The death of the person is not a tragedy whatsoever, but what happens to their families is. I have no remorse for a suicidal person.

 

 

 

Never had depression then?

Go zierro! Where do you live by the way?

 

 

 

Florida USA

 

 

 

And yeah, I think it's safe to say that the majority of drinking happens because people don't want to be sober for the night.

Go zierro! Where do you live by the way?

 

 

 

Florida USA

 

 

 

And yeah, I think it's safe to say that the majority of drinking happens because people don't want to be sober for the night.

 

 

 

I just don't see the point in "social drinking". People, just realise that it's a drug like any other. You drink because of it's effects.

 

 

 

It's like saying you smoke marijuanna because it smells good. (Well it does but doesn't matter now)

It's 19 here, but it doesn't really matter. It's so damn easy to get an older friend to buy you a bottle of vodka. Some people also drive to Montreal for the booze because it's 18 there.

I beg to differ.

 

Name one good reason why suicide is a tragedy. It's so stupid, selfish, and pointless. Not one good thing comes from suicide. The people that commit suicide only create pain and sadness for their family and friends. There was a guy that just jumped off a freeway overpass in my town and was hit by 3 cars. The first that hit him was a pregnant lady. She lost her child because of him. I get REALLY pissed off when people try to say that suicide is justified/sad/an option. People who commit suicide are the most unintelligent halfwits in this world.

 

 

 

You've never heard that many who commit suicide have mental illnesses? Please don't try and degrade them to the level of halfwits. They have problems and the failure of society to be able to deal with mental illness (resulting in suicides) is a sad thing.

 

 

 

Having said that I don't think it should ever be an option or justified. These people should be helped.

 

 

 

I'm sorry, but anyone who tries to tell you that they like drinking beer or anything other than Mike's or Smirnoff is full of it. People don't drink beer for the taste. Especially not young people.

 

 

 

What an incredibly ignorant thing to say. I often have a beer (note: one) just for the taste and refreshment.

 

 

 

Anyway, on the issue of legal drinking age, as assassin noted, it has everything to do with the culture surrounding drinking in the particular country. If lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 is going to cause serious problems, then it's society with problems, not the rule. I'd argue 18 is a perfectly reasonable age physiologically speaking and any problems that result from a legal drinking age of 18 are the fault of society. Hell, we have problems here in Aus with binge drinking. We're some of the heaviest drinkers in the world as a matter of fact.

 

 

 

As for whether serious problems will actually be caused by the lowering of legal drinking age in the US, I suppose that could happen. More kids start drinking and partying earlier and you get a few more DUI's and possibly deaths. Having said that, I doubt that any 18 year old who wants a drink at the moment couldn't get it somehow.

I'm not American, and Britain hardly has the best track record when it comes to drinking either but I think it's more to do with culture than at what age it becomes legal. In France the drinking age is 18 but kids are brought up having a glass of wine with their meal with their parents. Drinking isn't stygmatised so people don't drink to rebel since it's not being rebellious. As a result there's virtually no drinking culture.

 

 

 

Until you can change the mindset where you draw the line is fairly arbitary. Kids still get the drink even if it's not legal, the only ones you're probably deterring are the ones who'd drink responsibly anyway.

 

 

 

Seconding this

 

 

 

Brought up in a similarly european way (part german) being introduced to beer and wine at a fairly early age and being used to it. Always been partial to a drink, never had a great deal of fuss made over it, never done me an iota of harm.

 

 

 

Mindset is the most important thing to change, not the arbritrary legislation behind alcohol's trade

IMHO drinking age means nothing to me other than whether the police can arrest you for "underage" drinking or not. It's incredibly easy to find either someone to purchase a fake ID from or a overage friend who will buy it for you. I'm 15, I drink a fair bit, if I want to drink I'll get my hands on drink some way or another.

 

 

 

The only thing drinking age will ever mean to many people is whether they can legally do it in a pub or not. If people want to get drunk they will get drunk, it's incredibly easy.

