drinking/driving age

[warcard]

Europe has the right idea about this issue. They don't make such a big deal about alcohol, but if you are caught drinking and driving that is it. No more driving for you.

America has problems with alcohol and underage drinking partly because we do make it a 'forbidden fruit.' You can't do this until you're an 'adult.' In Europe beer and wine are in a persons life from the beginning. They have restrictions on liquor and you do need parental or adult supervision with beer and wine, but its not the end all be all of becoming an adult.

I say at least put it back down to 18, the legal definition of adulthood, but we need to change our relationship with alcohol as a society.

As far as driving I like 16, but maybe that's just because I don't have any kids.

I know it helped my parents out that I was able to drive at that age so they could stop chauferring (sp) me and my sister to after school activities and my job.

 

[Betsy]

When it comes to drinking, we need to follow Europe's example. Teach kids to drink responsibly from the cradle, but require that children not drink if no adults are present and don't allow them to buy alcohol until they're adults. The problem with alcohol in this country is that it's forbidden until people turn 21....making it even more desirable for underage folks to drink it. Remove the restriction, and the fun of drinking it on the sly goes away.

As for driver's licenses, they should leave the minimum age to get one at 16. Some kids have jobs that they require cars to get to, and raising the age will make it harder for kids to become independent adults. Besides, look at all the adults who do crazy things while driving-I'm sure most of the crazy drivers I've seen were way over 16!

For the record, I was 19 when I got my driver's license....not because I wasn't responsible, but because it worked out that way. I was so weird, though. I wanted to vote before I wanted to drive...and voted and worked in my first election before I got my driver's license I had my learner's permit at the time, though

 

[AussieSharon]

I think driving age should be 18. When I moved here from Australia I was shocked at how young you could be and drive. In Australia you have to be 18 to get a Learners Permit and you must display "L" plates on the vehicle at all times there is a learner behind the wheel. That way everyone on the road knows a learner is driving.

Once you get your permit you have to drive with "P" plates on to show you are under probation for 2 years!! The fines and consequences are hefty if you mess up driving while still a probationary driver.

L and P plates are a colored plate or magnetic plate that must be displayed on the vehicle front and back. My brother was once pulled over for not having a P plate on the back of his car, it had fallen off. The end result, about a $75 fine.

With such strict laws enforced and a higher age requirement there are less accidents and fatalities.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

The thing that completely gets me is the united states has an awesome source of information directly to the north of us. It's called Canada

I'm so surprised that people have so many opinions on the drinking age without having any actual concrete proof or data of what the outcome of lowering the drinking age may actually look like. What the US SHOULD do is fund a research project to get statistics that show the number of alcohol related injuries, deaths, accidents, incidents, etc. of persons under the age of 21. vs. persons over the age of 21. This would give us a very large look into whether or not lowering the drinking age will solve problems or create more.

The problem with alcohol is that it is a battle that cannot be won. People are going to drink no matter the drinking age or the laws, or whatever else is put in place to prevent it. However, speaking as a 19 year old, who is in college, I do not believe the drinking age should be lowered. If every person my age was responsible to know when enough is enough and how to say no, I would be all for an 18 year old drinking age. Unfortunately, this is not true most of the time.

I'm a peer educator at my college and I teach a class called Alcohol 101. Through this class I see hundreds of kids who have gotten in trouble with alcohol related charges. THIS WILL NOT CHANGE if the drinking age is lowered. These people will still get in trouble for doing stupid things. In fact, I believe MORE people would be sent to my class for acting stupid while under the influence.

I've seen too many deaths and injuries related to alcohol poisoning and drunk driving. I've spoken to far too many people affected by deaths due to drunk driving. Lowering the drinking age will make it legal for 18 year olds to buy alcohol before and after prom, after graduation, at the beach, etc. Granted, this still happens now, but I can't even begin to imagine what those numbers will look like if the drinking age is in fact lowered. If every one of those young adults were responsible people, there would not be a problem. However, peer pressure plays a HUGE role in our society. I truly believe that in order to successfully lower the drinking age, we would have to first change our ENTIRE culture. Just because it works for Europe does not mean it will work for us. We are two very separate entities.

Just for the record, I do have a drink every now and then here at school. I DO know when to say no and I am ALWAYS responsible. I see nothing wrong with this sort of behavior, even if a person is underage. What I DO have a problem with are those people who go too far and not only risk injury to themselves, but to others.

As for the driving age, I am very much against raising it. I starting driving with a permit at 16 and got my license at 17. Many of my friends waited until they were 18 and some still have not even gotten their licenses. This is a HUGE burden on their parents, as they depend on them for rides everywhere. As soon as I started driving, my mom no longer had to pick me up at school after club meetings (school was 15 minutes away), she no longer had to drive me to work, and I was able to run errands for both her and my dad. I do see a lot of irresponsible drivers on the road, but surprisingly new drivers are generally MORE cautious than those drivers who are relaxed and not quite as braced for situations to arise. In my personal opinion, a 17 year old is not going to be any more dangerous than an 18 year old on the road.

 

[Anny]

The drinking age To be honest with you if "kid" want to drink they are going to drink. Having a lower drinking age at least makes them try to hide it ...alittle.

I drank more when I was 17 then I did when I was 22.

I think in the state drinking is looked at differently then in other countries to, which I don't completely under stand.

In other countries it's not as big of a deal, and people don't "Get smashed" they just have a few drinks.

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
Have you ever been to Amsterdam ....

 

[bluey]

I agree with Miss Prissy in the opinion that we should not be looking to Europe for answers to our social problems. One day, check out some of their outlandish suicide rates. Except for Spain and the UK, they are much higher across the board (WHO stats), although the Netherlands surprisingly is lower.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Part of the problem with lower the drinking age to 18 is that an 18 years old's frontal lobe (brain) has not completely developed. This is the area that controls
impulsiveness. ..among many other things. They may WANT to be responsible...but many have difficulty related to their inability to make good decisions...

It's like putting a loaded gun in a 10 year old's hands...

 

[Silkie's Grandma]

I agree with 18 year old drinking age. If you can go off to war, U should be able to have a drink.

on Driving - it should be a gradual process. starting at age 16 (day light hours only) & only have full driving - without a mentor in the vehicle - after allot of pratice time, & a couple of actual road tests in actual traffic.

I also think elderely folks should have to pass a hands on road test to keep a drivers license.

 

[Chirpy]

you must display "L" plates on the vehicle at all times there is a learner behind the wheel. That way everyone on the road knows a learner is driving.

Once you get your permit you have to drive with "P" plates on to show you are under probation for 2 years!! The fines and consequences are hefty if you mess up driving while still a probationary driver.

L and P plates are a colored plate or magnetic plate that must be displayed on the vehicle front and back. My brother was once pulled over for not having a P plate on the back of his car, it had fallen off. The end result, about a $75 fine.

I love this idea! I've thought of it myself and wondered why it's not in use in the USA. When my sons are driving (2 of them have permits right now) and people get behind us and tailgate or even honk or flash hand signals at us, all because my boys are doing the speed limit! I get so frustrated with those other drivers. If they knew that these boys were on permits maybe it would make them stop being irresponsible drivers themselves and grow up.

We have our own 'rules' at our house and part of that means that our boys could get their permits at 15 but they don't get their drivers license until 17 and they can't drive with anyone else (except immediate family) in the car until they are 18. That gives them several years of driving with us which has helped each of them, and they are very responsible young men.​