100 U.S College presidents urge lowering of drinking age.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

I just don't see the point in a law that doesn't work.

FACT: The vast majority of 18-20 year olds drink. FACT.

[AkSaber]

If they're not going to lower the drinking age, at least make it so anyone in the military who's sent to a combat zone has to be 21. It's only fair.

Besides, the list of things you can legally do at 18 is pretty long, why not make the alcohol age limit the same?

[bullmoose88]

The non-drinkers and MADD crowd need to open their eyes a bit.  This is not an emotional debate, it is one of pragmatism and fostering responsible behavior over pure social engineering.

And some people need to realize this little piece of information - NJ briefly lowered the drinking age years ago. It was a total disaster. It is now 21 again. That's not emotionally based either.

How long ago was that?

1970s

Someone needs to check me on this, but I think the only reason Jersey changed it to 21 was because the Feds were going to deny highway funds to any state that had a sub-21 limit...I know South Dakota tried to challenge that law on those grounds (it too had an 18 limit) and failed.

[Keystone Phil]

The non-drinkers and MADD crowd need to open their eyes a bit.  This is not an emotional debate, it is one of pragmatism and fostering responsible behavior over pure social engineering.

And some people need to realize this little piece of information - NJ briefly lowered the drinking age years ago. It was a total disaster. It is now 21 again. That's not emotionally based either.

How long ago was that?

1970s

Someone needs to check me on this, but I think the only reason Jersey changed it to 21 was because the Feds were going to deny highway funds to any state that had a sub-21 limit...I know South Dakota tried to challenge that law on those grounds (it too had an 18 limit) and failed.

That very well might have been a reason but it was also a real disaster.

[dead0man]

I believe Louisiana had a "club" loophole for the over 18 crowd until the mid '90s.  If you joined the "club" you could drink if you were 18.  I remember hearing of Airman driving over to Slidell LA from Biloxi MS to drink.  I was over 21 and had my own place so me and my friends had our own access to beer (me).

[bullmoose88]

The non-drinkers and MADD crowd need to open their eyes a bit.  This is not an emotional debate, it is one of pragmatism and fostering responsible behavior over pure social engineering.

And some people need to realize this little piece of information - NJ briefly lowered the drinking age years ago. It was a total disaster. It is now 21 again. That's not emotionally based either.

How long ago was that?

1970s

Someone needs to check me on this, but I think the only reason Jersey changed it to 21 was because the Feds were going to deny highway funds to any state that had a sub-21 limit...I know South Dakota tried to challenge that law on those grounds (it too had an 18 limit) and failed.

That very well might have been a reason but it was also a real disaster.

At least in South Dakota situation, and perhaps Jersey's too if I can get someone to fact check, it was THE reason...as South Dakota...and perhaps Jersey would have kept the 18 limit had they been able to get their highway funds.

[bullmoose88]

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/FewerYoungDrivers/appendix.htm

The highway law in question was enacted in 1984

[Ban my account ffs!]

Minnesota's drinking age was 18 through most of the 70's changing to 19 at the end of the 70s and then 21.

We were also the last state to enact the .08 limit... kinda weird.

[Хahar 🤔]

The non-drinkers and MADD crowd need to open their eyes a bit.  This is not an emotional debate, it is one of pragmatism and fostering responsible behavior over pure social engineering.

And some people need to realize this little piece of information - NJ briefly lowered the drinking age years ago. It was a total disaster. It is now 21 again. That's not emotionally based either.

How long ago was that?

1970s

Someone needs to check me on this, but I think the only reason Jersey changed it to 21 was because the Feds were going to deny highway funds to any state that had a sub-21 limit...I know South Dakota tried to challenge that law on those grounds (it too had an 18 limit) and failed.

That very well might have been a reason but it was also a real disaster.

At least in South Dakota situation, and perhaps Jersey's too if I can get someone to fact check, it was THE reason...as South Dakota...and perhaps Jersey would have kept the 18 limit had they been able to get their highway funds.

A completely unconstitutional method to boot.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

There was several comment here which sounded like that:

"In Europe, it's OK, no binge drinking, young peoples are more responsible than in the US"

Please men, go in Europe!