 

 

 

As Assassin and Baron said, don't address the age limit but address the mindset, making it lower will just make it easier for people all the way down to 14-15 even though it's being lowered to 18 as many people who are 14-15 will know enough 18 year olds to buy it for them.

All those reasons you gave are indirectly related to suicide. The death of the person is not a tragedy whatsoever, but what happens to their families is. I have no remorse for a suicidal person.

 

Where on Earth did you link alcoholism and suicide? I won't even ask for a psychological report which links the two.

 

 

 

Give me a case where someone has purposefully taken their own life because they were drunk. Do you know how much of an idiot you're making yourself look here?

 

 

 

You're referring to people who commit suicide due to depression. People who suffer from depression have a higher risk of turning to alcohol and as a result, are at risk of developing an addiction.

 

 

 

If you have no comprehension of mental health (which you clearly don't), just don't bother commenting on people who have committed suicide. Life is hard enough for those considering suicide without morons like you telling them you have no remorse for their condition.

 

 

 

As far as the case with the pregnant women goes, that's exactly why Euthanasia should be a legal right.

I just don't see the point in "social drinking". People, just realise that it's a drug like any other. You drink because of it's effects.

 

 

 

It's like saying you smoke marijuanna because it smells good. (Well it does but doesn't matter now)

 

I agree that the thinking of "Oh, I only drink because its social" is pretty stupid, but I drink because I like the taste. Not the taste of the alcohol, or even the fact it is alcoholic. I drink cider, an apple based alcoholic drink, the taste is comprised - surprisingly - of apples. The fermentation of these apples during the production of said drink produces the alcohol. If I could drink a good cider which was alcoholic and tasted exactly the same, and I mean exactly, I would. I dont particularly enjoy the thought of staggering home in a stupor at night after downing multiple alcohol-laden drinks just because I wanted to get drunk. Seems highly pointless since at the end of it you dont even remember it.

The death of the person is not a tragedy whatsoever, but what happens to their families is. I have no remorse for a suicidal person.

 

 

 

Never had depression then?

 

 

 

Many people have never experieced depression badly. Of course, many have suffered from minor depression where you feel down for a long time and they think that's all there is to depression. Suicidal thoughts are scary [cabbage].

 

 

 

[hide=]

Go zierro! Where do you live by the way?

 

 

 

Florida USA

 

 

 

And yeah, I think it's safe to say that the majority of drinking happens because people don't want to be sober for the night.

[/hide]

 

I just don't see the point in "social drinking". People, just realise that it's a drug like any other. You drink because of it's effects.

 

 

 

It's like saying you smoke marijuanna because it smells good. (Well it does but doesn't matter now)

 

 

 

It smells like what I think Heaven will smell like. :

 

 

 

IMHO drinking age means nothing to me other than whether the police can arrest you for "underage" drinking or not. It's incredibly easy to find either someone to purchase a fake ID from or a overage friend who will buy it for you. I'm 15, I drink a fair bit, if I want to drink I'll get my hands on drink some way or another.

 

 

 

The only thing drinking age will ever mean to many people is whether they can legally do it in a pub or not. If people want to get drunk they will get drunk, it's incredibly easy.

 

 

 

You're right, it is INCREDIBLY easy to obtain. I have a friend who works at a grocery store who is more than willing to sell me cigarettes/alochol as long as she "checks my ID" and her manager is nearby. All it takes is a few hook ups, some cash, and you're set.

 

 

 

Seems highly pointless since at the end of it you dont even remember it.

 

 

 

I agree completely. If you don't remember it, could it have really been that much fun? I have no problems with going to a friend's house and getting trashed. But you have to stop at a point where you're feeling awesome, but you're still going to remember the night.

 

 

 

How I found my limits:

 

The last time I drank socially I had a little too much and blacked out a few times. Once I found myself at the bottom of the stairs, laying on my back laughing, another I came to and found myself playing Halo, and the last time I woke up and it was morning. Aside from a few lapses, I remember almost all of the night (even my friend who doesn't know his limits at all and ended up in the bathroom all night - his patio became my toilet for the night). Since then I've known when to stop so I could remember whatever I did and hopefully wake up feeling decent in the morning.

