Post: Do You Think the U.S. Drinking Laws Need Revision? (repost with poll)
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10-12-2011, 05:20 PM
#1
pspgamer77
Brute
Keep in mind, the drinking age being raised to 21 wasn't the main contributor to the drop in drunk driving fatalities over the last 20 years. In 1984 (when the drinking age was changed) there was no such thing as a "designated driver", and most cars didn't have airbags or seat belts. Technological and ethical advances since 1984 have caused our drunk driving fatalities to go down. Please post if you disagree with me, I'd love to discuss this.
10-12-2011, 06:56 PM
#2
TornadoCreator
A Storm Approaches.
Originally posted by pspgamer77
I've already posted this once before, but forgot to include a poll with it to see the numbers. Do you think the drinking laws (Drunk driving penalties, drinking age, and other laws) need revision in the U.S.?
Keep in mind, the drinking age being raised to 21 wasn't the main contributor to the drop in drunk driving fatalities over the last 20 years. In 1984 (when the drinking age was changed) there was no such thing as a "designated driver", and most cars didn't have airbags or seat belts. Technological and ethical advances since 1984 have caused our drunk driving fatalities to go down. Please post if you disagree with me, I'd love to discuss this.
Keep in mind, the drinking age being raised to 21 wasn't the main contributor to the drop in drunk driving fatalities over the last 20 years. In 1984 (when the drinking age was changed) there was no such thing as a "designated driver", and most cars didn't have airbags or seat belts. Technological and ethical advances since 1984 have caused our drunk driving fatalities to go down. Please post if you disagree with me, I'd love to discuss this.
I feel the legal drinking age in pubs/restaurants should be 15 for wines and ales, 18 for spirits, with it being legal to purchase from a shop for 18+ only. This is the current law in France, Netherlands and Norway and is proven to work. It means people are less likely to drink as teenagers as it's no longer "rebellious" to do so. It allows teens and young adults to develop a taste for alcohol and learn to drink it responsibly. Quite frankly the legal drinking age at 21 should be ****ing insulting to everyone. If you're legally an adult at 18 EVERYTHING should be legal. I started drinking as a kid, with shandy and the occasional beer with parental supervision. I found as a teenager I liked cider and vodka at 16, and drank sensibly. As I grew up I developed a taste for rosé and sparkling white wines, and I quickly grew to like absinthe. I drank dark ales and absinthe in my early 20's as my drinks of choice, until I turned 23 when I decided my tastes where too expensive. I have been tee-total ever since as I find with my medical issues it makes like much easier for me.
I have never been drunk to the point of forgetting the evening, doing anything overly stupid or been in trouble with the police. On the few occasions I've been drunk it was mildly drunk and with friends in a safe environment, because I grew up in an environment where alcohol was not a taboo. Telling a 20 year old they're too young to drink and treating them like a child, that's insulting beyond belief and I believe it's the sole reason for the state of binge drinking and bar-culture that USA has. If you treat adults like children, they'll act stupid and immature, if you treat children like adults, they'll act responsible and develop a sense of self-respect.
The following user thanked TornadoCreator for this useful post:
10-12-2011, 07:26 PM
#3
pspgamer77
Brute
Originally posted by TornadoCreator
I feel the legal drinking age in pubs/restaurants should be 15 for wines and ales, 18 for spirits, with it being legal to purchase from a shop for 18+ only. This is the current law in France, Netherlands and Norway and is proven to work. It means people are less likely to drink as teenagers as it's no longer "rebellious" to do so. It allows teens and young adults to develop a taste for alcohol and learn to drink it responsibly. Quite frankly the legal drinking age at 21 should be ****ing insulting to everyone. If you're legally an adult at 18 EVERYTHING should be legal. I started drinking as a kid, with shandy and the occasional beer with parental supervision. I found as a teenager I liked cider and vodka at 16, and drank sensibly. As I grew up I developed a taste for rosé and sparkling white wines, and I quickly grew to like absinthe. I drank dark ales and absinthe in my early 20's as my drinks of choice, until I turned 23 when I decided my tastes where too expensive. I have been tee-total ever since as I find with my medical issues it makes like much easier for me.
