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04-29-2008, 01:01 PM
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Location: Between Philadelphia and Allentown, PA
5,077 posts, read 14,193,359 times
Reputation: 3768
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Ok, I have one for you gorgeous guys and gals...
The legal drinking age is 21. In Europe it's different, in every country it's different. I work for a military installation but am not military myself. I think that if our young men and women are old enough to serve this country at 18, then by law they should be allowed to drink legally. Any thoughts?
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04-29-2008, 01:18 PM
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Location: Tucson
42,835 posts, read 85,497,618 times
Reputation: 22814
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andreaspercheron
Ok, I have one for you gorgeous guys and gals...
The legal drinking age is 21. In Europe it's different, in every country it's different. I work for a military installation but am not military myself. I think that if our young men and women are old enough to serve this country at 18, then by law they should be allowed to drink legally. Any thoughts?
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Absolutely! |
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04-29-2008, 01:22 PM
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Location: Wu Dang Mountain
12,941 posts, read 21,003,649 times
Reputation: 8677
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andreaspercheron
I think that if our young men and women are old enough to serve this country at 18, then by law they should be allowed to drink legally. Any thoughts?
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Agree 100%, as long as they don't get tanked right before a mission. |
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04-29-2008, 01:25 PM
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280 posts, read 1,176,834 times
Reputation: 213
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andreaspercheron
Ok, I have one for you gorgeous guys and gals...
The legal drinking age is 21. In Europe it's different, in every country it's different. I work for a military installation but am not military myself. I think that if our young men and women are old enough to serve this country at 18, then by law they should be allowed to drink legally. Any thoughts?
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I have always said that - if your old enough to fight for our country in horrific conditions, you definately deserve a drink. Cheers to our troops  |
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04-29-2008, 02:22 PM
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Location: Texas
2,437 posts, read 6,773,906 times
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I agree .. .when I was in the military and couldnt get a drink.. I was WTH .. I can die for this country but I cant get a durn drink? I think they should be able to drink!!!!
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04-29-2008, 02:45 PM
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Location: MA/NH
17,684 posts, read 38,622,519 times
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I like the legal drinking age at 21, but I'd go along with allowing anyone 18 or older who is in our military and in good standing to be able to drink alcohol.
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04-29-2008, 03:54 PM
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Location: Beautiful New England
2,412 posts, read 6,945,270 times
Reputation: 3070
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andreaspercheron
I think that if our young men and women are old enough to serve this country at 18, then by law they should be allowed to drink legally
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This is such a hidebound cliche and I think it's nonsense.
Consuming alcohol is not a constitutionally protected right; it is a privilege protected under law. Laws make reasonable limitations on such privileges in the interest of public safety all the time: we limit the speed at which--and personal conditions under which--one may drive a car, for example, in the interest of safety. We also limit the times and location of alcohol sales in the interest of public health and safety.
In the face of ample evidence which shows that binge drinking and DUI are significant problems for those under the age of 21, restricting access of alcohol to minors is a perfectly reasonable (and very effective, by the way) means of addresses a major public health and safety problem.
As for the oft-cited overseas examples: the percentage of European teens (or teens in most other counties on the planet) who have drivers licenses and easy access to a car is very small compared to the U.S. Sure, 18 year olds in, say, France can drink themselves stupid. But since they are very unlikely to get behind the wheel of a car they pose much less of a public safety risk to others.
Put me down as a firm supporter of the 21 year age drinking law. |
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04-29-2008, 04:19 PM
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Location: MA/NH
17,684 posts, read 38,622,519 times
Reputation: 17693
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Quote:
Originally Posted by professorsenator
As for the oft-cited overseas examples: the percentage of European teens (or teens in most other counties on the planet) who have drivers licenses and easy access to a car is very small compared to the U.S. Sure, 18 year olds in, say, France can drink themselves stupid. But since they are very unlikely to get behind the wheel of a car they pose much less of a public safety risk to others.
Put me down as a firm supporter of the 21 year age drinking law.
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Good point!! Take a city like New York City, people party it up and then afterward either walk back to their apartments or take a cab home. But in the suburbs or out in the country, after a night of drinking, people get into their cars to drive home. Drunk driving is a problem at all ages, but young people in particular are prone to mistakes in judgment. Young people have a false sense of immortality.
Then a human being's brain doesn't finish developing until the age of 25. The last area to develop is the frontal cortex which is the decision making area of the brain. I believe that if a young person indulges too much in alcohol (which they do illegally anyway), it will leave a permanent and negative affect on their brain and body chemistry. I've seen this with my boyfriend's younger sister. She partied too much as a teen and ended up needing to go to rehab for alcoholism at the age of 20. Now she is fine and also a member of AA. Had she waited or used moderation, maybe she would still be able to drink. Their dad is an alcoholic. My boyfriend drinks moderately, but he has always been aware that his drinking could get out of control if he wasn't careful. |
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04-29-2008, 04:22 PM
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Location: MA/NH
17,684 posts, read 38,622,519 times
Reputation: 17693
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BTW I don't need to drink in order to have fun. I've gone to many clubs and only had ice water or soda to drink all night. I drink maybe once a month, I like to have a beer with a good steak or burger. I think it nonsense that anyone thinks they need to drink to have a good time at a party or a club.
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04-29-2008, 05:32 PM
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Location: CITY OF ANGELS AND CONSTANT DANGER
5,408 posts, read 12,230,448 times
Reputation: 2266
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so if we want to protect the under 21 group from alcohols ills, shouldnt we also protect them from the ills of war?
wait but as an adult they have that choice to join the army right? then they should also have the choice to drink as an adult.
another tricky legal age issue is the age of consent for sex.
you can be 15 and have sex, but be treated as a minor
you can be 15 and commit murder, but be treated as an adult?
when does a person reach the age of being an adult?
16, when we drive?
18, when we vote?
21, when we drink?
i understand i just morphed this question into a many headed monster, but i think we must look at all these issues and figure out what we feel is age appropriate behavior.
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