I agree that the thinking of "Oh, I only drink because its social" is pretty stupid, but I drink because I like the taste. Not the taste of the alcohol, or even the fact it is alcoholic. I drink cider, an apple based alcoholic drink, the taste is comprised - surprisingly - of apples. The fermentation of these apples during the production of said drink produces the alcohol. If I could drink a good cider which was alcoholic and tasted exactly the same, and I mean exactly, I would. I dont particularly enjoy the thought of staggering home in a stupor at night after downing multiple alcohol-laden drinks just because I wanted to get drunk. Seems highly pointless since at the end of it you dont even remember it.

 

 

 

You're still among the minority though and you made it seem as if the people who drink to get drunk were abnormal.

If they lowered the age limit for drinking/smoking to 18, that means some students in high school could buy and sell alcohol for younger people. It happens already at my school with people who are 19.

 

I'm all for it though :thumbup:

 

I'm sorry, but anyone who tries to tell you that they like drinking beer or anything other than Mike's or Smirnoff is full of it. People don't drink beer for the taste. Especially not young people.

 

 

 

What an incredibly ignorant thing to say. I often have a beer (note: one) just for the taste and refreshment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's an acquired taste. Still tastes bad to me though. I still have soda with lunch and stuff.

 

 

 

^^ I don't know what school you went to. At mine my bio teacher basically told us we could drink as much as we want and we wouldn't get alcohol poisoning because we would throw up before we died. Then like two weeks later she told us what is really happening when you pass out. :ohnoes:

 

 

Well I'm going to be the first to tell you that your "bio teacher" was full of it. I've had 3 close friends have alcohol poisoning. It's not something to laugh about or just let it roll off the cuff. It happens, and it happens because kids are stupid. Personally, I could be more prone to alcohol poisoning because I do not throw up as easily as others, and due to my size (6'4" 220), I do not feel the affects of alcohol as soon as a smaller person may. I can take in more alcohol than an average person, but not feel as drunk. I've been drinking for a couple years now and I have never thrown up from drinking. I have put down 3/4 or a 1.75 of Captain Morgan in a night, and didn't throw up. I'm not trying to brag here, just trying to say that alcohol affects different people in different ways. It's quite easy to get alcohol poisoning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That only happens if you drink hella in a short time. My friend did that once. He got alcohol poisoning. If you space it out you will throw up before getting alcohol poisoning.

Just lowering the age to drink to 18 I am in favor of. Changeing any other laws like saying it's ok to drink and drive however I am not ok with. on another simmiler note it was kindof funny when I was buying a cheap cigar last week... they asked for ID and said I had to be at least 21 :lol: I am older than that!

 

What an incredibly ignorant thing to say. I often have a beer (note: one) just for the taste and refreshment.

 

 

 

Anyway, on the issue of legal drinking age, as assassin noted, it has everything to do with the culture surrounding drinking in the particular country. If lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 is going to cause serious problems, then it's society with problems, not the rule. I'd argue 18 is a perfectly reasonable age physiologically speaking and any problems that result from a legal drinking age of 18 are the fault of society. Hell, we have problems here in Aus with binge drinking. We're some of the heaviest drinkers in the world as a matter of fact.

 

I understand where you're coming from, but I was just trying to point out that most 17 and 18 year old children do not drink beer for refreshment. I might have one if it's extremely cold, but most of the time they just want to get "hammered". Older people will do it for refreshment, but not younger ones. That was my point.

kids under 21 still drink here. its just riskier so u cant buy alchohol in mass amounts. even though it would be nice from many of our perspective it will only cause more deaths.

ive always maintained that if at the age of 18 one can be shipped to foreign lands to die for his country, he should be able to calm down with a beer afterward. if he is alive.

Well said Mr. Pez.

