Lowering the drinking age in America? ?

Question

What do you think? Several colleges are starting compaigns to lower the drinking age to 18 so that the number of accidents and whatnot that go on on campus will be lowered, as well as other reasons.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080818/ap_on_re_us/college_presidents_drinking_age_1

Personally, I think they should lower the age to when you graduate from high school. And only from school- if you can't go drink with a GED, then you will probably want to stay in school to get that diploma. If you want to be lazy, you can wait until you are 21 like the rest of us had to do. There are enough schools with different focus available to students(charter schools, etc.) that every student should be able to get a diploma. But waiting for the diploma means they can continue efforts to keep alcohol out of high schools(I fully support that). And then, when students do get to college after that one golden summer(lol if you don't have to work, anyways), they will be more aware of the effects alcohol may have on them, and be less likely to be stupid about it. Just in theory mind you, there will always be the idiots who make you look bad, lol.

What do you think?

Answer 1

I say they should keep it at 21. I am 17, and trust me, if people want to drink, they find a way to drink.

But legalizing it- making it alright for people to drink is not right.

There was a period in time when they did lower the age to 18, but during graduation and prom, there were so many drunk driving violations and major accidents that they changed it back to 21.

Answer 2

How about lowering the age to become a College President to 18?

Answer 3

You have more problems than you can handle with the drinking age where it is now.

Lowering it will only increase the problems.

Answer 4

It's wierd that we can go fight a war and die and smoke cigarettes, but yet we can't drink a little alcohol?

One of the reasons underage people abuse it because they feel like they are breaking the law and like the feeling.

I agree that the age should be lowered and ADULTS(18, and over), should have the right to make their own decisions.

Who says anyone is mature at 21 anyway? The drinking age is much lower in other countries and it hasn't really caused any problems.

Answer 5

Too much red tape. Wouldn't you have to have separate ID cards for those who can drink? Nope, although the idea has merit, it won't work.  

Answer 6

There shouldn't be a drinking age at all.  It's no business of the government whether someone drinks alcohol or not.

Answer 7

That is an interesting idea.  Unfortunately, the public school system is hardly a guarantee of competency, and people with GEDs can sometimes be more competent than many high school graduates, and several drop outs are.  So, at the moment, it's not a perfect plan.

However, lowing it to 18 is a good idea.  I think drinking is retarded, at least how it's practiced by most people.  If you drink, you should do it to loosen up a bit and socialize.  Drink good quality and interesting mixed drinks.  Just drinking straight whiskey and a bunch of beer so you can get wasted and laugh at people puking is not fun, it's just horseassery.  Regardless, people are going to do it anyway and there's no reason to wait until 21 to make it legal.  Let them do it younger and it will be safer and maybe less intriguing for some.