Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sjrm]

[quote="Unposter"]

It certainly doesn't prevent underage drinking. Heck, you can smoke when your 18 (I think). Absolutely stupid law.

[quote]

It's 19 to buy tobacco in Utah and Alabama. There might be one other state, but I'm not sure.

[semi-fly]

I would think (and I know, thinking is only going to get me into trouble) that lower the drinking age would only increase not decrease the number of people getting into accidents not to mention increase the number of people on college campuses binge drinking.

I know there will be people who will comment that if I'm old enough to defend the country, I'm old enough to drink, smoke, vote, etc. the country should then have no say in whether I drink, smoke.

How then would someone argue that the country (as a whole) is looking out for its citizens by restricting certain 'liberties'? Unfortunately the country tends to turn a deaf ear/blind eye to its citizens when they happen to develop a addiction later in life because of these 'liberties' only because they were (as in the country) too stupid to restrict/outlaw these 'liberties' from the beginning. [Let the 'You're a Communist/nut job comments commence'] I simply feel these (smoking, drinking) vices are down right silly as we have known for some time that they are bad for you and in some cases for the people around you.

[ReeseDog]

[Unposter]

I think one of the ideas is that if the drink age is lowered, people are less likely to hide their drinking. Teenagers drink in the U.S. but because it is illegal they do it on the sly, creating more dangerous situations.

Regardless, the idea is to learn how to drink responsibility not to outlaw drinking.

It may turn out that drinking related accidents and deaths are reduced if the drinking age is reduced.

It also pre-supposes guilt. Obviously, some teenagers drink responsibly. We should punish all for the crimes of a few. If you make a mistake, then maybe you should lose your right for some length of time (regardless of your age). This "line in the sand" twenty-one is too capricious.

[it's full of stars]

One poster mentioned being able to drink while having a meal. I think it is a good idea, when eating out with family for example.

I think I'll encourage or allow my children to have one or two drinks at home, with dinner. Not every day, but on holidays, maybe when we are celebrating something. Setting an example may help make them more responsible teens and adults.

Is it actually only illegal to buy drink or can you drink it if someone gives it to you?

[ReeseDog]

[it's full of stars]

Fair enough. I'm thinking about a drink with meals in the privacy of my own home. A glass of wine for example, or a beer, not supplying the local hood rats.

[Unposter]

I believe it is either not illegal or generally un-enforced if a parent provides their children with drink in the privacy of their home. I would think it would be a problem in public, if a parent provided it to a child who then gave it to someone elses child or if a parent allowed someone elses child or allowed their child to drink without adult supervision.

But, I think your idea is a smart one - teach your children how to drink, when to drink and to drink responsibly will go alot farther than to just tell them you are too young. And certainly, if you do not drink and you feel it is important to teach your child this value, by all means do so. But, I don't think it is good to base the law on one's or certain group's moral beliefs.

[cj1976]

It's 18 in the UK and there are almost no problems with the drinking culture there. Fact.

[mindmetoo]

[Hyeon Een]

When I was 19 I was at college in the US. I used to hangout at a dodgy biker bar where they'd serve me and the other exchange students from Europe. That was nice of them.

My parents came to visit with my 17 year old brother and we met up in NYC. Over 3 days we went to about 6 establishments which happily served both my brother and I beer or wine. In every place they said that it was OK because we were British/European. They were classy restaurant places and hotel bars, not dives. I reckon that it was because we were paying considerable amounts of money rather than our nationality though. Money talks. The US legal drinking age only affects the poor.

[jajdude]

IMO 16 or 17 should be the drinking age everywhere in the world. Christ yr almost grown at that age, and drinking is fun. If you win the championship game in high school you should get free beers at the local bar too.

21 is just a stupid pseudo-morality thing keeping the judgedudes and hippocrates happy.

[browneyedgirl]

If they weren't driving home, then I'd say there is nothing wrong with them drinking at 18.

If someone lives in a city with a subway or within walking distance of a bar, then there isn't a big problem. The real problem is most of Americans drive after they drink, and most 18-year-old kids don't even drive well when they are sober.

[newton kabiddles]

I'll accept 21 as long as I can smoke in a fuckin bar.

[bucheon bum]