drinking/driving age

[mom'sfolly]

There has been alot of talk in the news lately about lowering the drinking age back to 18 and raising the driving age up to 17 or 18. I'm just wondering what people's opinions are. I'll start off with mine.
On the drinking age, I feel if you are old enough to legally marry, vote, sign a contract and go to war you should be considered old enough to drink. Either you are legally an adult or you're not; so if you are not mature enough to drink you aren't mature enough to vote or join the military. I also think the driving age should be raised. I'm sort of an advocate of everything at 18, including driving. Turn 18, and get the keys to the adult universe; voting, marriage, contracts, cars, military, everything. I know most parents of teens would not agree, and maybe I'll change my mind by the time my guys are that age.

On a related note, I'd like to see a mandatory national service period, like a draft, but including other types of service as well...military, Red Cross, something like the CCC, teaching in disadvantaged or poor areas, and other kinds of service.

 

[danischi24]

Welcome to Israel!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Regarding military service, I don't think they should be allowed to send our 18 year old BOYS to war.

I like the drinking age where it is, but if they aren't going to raise the age for the military, then everything should be at 18.

Driving, well, here they can get their permit at 15 1/2 I think it is now? and Drivers license at 16? I could be wrong on that, too. They keep lowering the age of drivers instead of raising it. I think that is wrong. I think they should either leave it at 16 or raise it to 18.

If at 18 you are legal to move out, work a job, get married, etc, then everything should be available at 18.

 

[sweetcorn]

On the drinking age, I feel if you are old enough to legally marry, vote, sign a contract and go to war you should be considered old enough to drink. Either you are legally an adult or you're not; so if you are not mature enough to drink you aren't mature enough to vote or join the military.

I agree , if you can be drafted , sued , vote , marry you should be able to drink a beer for pete's sakes. Drunk driving should be harshly prosecuted. It's a form of age discrimination in my opinion.

My oldest two boys got permits at 17 and their license right at 18th birthday. I didnt' trust them to drive alone at 16 !

Mom to boys 21, 18, 12, 8 and a girl 4​

 

[redoak]

Drinking age 18, if you can be drafted for the military then your old enough to drink.

Driving age 18, if your only driving experience is grand theft auto then you shouldn't get a license.

 

[Katy]

I don't think the driving age should be raised, unless farm kids are still allowed to get permits to drive with farm related things and school functions. I'd have been driving the wheels of my car back and forth for school stuff if my kids couldn't have driven in to school. They also drove working for their dad.

I do think the drinking age should be lowered....if they can send you off to war you ought to be able to have a beer if you want one!! Waaaaaaaaaay back when I was 18 you could buy beer at 18, but had to be 21 for liquor.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Our problem is not with the legal drinking age but with cultural ideals of what's cool: being drunk is like a badge of honor for teens and young adults. Heck, even adults who know better talk about being "wasted" last weekend, at XYZ party, or "that time at band camp".

Ever been to a wedding or a business convention with an open bar? It's an embarassment, and these are mature adults (supposedly). You'd think that Prohibition were around the corner the way people drink when the booze is free.

If we as competent adults can't role model responsible drinkign behavior, why should we expect older teens to be able to handle it?

 

[werblessd1s]

I know my 16 yr. old son scares the living poo out me with his driving. Ofcourse I think most people feel safer behind the wheel. I think boys are worse than girls as in being lead footed. Then pile a few of their friends in the car with them trying to backseat drive

But hey.... he hasn't come home and dyed his hair black, painted his finger nails black, and wearing black eyeliner, so i'm happy

There are 50 year old people not responsible when it comes to drinking. At 18 they are old enough to know right from wrong. If their old enough to die for their country they should be able to drink.

 

[cluckychick]

My opinion...I have a 23, soon to be 24 yr. old step-son, 18 and 15 yr. old boys.

I agree they should be allowed to drink and I also agree that they should serve in some type of capacity as the OP said. I don't agree with train them 6 months and then send them overseas but let them serve at home, close to family, getting an education and allowing them the decision as to wether they want to continue after that time served.

My 18 yr old is presently away at college and I pray everyday he makes wise choices, I know I raised him well but will it fly out the window while he's away getting his education only god knows. He was not allowed to get his drivers license until he obtain the rank of Eagle in Boy Scouts and I will not allow my 15 yr old to get his until that rank is achieved as well.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
This one won't win me any popularity contest.

These days 18 year olds are far less mature and have had far less responsibility to make them accountable for their actions.

I wouldn't have a problem with either the drinking age or the driving age if parents were more responsible and raise children to know right from wrong. Remove yourself from your high and mighty throne if you think your kid is perfect and would never even be tempted. They are all tempted at some point. It is your parental teaching that prevents them from following those urges and to be responsible on their own.

Look at all of the unsupervised, disrespectful, wouldn't work in a pie factory eating pie teenagers in this world who would love to buy alcohol and then roll with their friends and could not care less if they hit your car and killed you, your kids or your grandkids because they just want to have a good time.

If an 18 year old in the military has a military ID they should be able to buy a beer. I would prefer they have to buy it and consume it on base.