Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
Did you know the drinking age is an example of continuing societal debate over how best to regulate legal drugs? Read what different thinkers have to say, at "drinkingage.procon.org," part of the ProCon.org family.
This is the fifth in a six-part series of ProCon.org teasers being published in Drug War Chronicle. Keep tuning in to the Chronicle for more important facts from ProCon.org the next several weeks, or sign up for ProCon.org's email list or RSS feed. Read last week's Chronicle ProCon.org highlight piece here.
ProCon.org is a web site promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting controversial issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan primarily pro-con format.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
21
It's the same as the Drug War
I did most of the drinking I've done in life before the age of 21. I'm sure many others have, as well.
I was 16 when I spent 18
I was 16 when I spent 18 months in St. Gallen, Switzerland. At the time there was no drinking age, but you had to be 18 to go to the movies. The big thrill was going to the movies.
Sure
If they're in the military. After all, the Govt. gives them a gun, sends them half way around the world, and has them kill or be killed.
I grew up when the age limit was 18. I hardly drank at all and most of my friends didn't drink much, either.
Yes
If you can vote and die you ought to be able to drink. In fact, I think it should be lowered to 16. The young love forbidden fruit.
Obviously
Every other country where the drinking age is lower has less alcohol-related accidents. Coincidence?
All a 21 year age limit on alcohol does is give money to the person supplying me with my fake, which I use to drink.
If I can take a bullet for my country I sure as hell can take a shot.
Age limits are oversimplified
Age limits are oversimplified policies designed to appease overconcerned/misinformed social conservatives. These rules do not help society but rather hurt it by promoting the notion that people's chronological state determines their competency. This is not true since most adults are hardly competent. I propose that access be based entirely on competency rather than retarded "oh, your old enough now" rules.
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