Do you think 18 year olds should be allowed to drink?

Question

My ex and I got into a debate about this. I think 18 year olds should be allowed to drink since they can go to war.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

Should 18 year olds be allowed to drink means should they be able to buy booze?

I'd say no.

Kids drink anyway. I went to parties in high school and got drunk. Kids in college party and get drunk.

But
1) kids think the purpose of drinking is to get drunk.
2) kids think it's bad ass to get drunk and party like Vikings.
3) kids think they are immortal. They don't have good sense. So they can't be trusted not to drive drunk or do other stupid, dangerous shit.
4) they don't have enough life experience and their brains are not fully developed, so they can't be trusted to behave responsibly.

Kids get bribed and coerced into joining the military. Joining the military and going to war doesn't demonstrate any kind of common sense or maturity. In fact, the military wants immature kids who are full of energy and think they are invincible so that it can break them down and re-mold into obedient killers.

Voting is harmless. Any dumb ass can vote, regardless of age.

So I don't think the fact that 18 year olds can vote or join the military has any bearing on their ability to be personally responsible.

Lurix · Accepted Answer

Yeah, if you can go to war at 18, you should be able to have a drink. It doesn’t make sense that you’re old enough to risk your life for your country but can’t have a beer. If you’re considered responsible enough to fight, vote, and live on your own, then why not? Just gotta make sure people handle it responsibly, but the same goes for anyone.

midnightmoon05 · Accepted Answer

I wanted my kids to try drinks at a young age… 12?13? Don’t remember… they just tried and till now… they don’t like. I still ask them to try. They and I know their level of tolerance. And they have been taught the responsibility of drinking. So we are all cool now that they are 15 and 17. I can tell they are not going to be drinkers.
others… I don’t really care about age… what matters is if they have money to support their habits and if they have been taught to drink responsibly.

Laura131 · Accepted Answer

18 or 21 dose it really matter when it all starts around 15-16 here around 13-14 even, the more your say "no u can't drink yet" the more people or should I say teenagers will want to know how it is to drink. I say let em drink when they want but they should know that if something bad happens they will be the one responsible of their actions

OlderAndWiser · Answer

About 50 years ago, several states - including me beloved Free State of Florida - lowered the drinking age to 18. Almost immediately, the 18 year olds who were still in high school became the most popular kids in school because they started supplying alcohol to their underage friends. The rate of drunk driving arrests among teens soared and a number of fatalities caused by drunk teen drivers compelled the legislature to raise the drinking age back up to 21.

Danny_dan92 · Answer

I will say this is an interesting point given I served in the infantry as well this is in my ballpark.

For starters, I don’t like alcohol at all so I’m going to be as unbiased as possible.

Policies/laws that have been implemented are more often than not a result of the general public sometimes even politicians involved with passing the law; being directly affected by whatever topic is being affected by the legislation.

For example, alcohol was taking the lives of many people. Directly and indirectly that the overall consensus was “we have to do something about this” so they did.

Now. With that out of the way, this is where I have to try and not get frustrated because after serving in the military, and saw what I have seen, I have grown an overwhelming distain for politicians in general. Going back to a point you made it is a very good point, 18 year olds cannot buy alcohol hell, you cannot even buy a GUN… but you can go fight and die for your country. Which I’ll add… that’s become a very disconnected statement honestly. Because I don’t see how any of the recent conflicts have anything to do with the US. Other than it’s corrupt politicians that financially benefit from sending our troops to go fight and die.

To answer your question, I will give a common sense proposal. Yes, 18 year olds can drink alcohol. HOWEVER, they must have another adult present with them, preferably an older adult say 21 or older. To make sure they don’t do something stupid. Such as drink and drive

NathanDavis · Answer

18 is drinking age in Mexico... 21 for the USA

yet, a whole lot of people I know on both sides started to drink around age 16 and at parties...

and, I would not be able to say that it is more or less problematic on either side, so to me... it doesn't make much of a difference

lightbulb27 · Answer

brain is not developed and some lack control nor do they take responsibility. ... so no

in war though they are put under the control of someone else and bossed around. If someone was there to boss them around and yell at them, I'd be ok with them drinking.

no problem if they drink around parents responsibly and are taught responsiblity. same with weapons, cars. a lot of kids probably should not drive either...