I have never been drunk to the point of forgetting the evening, doing anything overly stupid or been in trouble with the police. On the few occasions I've been drunk it was mildly drunk and with friends in a safe environment, because I grew up in an environment where alcohol was not a taboo. Telling a 20 year old they're too young to drink and treating them like a child, that's insulting beyond belief and I believe it's the sole reason for the state of binge drinking and bar-culture that USA has. If you treat adults like children, they'll act stupid and immature, if you treat children like adults, they'll act responsible and develop a sense of self-respect.
I have never been drunk to the point of forgetting the evening, doing anything overly stupid or been in trouble with the police. On the few occasions I've been drunk it was mildly drunk and with friends in a safe environment, because I grew up in an environment where alcohol was not a taboo. Telling a 20 year old they're too young to drink and treating them like a child, that's insulting beyond belief and I believe it's the sole reason for the state of binge drinking and bar-culture that USA has. If you treat adults like children, they'll act stupid and immature, if you treat children like adults, they'll act responsible and develop a sense of self-respect.
Thank you for this perfect post. I couldn't have said it better myself. It's fairly apparent that the U.S. drinking laws aren't working, and nobody is doing anything about it at all. It really bugs the hell out of me.
Just stumbled upon this website. MADD was one of the biggest driving forces during the 80's to change the drinking age to 21. And they still hold it there pretty strongly today. I found that every single thing on this page was BS and I could prove it wrong easily. Take a look guys:
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10-13-2011, 04:26 AM
#4
Originally posted by TornadoCreator
I feel the legal drinking age in pubs/restaurants should be 15 for wines and ales, 18 for spirits, with it being legal to purchase from a shop for 18+ only. This is the current law in France, Netherlands and Norway and is proven to work. It means people are less likely to drink as teenagers as it's no longer "rebellious" to do so. It allows teens and young adults to develop a taste for alcohol and learn to drink it responsibly. Quite frankly the legal drinking age at 21 should be ****ing insulting to everyone. If you're legally an adult at 18 EVERYTHING should be legal. I started drinking as a kid, with shandy and the occasional beer with parental supervision. I found as a teenager I liked cider and vodka at 16, and drank sensibly. As I grew up I developed a taste for rosé and sparkling white wines, and I quickly grew to like absinthe. I drank dark ales and absinthe in my early 20's as my drinks of choice, until I turned 23 when I decided my tastes where too expensive. I have been tee-total ever since as I find with my medical issues it makes like much easier for me.
I have never been drunk to the point of forgetting the evening, doing anything overly stupid or been in trouble with the police. On the few occasions I've been drunk it was mildly drunk and with friends in a safe environment, because I grew up in an environment where alcohol was not a taboo. Telling a 20 year old they're too young to drink and treating them like a child, that's insulting beyond belief and I believe it's the sole reason for the state of binge drinking and bar-culture that USA has. If you treat adults like children, they'll act stupid and immature, if you treat children like adults, they'll act responsible and develop a sense of self-respect.
I have never been drunk to the point of forgetting the evening, doing anything overly stupid or been in trouble with the police. On the few occasions I've been drunk it was mildly drunk and with friends in a safe environment, because I grew up in an environment where alcohol was not a taboo. Telling a 20 year old they're too young to drink and treating them like a child, that's insulting beyond belief and I believe it's the sole reason for the state of binge drinking and bar-culture that USA has. If you treat adults like children, they'll act stupid and immature, if you treat children like adults, they'll act responsible and develop a sense of self-respect.
You must bare in mind most people aren't all that intelligent, and won't be able to handle the responsibility of alcohol as well as yourself. Having said that, these same idiots(for lack of a less offensive word) probably will curb their binge drinking if they no longer think it's the cool or rebellious thing to do.
10-13-2011, 12:37 PM
#5
TornadoCreator
A Storm Approaches.
Originally posted by Clutch
You must bare in mind most people aren't all that intelligent, and won't be able to handle the responsibility of alcohol as well as yourself. Having said that, these same idiots(for lack of a less offensive word) probably will curb their binge drinking if they no longer think it's the cool or rebellious thing to do.
Oh I'm not saying it'd stop binge drinking and stupid behaviour completely but the figures seem pretty clear. Binge drinking dramatically drops in countries that have lower drinking ages and that treat drinking as a standard social activity. While my personal situation is only one example, the numbers support the overall point (I would quote sources but I don't have any as I'm remembering past studies but I'm sure people can google them if they're interested. If anyone disagrees with my premise and wants me to back up my claims I'll happily do so, but basically... I can't be arsed right now).
10-13-2011, 04:34 PM
#6
pspgamer77
Brute
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