Why cutting the drinking age would reduce drunkenness
Pulled from comments: A concise and perceptive observation from someone who says he's a 20-year-old University of Maryland student.
Why would lowering the drinking age aid in stopping binge drinking? It's simple. I'm 20 and I know that when my friends and I are able to get a hold of some alcohol it's an occasion we don't want to pass up because it doesn't happen very often, and so we take advantage of the situation and drink as heartily as we like (some go further then "heartily" and binge). If it was possible to have alcohol any time we liked, it wouldn't be a once in a while deal to get alcohol and we wouldn't feel compelled to take advantage of the situation.If you never ever get the chance to have a piece of cake and you suddenly are presented with a whole cake, you're certainly going to eat more then if you have the opportunity to eat cake each and ever day. That's all. It's simple.
Comments
I've seen juniors in high school get served.(the kid even said hi to me) If kids want to get it,they have the computer skills to make an ID. By lowering the age to 18 for beer and wine, and 21 for liquor, every kid would get IDed and probaly wouldnt take the time or the risk to make a fake ID. Kids would be happy with beer and wouldnt binge AS MUCH. it's middle ground.
Posted by: pelham | August 19, 2008 10:44 PM
The only people who would fight a proposal like this would be neoprohibishionists, like MADD.
Posted by: Cheese | August 19, 2008 11:02 PM
Trust me, Cheese, there are a lot more individuals who would fight it besides MADD. Myself included!
Posted by: Disgusted | August 20, 2008 12:40 AM
I've always thought that 19 would be reasonable. There are very few 19-year-olds in high school but quite a few in the military, who should be allowed to unwind with a drink if they so desire.
Posted by: MikeA | August 20, 2008 7:16 AM
I've always thought that 19 would be reasonable. There are very few 19-year-olds in high school but quite a few in the military, who should be allowed to unwind with a drink if they so desire.
Posted by: MikeA | August 20, 2008 7:16 AM