Binge drinking is a huge problem here! I know for several country of western Europe and I guess it is for the whole.

Here too, young peoples have binge drinking younger and younger, with coma caused by alcohol and all of this. Hospitals regularly say here (and I speak here for France which has the reputation to be less touched than the other countries, I don't know if that's true, that's a reputation) that more and more peoples of about 13 arrive for a coma caused by alcohol.

And here too, why do they drunk? To be shameful, to lose their mind, to burn themselves, to "se décalquer la tête" like we say here "se mettre minable", and they love these feelings they say.

When I was 10, I knew peoples like it, and more I grew up, more I saw peoples taking this way. Having a party for young peoples here means "destroying his head by alcohol", for young peoples doing so is seeing as fully normal, that are those who don't do so who are seen as weird. I never could come in this, I was seen as an original.

And as I said before France as the reputation to be less touched than other countries. UK seems to be the more touched. In Spain, it becomes a kind of tradition, Germany seems to be enough touched too, through others...

No men, America is far to be "THE" binge nation. I wonder where the proportions are bigger, I guess it is likely the same between Europe and US, and it seems to be likely the same in the whole West...

[Jake]

The definition of binge drinking is a bit ridiculous though. 8 drinks over 2 hours can be fine for a lot of guys as long as you don't follow it up with another 8 drinks over 2 hours.

[DownWithTheLeft]

All keeping the drinking age at 21 does is encourage drinking and other problems.  And its not like its a problem, everyone in high school knows what local shops will sell to underage kids.  All your doing is cutting down profits of legitimate businesses.

I think that people need to learn to use alcohol responsibly.  I have a friend who binge drinks constantly because there parents never wanted them to drink, but I don't get hammered constantly because my parents never treated alcohol as taboo.

[Nym90]

It should definitely be lowered to 18. If you can vote, go to war, be responsible for your own well being independently of your parents, etc. you should be able to drink.

Would more people 18-20 years old drink if this change was made? Yes, I think overall the amount of consumption would go up. However, the number of really irresponsible and destructive drinking incidents would go down. It would help change the culture and societal attitude toward alcohol.

[Keystone Phil]

However, the number of really irresponsible and destructive drinking incidents would go down.

The 1970s in NJ would like to have a word with you.

[DownWithTheLeft]

However, the number of really irresponsible and destructive drinking incidents would go down.

The 1970s in NJ would like to have a word with you.

The wristbands thing?  My parents talk about that a lot, seems like a moronic idea

[WalterMitty]

note to the youngsters:

alcohol isnt as harmless as you imagine.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

note to the youngsters:

alcohol isnt as harmless as you imagine.

In my 6 years of drinking, the worst that has happened is I've thrown up.

[Alcon]

note to the youngsters:

alcohol isnt as harmless as you imagine.

In my 6 years of drinking, the worst that has happened is I've thrown up.

So, AA is kind of a nausea support group?

[Sbane]

note to the youngsters:

alcohol isnt as harmless as you imagine.

In my 6 years of drinking, the worst that has happened is I've thrown up.

Your liver disagrees.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Firearms and drinking age should be lowered.  If you can be drafted, you should be able to do pretty much everything (other than get Social Security and Medicare, and other old-people stuff).

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Actually, alcohol has done something else bad: It's made me like rap. Without it I'd never be caught dead yelling out "MOVE BITCH GET OUT THE WAY!" or "MONEY, CASH, MONEY, CASH, HOES!" but thanks to it I have done exactly that.

[Sbane]

Alcohol makes you like rap? Interesting....

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

It's how I measure how drunk I am actually. If I'm at a bar or party and it's playing rap and I'm liking it, I know I'm too drunk to drive.

[Sbane]

HAHA well if I am at a bar and I am liking emo, then I know I am too drunk to drive. Lol jk I'm not even 21 yet.

[dead0man]

note to the youngsters:

alcohol isnt as harmless as you imagine.

In my 6 years of drinking, the worst that has happened is I've thrown up.

I coughed once when I smoked...it must be harmless too!