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Shotgun 1
QuoteI think one of the issues with this thread is the concept of the phrase "legal drinking age."
I can't speak for all 50 states, but I believe California is typical in there actually isn't a law against a person of any age drinking alcohol. What there is are laws about being intoxicated, driving with any amount or purchasing by or selling to people under the age of 21.
In some people's minds, that may be a small distinction, but it's really not.
I believe that, in about a third of the states, it is outright illegal for someone under the "legal drinking age" to consume alcohol at any time. In another third or so of the states (was this way in Texas), an underage person can consume alcohol as long as they have a parent or legal guardian present. And in the rest of the states, the underage person might not be breaking a law by consuming alcohol, but someone somewhere along the line broke a law by getting alcohol to that person who is not of the "legal drinking age."
(I'm not sure if I have my percentages right there, but that's about how it was when I last looked into the various state laws regarding "legal drinking age.")
nanook 1
QuoteQuoteQuoteAmong all the other reasons stated, if you are old enough to serve, fight and possibly die for your country, you are old enough to drink.
I disagree. People mature differently. Some clearly do not have the maturity to serve, fight or vote, simply based on the number of years they have been on the Earth.
I have to agree here. People do mature differentely. Just because you are old enough to serve doesn't mean you are mature enough in different areas in life. We have problems with alchohol in people older than 21 here in the Service. Most common career killer. 18 year olds running into alchohol related incidents tend to be the standard here. It decreases readiness and ability to use them while they are serving their time for such incidents. At 18, being a brand new adult has its challenges and pitfalls that are easy to fall into. There's a huge difference between Protecting and Defending and personal responsibility. Believe it or not, you can achieve one while failing at the other.
Hi, nanook!
The quote you reference is mine, and I do agree that not everyone is equally mature at any given age.
Your argument tends more toward the "don;t let any service-member have any alcohol no matter what the age" because they might not be able to handle it.
The services are for (supposedly) adults. If we are still putting children there, then....
Ouch. Good point. I can't take away that logic from you. The problem here is there is a fine line between making adult decisions and risks, and at the same time not having the maturity to know when to say when. We have young adults making dangerous life altering decisions that most people will never make in their lives. Firing someone with four kids does not come close. But, the same cannot handle the responsibilities of alcohol use.
There is theory in responsibilities and maturity and there is reality. History shows that 18 year olds are not responsible enough as a majority to have alchohol within their reach. Hell, 21 year olds are on average, stupid with that decision. In the Navy, despite their service, alchohol availablility is a negative catalyst for that age group and has to be actively controlled just to keep them responsible. They cannot do this on their own. This is fact. Has nothing to do with being an adult, but with being a new adult with a hell of a lot of responsibility put on them.
_____________________________
"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln
"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln
wolfriverjoe 1,523
QuoteQuoteI think one of the issues with this thread is the concept of the phrase "legal drinking age."
I can't speak for all 50 states, but I believe California is typical in there actually isn't a law against a person of any age drinking alcohol. What there is are laws about being intoxicated, driving with any amount or purchasing by or selling to people under the age of 21.
In some people's minds, that may be a small distinction, but it's really not.
I believe that, in about a third of the states, it is outright illegal for someone under the "legal drinking age" to consume alcohol at any time. In another third or so of the states (was this way in Texas), an underage person can consume alcohol as long as they have a parent or legal guardian present. And in the rest of the states, the underage person might not be breaking a law by consuming alcohol, but someone somewhere along the line broke a law by getting alcohol to that person who is not of the "legal drinking age."
(I'm not sure if I have my percentages right there, but that's about how it was when I last looked into the various state laws regarding "legal drinking age.")
I can't speak for any other state, but Wisconsin includes "possession" too. Someone under 21 cannot even legally hold a can of beer, open or closed (parents present and giving consent excepted).
And if it's detectable in your body, either by breath or blood test, you are in "posession".
"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy
"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo
"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo
SkyDekker 1,465
QuoteI sort of agree, but it's not that black and white. If a parent wants to give a 12-year-old a glass of watered-down wine, that's none of my business. But if a parent is allowing a 12-year-old kid to drink enough to get drunk (and yes, there are parents who do this), then I might have something to say....
But I guess there's a whole lot of stuff like that. Some things could just be looked at as bad parenting (and of course, even that is subjective), but at some point it tends to look like child abuse or neglect.
I agree, and there are laws in place for that too.
I don't believe in the state taking on the role of parent. I find it insane that we would allow 18 year olds to make life or death decisions, yet they cannot decide to have a beer.
QuoteIt is not possible to have a "Drinking age in US" because we are a federal form of government. The 10th Amendment to the US Constitution only permits the US Government the power to enact laws where such powers are set forth in the Constitution. Not exactly the same topic as intended, I guess, but just so you know there are 50 states and each may have their own age limits. Our US Government withholds funds from states that don't enact certain laws, so it uses this as a form of economic coercion, to get the states to pass state laws in conformance with the desires of some of our agencies. Example: my state is penalized because our legislature won't pass a motorcycle helmet law. Anyway, Could have 50 different alcohol age laws in 50 states if they wanted to.
Yup...
Illinois changed it several times when I was growing up, right before I turned 18 they lowered it from 21 to 18 for beer & wine.
Not long after, a year or so, they raised it to 19...when I turned 21 they moved it up to 21...they were OUT to GET me!
That being said, the small town where I grew up the general rule of thumb was...if ya can see over the bar you can get served.
~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~
oldwomanc6 60
In the 70's, New Mexico had a 3.2 law. If you were 18 you could drink if it contained 3.2% or less alcohol.
Thank God for Coors! 
eta: Coors made a special 3.2 beer just for NM.
lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9
QuoteIn the 70's, New Mexico had a 3.2 law. If you were 18 you could drink if it contained 3.2% or less alcohol.
Thank God for Coors!
eta: Coors made a special 3.2 beer just for NM.
Coors makes BEER?
~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~
oldwomanc6 60
QuoteQuoteIn the 70's, New Mexico had a 3.2 law. If you were 18 you could drink if it contained 3.2% or less alcohol.
Thank God for Coors!
eta: Coors made a special 3.2 beer just for NM.
Coors makes BEER?
That brings up a good point. That's lager. Oh, an idea for BF.
lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9
airdvr 210
I'm a product of the age of 3.2 beer. We called it 'red pop' because the cans and bottles had red writing to identify them. I say 18, if you're old enough to vote, carry a rifle, and go to war you should be able to drink shitty low alcohol beer.
Please don't dent the planet.
Destinations by Roxanne
Destinations by Roxanne
Shotgun 1
QuoteI say 18, if you're old enough to vote, carry a rifle, and go to war you should be able to drink shitty low alcohol beer.
What about 190-proof Everclear?
I can't speak for all 50 states, but I believe California is typical in there actually isn't a law against a person of any age drinking alcohol. What there is are laws about being intoxicated, driving with any amount or purchasing by or selling to people under the age of 21.
In some people's minds, that may be a small distinction, but it's really not.
The World's Most Boring Skydiver
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