dazzleman
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Posts: 13,777
Political Matrix
E: 1.88, S: 1.59
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« on: July 22, 2004, 08:52:14 PM » |
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I would support an 18-year-old drinking age, but I think the states should decide.
In general, I think that if you're old enough to vote, serve in the military, get married and commit to legal contracts, you should be old enough to have a drink.
I understand that many young people abuse alcohol, but I think that the older drinking age makes it even more attractive. Also, plenty of older people also abuse alcohol.
All we are doing now is criminalizing something that just about everybody does. I don't know anybody who didn't drink years before they turned 21. Sneaking around and doing it illegally, with the danger of getting caught, only makes it more fun.
Some states, particularly in the south, punish underage drinking fairly severely considering the insignificant nature of the offense. It's a waste of time, and it never stopped anybody from drinking. I know guys who got busted for underage drinking and had to do community service and attend alcohol classes early on Saturday mornings for weeks. They always bragged about how they went to the classes hung over.
I say raise the drinking age, but punish dangerous behavior like drunk driving.
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