AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USKeep the drinking age at 21
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I know there are some kids who could handle the responsibility that goes with alcohol consumption at the age of 14, and I know several adults in their 50’s who have no business being near a can of beer, much less hard liquor. So I get it - being 21 does not automatically make anyone suddenly more responsible. But a benchmark is needed and that’s as good as any.
When I turned 18 the state law in Georgia allowed me legal access to booze and I took full advantage. And I was a late bloomer because some classmates had learned how to alter their driver’s license and had been drinking for a couple of years.
And if you knew the right places to go here in Sandy Springs you didn’t even need a fake ID. The bartender would just ask if you were 18 with a wink and you were off to the races.
Some say it would be a good thing if we were more like some European countries where kids grow up having wine with dinner. It would take much of the mystery out of drinking and leave some less likely to go wild when they finally leave home.
Both our kids were able to travel to Europe after they graduated from high school, and both drank while across the pond. So by the time they left for college any curiosity had been satisfied. But I don’t think a sudden culture shift is going to help.
I had my first drink at 16. My dad offered me a beer and when I recovered from the shock he laid out the rules. Only one. I was not allowed to get one without permission. And once I drank it I was not to leave the house the rest of the night.
There is the argument: “If I’m old enough to serve in the military at 18 I should be old enough to drink.” Great. Enlist, get through basic training and I’ll be happy to revisit the discussion. But don’t tell me your freedom is being abridged because you can’t legally drink until you’re 21. The Constitution wasn’t written to guarantee a good keg party.
Keeping the drinking age at 21 will means less kids under age dying from binge drinking or from wrapping their car around a phone pole while driving drunk. Not to mention anyone they might crash into.
If you are reading this and thinking the drinking age of 21 is The Man keeping you down, you’re right. And may you live with that resentment for years to come.
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Comments
By AlreadySheared
October 1, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Bullhockey!
25+ years ago I had the rediculous experience of carrying loaded guns to work AND supervising 5 other guys with loaded guns (M16s, M60s and M203 grenade launchers) and STILL being unable to legally buy a beer in town on my days off!
Government should restrict the liberties of those who have not yet reached the age of “right reason”, after that, people should be free to do what they want.
At what age does someone have “right reason”? Old enough to vote = age to be tried as an adult for all crimes = age to be bound by contractual agreements you make = old enough to, yes, take up arms in defense of our country = 18.
18.
The age 21 drinking law was pressed on us by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as a way to keep their babies from being killed in DUI accidents. MADD infantilized their offspring instead of doing what they should have done - press for DUI to be a felony offense.
In europe, if you can see over the top of the bar, you can buy a beer - heck they even sell beer in vending machines. They don’t have more DUIs than us because
1) getting a drivers license is a VERY expensive and time-consuming endeavor, and
2) DUI IS a felony - treated like the serious crime it is.
By bobbi
October 1, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
I personally think that not being able to legally drink until age 21 is a crock. It’s supposedly so teenagers won’t be in as many alcohol related accidents. So instead the 19-25 age group now have the most accidents for any age group.
You can be as young as 17 to enlist, go to basic and AIT (ARMY school) then get shipped off half way across the world to fight an unwanted war, which includes killing the enemy, have to live with that; and yet when they come home their dad can’t buy them a beer!? Does this make any kind of rationale sense?
I agree with european countries and how the view drinking. Its true you can drink as soon as you can see over the bar, also, most european countries do not let you drive until age 18. By then the appeal of alcohol has gone down significantly. DUI is STRONGLY enfored, fines are the least of your worries. Not to mention getting your liscense is expensive, keeping insurance is even more, and most countries require different tires for different seasons, so maintainece is a hassle also. (This is also why public transit is so popular)
I do however realize for the first several years there will be an outbreak of teen binge drinkers if any such law was enacted. However, if also follow suit with raising the driving age, then it won’t be such a problem. (With the exceptions for a couple of years for 18-20 age group who fall in the middle of being able to drive and drink). But i agree with AlreadySheared, we NEED to impose stricter laws for DUI’s, that would stop more people for being stupid and selfish for driving while drunk.
I also think America is too modest. In europe it is not uncommon to see completly nake people on commercials, tv, or in the media. There is also a much lower rate of rape and other sexually orientated violence, and Europe’s population is a lot more than ours. They are a lot more open about many things than we Americans, I think we could learn a lot from our neighbors across the pond.
Just my two cents
By Chris
October 5, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
The problem is that parents want the government to take care of their children. Many parents are too lazy to teach their children about alcohol consumption. In our Puritanical based society, alcohol is treated as a scary monster that has to be regulated and never spoken of; much like sex. Parents wonder why their child goes crazy when they are at college; it is simply because they spend too much time sheltering them from what is out there in the world. My parents told me that if I ever wanted to try alcohol before I turned 21 I would be allowed to only under their supervision. If parents would take time to teach their child about issues such as alcohol, it would not be such a big deal when they are old enough to legally drink. Here I am now 28 years old and I have never driven drunk, I know my limits when I drink in public and I have never drank till I became sick. When I turned 21 alcohol was not a big mystery, I went out bought my first beer, enjoyed it and that was pretty much it. You could lower the drinking age to 18, as long as parents were willing to teach their children about alcohol, sure we can sign up to defend out country at 18 but when we do the army does not just shove a gun in our hands and tells us to shoot. It takes months of training and discipline to become a good soldier. If you teach your children discipline when it comes to drinking we would not have the problems we do today.
By kyle
February 25, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this
I think this is bull s** and gay let me do what ever