Why is the drinking age 21 when all other legal rights are granted at 18?

Question

Why is the drinking age 21 when all other legal rights are granted at 18?

Answer 1

The drinking age is 21 because statistics show that people under 21 years of age are not mature enough to know when to quit drinking before they get into trouble due to intoxication.

Answer 2

Because drinking can cause death.

Answer 3

You also can't buy a hand gun.  You can't rent a car.  You can't run for Congress.  You can't be president.  You can't enter into a purchase agreement for land in the state of Texas.  

Not all other legal rights are granted at 18.

Answer 4

it was lowered once to 18;traffic related deaths from drunk driving went

up and so did the drinking age:to 21 again.

the 18 was only for beer & wine though

Answer 5

I guess they think that at 18 your not responsible enough to handle it. Although either are most 21 year olds

Answer 6

Because the nut-jobs that think that alcohol is 'Evil' believe that when you hit 21 you magically become a responsible person... Which is far from the truth...

If you are old enough to die for your country, you should be old enough to drink alcohol.

The problem with alcohol and younger people IS NOT the alcohol... It is the "Taboo" attitude and inability of people to talk about TRUE RESPONSIBILITY to kids about intoxicating substances...

We LIE to kids about the 'dangers' of drugs and alcohol and then expect them to sort out the truth from the fiction.

We tell them it is a "Grown Up" drink which makes them want to drink it to be "Cool" and "Adult" and since we don't teach them that alcohol is just another aspect of life they don't know that you do not NEED to drink until you black out to have a good time.

We need to take the European approach when it comes to drinking...

Take away the "Taboo" factor and let the kids have a glass of wine at dinner and teach them that you can have a beer at dinner and then not have to keep drinking until you puke...

Alcohol isn't the problem... It is our views TOWARDS alcohol that have led us down this dangerous road.

Alcohol is not evil and until we take away the idea that drinking is only for "Grown Ups" kids will continue to drink it excessively at any age they want and there is not a d**n thing anyone can do about it other then try and TEACH THEM THE FACTS about it!

Answer 7

because at 18, alcohol can easily make it into high school parties, with teenagers who aren't responsible. teenagers would know when to stop, and they would try to get home from that party just wasted.

I'm a 15 yr. old, and still think the drinking age should stay at 21

Answer 8

First, drinking alcohol (I assume this is what you mean) is not a "right", it is a privilege.  

Secondly, "rights" are not "granted".  They may be "guaranteed" but not granted.

The drinking age was 18 for a few years many years ago but so many 18-20 year olds abused the privilege and showed they were immature that the law was changed back.  Immediately after lowering the age, the number of DUI/DWI and alcohol related crashes soared.  Immediately following the increase in age, the numbers went down.

Answer 9

Because age is just a number and just because someone turns 18, that doesn't make them a responsible individual. Drinking requires a lot more responsibility than voting or going into an adult bookstore.

Answer 10

Because alcohol is harmful for everyone, but especially for young people.  As it is now, the law gives you a choice at age 21, and the hope is that by then you will have acquired enough self-control to manage your alcohol consumption. It works for some people, but not others. The younger you are when you start drinking, the greater the likelihood that you will become an alcoholic.

Answer 11

Should we move the driving age to 18?

Answer 12

First of all those statistics about age are lies. Mad who provides them are a bunch of right wing bible thumping b*****s.

And to answer to all the morons who think at 21 you become more mature that is the most retarded thing I ever heard. You can wield a machine gun, grenades, pistols, knives, drive tanks, kill men women and children, yet can't drink. Man some people are way to retarded.