 

 

 

Perhaps regulating how much alcohol an 18-21 year old may consume would be one alternative to banning the consumption altogether. I myself enjoy a glass of wine with my meals, and don't see anything wrong with consuming the drink in moderation. Personally I would like to see it legal for well... every one (yes, this means children) to have a nice glass of wine at dinner, or before the go to bed to help them sleep. It's much healthier than taking a sedative. Indeed some say its actually healthy to drink certain kinds of wine.

I don't know any other western country than U.S. with such a high drinking age, 21. I don't really like alcohol, but the restriction is a load of trash. 18 year olds can perfectly well decide if they're going to have a beer, a sip of vodka, etc...

 

 

 

Or maybe it's the small, idiotic minority keeping those laws in effect... You know, the ones that do drunk driving and get into unnecessary accidents because some genius in the group started drinking too much to show how "tough" he is. They maintain a bad image for the age group 17-20 as practically still being 'immature', punishing others in their age group with their stupidity.

If you can be sentenced to death, sent over seas to fight and possibly die, vote for the next president, get married, buy a house or car, smoke tobacco, and buy porn at the age of 18, but you can't have a beer, makes perfect sense. :roll:

 

 

 

I'm still underage when it comes to drinking, and I personally don't give a flying [bleep] what the government says. Like their limitation on alcohol actually stops us from drinking, heck that drinking age causes more criminal action and deaths than it prevents.

What we need are stricter drunk driving laws, not strict drinking age laws. I say lower the drinking age to 18 and put a higher penalty on driving drunk.

 

 

 

On a side note, I've recently taken an interest into homebrewing although am somewhat limisted by my current living situation.

There's just no point. Especially in college you just have to know anyone over 21 to get it. It's so easy where I'm at. High school is trickier, but I was lucky to have an older sister that would buy for me and my friends whenever.

I am from the UK where the age limit is 18. I tend to agree with people that the age limit usually doesn't matter since if kids want to drink then they will. However, I can think of a situation where it does matter. At university in the UK, it seems that basically every social event (offical and unofficial) is centred around drinking. It either begins or ends in a pub or club. Indeed, the students union recently started going out of their way to hold the odd event that didn't involve drinking because there were literally none before that. At least in the US, it isn't assumed that the only way that college kids spend social time will involve alcohol, because it isn't technically legal yet.

If you can be sentenced to death, sent over seas to fight and possibly die, vote for the next president, get married, buy a house or car, smoke tobacco, and buy porn at the age of 18, but you can't have a beer, makes perfect sense. :roll:

 

 

 

I'm still underage when it comes to drinking, and I personally don't give a flying [bleep] what the government says. Like their limitation on alcohol actually stops us from drinking, heck that drinking age causes more criminal action and deaths than it prevents.

 

 

 

 

 

I agree. Some people have a rebellious nature. They will do anything to go against the rules, but screwing it up for the rest of us. If they lower the drinking age, more people are less likely to hide the fact they've drank, therefore possibly finding a designated driver. I also agree with what others have said about just because there is an age limit, doesn't mean most kids know how to get past that.

I don't know any other western country than U.S. with such a high drinking age, 21. I don't really like alcohol, but the restriction is a load of trash. 18 year olds can perfectly well decide if they're going to have a beer, a sip of vodka, etc...

 

 

 

Or maybe it's the small, idiotic minority keeping those laws in effect... You know, the ones that do drunk driving and get into unnecessary accidents because some genius in the group started drinking too much to show how "tough" he is. They maintain a bad image for the age group 17-20 as practically still being 'immature', punishing others in their age group with their stupidity.

 

Sadly, that's exactly the way it is. The minority generally ruins it for the majority. The idea of "you're not mature enough at 18 to drink" is a load of bull. It all depends on the individual whether or not theyre mature enough to decide that. Many 18 year olds are more mature than people twice their age.

 

 

 

That being said, a policeman that I know recently said that most of the DUI's he issues are for people over the age of 35. So by that logic, should we raise the drinking age to 36 because people under 35 aren't mature enough to not drink and drive?