NaultD · Answer

na make it a pain in the ass till 21. I'd make an argument for having your own primary resistance as term of proper responsibility but there's too many hypothetical to be effective.

In terms of the war argument, i don't think holding back the transition to adulthood should be held back. The reality is too young of kids are in bad situations that need emancipation to even start life. Sooner the better.

As it so happens military is right there as soon as possible. I am also for mandatory service for 18 year olds to do something outside there village. With military not only viable choice but a role model for a dozen other selective service options.

Without a truly hard days work can a person truly understand the taste and feeling of alcohol.

https://youtu.be/52KWQyEker0?t=72&si=gjcFbAI9Dc3wn7x2

Levin · Answer

They do in the rest of the world. But nothing is consistent about US morality. For a country that believes in individual freedom, and boasts about it across the world, your laws don't reflect that.

Anyway, I believe that young people should be taught how to be responsible.

Kaneki05 · Answer

They can at 18 here so yeah. And if 16-17 you are allowed one drink with meal when with a adult who bought the meal.
And I am all for making it so you can just buy drinks at 16 anyway.
Which sounds crazy to an American I suppose but here you start work at 16 or go to college, and 16 here is legal as well.
So everything kinda starts when 16 here it's not as if your in high school anymore so why drinking wouldn't be the same I don't know.

RowdyYates · Answer

Just make sure to drill a few holes in the juice cap so it doesn't explode.

Kelley1 · Answer

Of course, they should be allowed to drink. Moreover, they do drink at college parties.

Pete671 · Answer

In UK children can drink from age 5 if at home or other private place and supervised by an 18 year old, yes I did mean to type 5 (five),,,

Not allowed to buy it until 18, or 21 at shop/bar discretion, and often if you look under 25 you have to prove you are 18/21,,,

Sometimes police demand the 25/18 rule, or 25/21 on shops, but cannot REQUIRE it, best to comply or for some other reason you get your licence to sell revoked,,,

Flower7 · Answer

No, because the reason for the drinking age is to make sure the brain is all the way developed before consuming chemicals that could have an effect on the brain. It's for medical reasons.

FreyaRed · Answer

Well, you're with 18 mature or you're not. It seems in some countries you're mature enough to waste your life for interest of those who rule you, but you aren't mature enough to buy a beer.

goaded · Answer

LMAO. 18 is the age in the UK you can legally buy alcohol, in Germany it's 18 for spirits, 16 for beer (not sure off-hand about wine). You can legally be given alcohol to drink at younger ages in both countries.

Elaris · Answer

Honestly, I feel like it makes sense! 🥳 If 18-year-olds can go to war and take on adult responsibilities, they should be trusted to drink too, right? 🍹 It’s all about teaching them how to handle it responsibly. Plus, having the legal drinking age at 21 can just make it more tempting to sneak around and do it anyway. 😅 If they had the chance to learn how to drink in safe environments, it could help them be more responsible in the long run.

exitseven · Answer

Yes. these kids go to what, they should be able to drink. I know this was tried during the vietnam era and was raised back to 21 because od all the DUIs but it is what it is.

avery58 · Answer

Yes, but I have my doubts about if they should be allowed to go to war 🤷‍♀️

4ngelic · Answer

yea that's the case in pretty much every country

Anonymous · Answer

Don't really matter in my opinion. Nobody wants to start drinking/smoking until they are legally allowed to do so.

But I get what you mean. If you're old enough to sign your life away, you're old enough drink.

noohair · Answer

When I grew up in NY, the drinking age was 18. Should be 18 today? Maybe.

msc545 · Answer

That's just more drunk people running around getting into trouble and perhaps driving drunk. So no, I don't think that the 18-year-olds should be allowed to drink

jjj101010 · Answer

Yeah. They can here too. In fact they can in most of the world

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

The drinking age should be 16

12karen · Answer

Yes, I think 18 is old enough to handle alcohol

Redstang88 · Answer

Works fine here

OtterMan68 · Answer

they can in Europe

Reijen · Answer

Here in Alberta they can.

MasterKS · Answer

18 is enough to do anything!

gatixek710 · Answer

absolutely.

MisterWack · Answer

21+ to drink.

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