevent underage boozing?

Nope.

In fact it adds to underage boozing because, in those circumstances, 18-20 year olds are under-aged boozers.

I think what it might have reduced the number of auto deaths by legally drunk 18-20 years, though.

 

[Snookie]

I'll drink to that.

 

[Granny]

We do have a serious problem with underage drinking. I knew two kids (one of whom was in my graduating class, one was older) who died in auto accidents. Both had been drinking - one left a child behind. They both lived on different streets within a block of my house. There isn't a year that goes by that at least one kid dies before or immediately after graduation.

And just this week I heard of a new fad where kids are inhaling alcohol instead of drinking it. I forget what they do - but they inhale the smoke which gives them a quicker "high" but does not register in their system if they have to take a breath test.

 

[jon_berzerk]

One of the only times I will be asking my American friends for assistance.

As you may know, the legal drinking age in Australia is 18 - this is when you become a legal adult, so it makes sense to have the drinking age at this time.
However, we also have a problem with teenage brats binge drinking - many fifteen and sixteen year olds have problems with alcohol. They get their hands on it regardless.

The drinking age in the US is 21, and I wonder if you guys have the same problems with underage drinking that we do?

There are some stupid people pushing to change the legal drinking age here, and bump it up to 21, claiming that this will stop binge drinking - which it won't, obviously.
I wonder if the people opposed to this will take a look at the US and see if there are any similar problems over there?

So what's the case, folks? Your kids can't drink until they are 21 - but do you still have an epidemic of underage drinking? Essentially, what I am asking is - does a drinking age of 21 prevent underage boozing?

no

the best you can do is try and raise your kids the best you can

 

[Snookie]

I believe drinking addictions are related to genetics. Some people can handle it and other people get handled by it.

 

[rightwinger]

I was allowed to legally drink at 18. They changed the laws about ten years later.

While kids can still drink, they can't do so openly and they crack down on parents who allow drunken teenaged parties

When I was in High School I saw kids killed every year in drunk driving accidents. I had about six kids I knew personally that died. Neither of my kids had anyone in their class killed

I think raising the drinking age made a difference

 

[rightwinger]

I believe drinking addictions are related to genetics. Some people can handle it and other people get handled by it.

Very true. I also think it has something to do with mothers drinking while they are pregnant

 

[Surfer]

We have a lot of problems with alcohol from drunk drivers killing innocent people to drunks killing themselves to drunks ruining their health, families, futures, cars, relationships etc...
Most people dying from alcohol-related illness say they wish they never drank.

 

[jon_berzerk]

I was allowed to legally drink at 18. They changed the laws about ten years later.

While kids can still drink, they can't do so openly and they crack down on parents who allow drunken teenaged parties

When I was in High School I saw kids killed every year in drunk driving accidents. I had about six kids I knew personally that died. Neither of my kids had anyone in their class killed

I think raising the drinking age made a difference

when i was a kid it was raised from 18 to 19

we had a lot of kids wiped out by drunk driving in my class

 

[Snookie]

It's strange but when I was in hs I knew a lot of kids that would not drink any booze at all.

I could not get enough to drink. Thunderbird, wild irish road, but I was not a wino because I would drink anything.

Anyway, some of those kids are now alcoholics and as for myself I have not had a drink in 20 years.

 

[jon_berzerk]

It's strange but when I was in hs I knew a lot of kids that would not drink any booze at all.

I could not get enough to drink. Thunderbird, wild irish road, but I was not a wino because I would drink anything.

Anyway, some of those kids are now alcoholics and as for myself I have not had a drink in 20 years.

one of the kids we ran around with

his dad owned a liquor store

so it was not hard to come by

 

[squeeze berry]

the legal drinking age was 18 for a while.

Bill Clinton blackmailed the states into raising to 21

 

[rightwinger]

the legal drinking age was 18 for a while.

Bill Clinton blackmailed the states into raising to 21

Actually, it was Reagan

Does that change your view?

 

[Noomi]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I have 'thanked' all your posts and repped you all for responding.

It seems to be that the people pushing for a change in law have lost their marbles.
I understand what one poster says about not being able to drink openly if the law is changed - but I also believe that if you are old enough to vote, get married, and go to war, you are old enough to have a drink.

 

[Politico]

Kids drink. Doesn't matter what the age limit is.