Do you think the drinking age should be lowered to 18?

Question

I think this is a good question, that I personally have been talking about for over 3 years. I am 19 now, and can't legally drink. However I can legally work, drive, pay taxes, serve my country, go to college, get married, start a family, smoke cigarettes, leave the state (or country), own a gun, and run for local office, but I can't drink. Give me a break. Personally, this issue is important to me for issues other than actually drinking. I am a rapper (aka hip hop musician) and I make part of my living (well all of my living right now) off of music. And I make money by preforming and selling my cd's. But I can't preform in clubs, bars, or any place that sells drinks. This personally limits the amout of places I can preform. Infact, I can't preform almost anywhere because of this. Now I'm not trying to drink at these places. (personally, if I never had another drink in my life I wouldn't care). But I am trying to make money. Sure I get in once in awhile when a club owner is nice, but i'm sick of having to be scared i'm going to be leaving in the back of a cop car. I want to know what you think about this question, and also my personal situation, thanks

Answer 1

Yes, it should and for all of the reasons you have just stated.  There is absolutely no rationale left whatsoever for the "21-and-up" lobby to continue with this useless statute.  During the '80s, individual states were basically blackmailed by the federal government to raise their minimum drinking ages because of the heavy crusade by MADD and its ally in Elizabeth Dole, former Dept. of Transportation Secretary.  

Of course, there is little political will to do revert the drinking age back to 18.  No elected official wants to be seen as being "soft" on "underage" drinking, and let's face it:  governments at every level benefit greatly from the hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue generated from the issuance of fines levied against "underage" drinkers and businesses that sell to them.  They do not want to see their racket brought down via legalization for a particular age-group.

Answer 2

In Canada it's 19 and I've always thought 19 was stiff. Some kids are going into college @ 18 and they can't get into the nightclubs-which is a big part of college life.

I think it the way you're talking, about making money in the establishment without drinking should be an exemption but I suppose then it''ll be pathway to more exceptions and then when does the line cross.

I think world wide it should be one age tho.

Answer 3

Its 18 here in the UK but you can stand at the bar from the age of 14 and are allowed in pubs at any age.

There is a lot of debate here in the UK over similar age restrictions at 16 you can work, join the armed forces, pay taxes, get married and have s*x. you have to be 17 to drive, and 18 to smoke and vote.

SO

You can go to war at 16 but cant vote on it.

You can have s*x at 16 but cant see a film containing graphic s*x.

I think one age for everything would be a better Idea.

Answer 4

I totally agree with you that it should be 18, but they are some facts that you cant argue agaisnt that there is a lot less drinking and driving accidents with the drinking age at 21. But overall yes I think it should be 18.

Answer 5

totally agree with you on that one

here in Australia the legal drinking age is 18 =D

move over here? lol

Answer 6

I'm in Australia the legal age is 18, i actually think it should be raised but only because i think it would become more of a deterrent  for kids to start drinking at a young age,but if  your so keen to drink as often as you do make sure Alcoholism is not in the family DNA, Ive watched may a people die from this.

Answer 7

I agree with George Carlin, society spends too much time protecting us from ourselves. If some idiot gets too drunk and crashes into a tree, more room for the rest of us. If some stupid guy sticks a quarter in his mouth and chokes on it, more room for the rest of us!. And as for the innocent people who get hurt or maimed by these drunken fools, The drunk should be sent to prison for life without parole, every time, no exceptions, to send a message to the other drunken idiots!. Its known as survival of the fittest, and the human gene pool has been getting kind of thin these last fifty years or so. So, forget the helmets, forget the warning labels. If you get told not to stick your face in the fire you should know better than to stick your face in the fire!. I heard some one say that young people are more prone to make bad judgment calls anyway with out the help of alcohol, I don't believe age has anything to do with it. A person is either smart or they are stupid, and we could all do with a few less stupid people in the world. I am a little before the "Hip Hop" thing, but I am still a Rocker, and I went through the gig in the bar thing as well. We lied about our age, used fake ID, and spent a lot of time in the back of cop cars!, you just have to accept it as part of the business.It could be good PR!.

Answer 8

Well, it is 18 in the UK....

Answer 9

I'm not sure what state you live in but I do know that in the state I live in minors under 21 are allowed in the bars and clubs to perform with a band.