| 11/26/2009 6:45:28 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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ger_c_girl
West Palm Beach, FL
age: 52
|
Okay, there has been quite a bit of talk at my office lately about this. Also, I believe it is being tossed around in legislation. For those that don't know, I'm in the legal profession. How do you feel about:
When you're 18, you're considered an adult. You can vote and you can fight for your country. But, you can't drink. I remember I was able to drink at 18. Of course, 18 then is not like 18 now. 
I'm interested in seeing the consensus.
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| 11/26/2009 7:19:55 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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fotojay2003
Seminole, FL
age: 39
|
Hell I think they should raise the limit of legal adult UP to 21. There are a lot of kids out there now that can't handle being adults at 18, so why would you want them to drink as well??
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| 11/26/2009 8:07:18 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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largotha
Largo, FL
age: 26
|
I think they should raise the drinking age and while they are at it the smoking age. I see far too often the effects of being able to drink at 21 and smoke at 18, working at a convenient store and different grocery chains you see how these people change when they come to the ages for these. For instance if they raised the smoking to a few years later it would make it tougher for pot smokers to get thier blunts, or have the drinking come later so the new drivers have a chance to learn how to drive before getting drunk and causing the disasters that come with it.
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| 11/26/2009 8:08:41 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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pwwilsey
Seminole, FL
age: 45
|
I agree with you foto on changing all to 21. Remember when the state was 18? Till the Feds wants to cut grants and told them to change it to 21. Or lose money. There is more problems now than 25 years ago when we were 18. And remember we had to sign up for Selective Service when we were 18. That should be 21. Because the 18 yrs old don't know responcibilities. Sorry I couldn't spell that word right. Plus with them drinking at 18, there will be more crimes. Also from 18 to 21, they have more accidents and tickets than someone that is older. Ger G, this is my personal opinion, let me know which congressman is planning on this. Thanks
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| 11/26/2009 8:09:05 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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mechtech34474
Ocala, FL
age: 45
|
Okay, there has been quite a bit of talk at my office lately about this. Also, I believe it is being tossed around in legislation. For those that don't know, I'm in the legal profession. How do you feel about:
When you're 18, you're considered an adult. You can vote and you can fight for your country. But, you can't drink. I remember I was able to drink at 18. Of course, 18 then is not like 18 now.
I'm interested in seeing the consensus.
 Do you honestly think they aren't drinking at 14ish?
I want to talk with you some more, about another serious subject. 
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| 11/26/2009 8:12:01 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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mechtech34474
Ocala, FL
age: 45
|
Hell I think they should raise the limit of legal adult UP to 21. There are a lot of kids out there now that can't handle being adults at 18, so why would you want them to drink as well??
So let me get this straight... Old enought to go to "war" for your country, and get killed, but don't ask for a drink, kid. 
That doesn't sit right. 
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| 11/26/2009 8:24:51 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
|
i_am_bill
Astatula, FL
age: 50
|
There should not be a legal drinking age. Our society has created this problem of alcohol abuse by minors by making it something "bad" that they want to do.
In other countries around europe it is commonplace for kids to have a glass of wine with dinner. It is common for beer to be consumed in the home with a meal in the bavaria region.
What happens is that there is no romanticizing of alcohol in these places. Kids don't go to school and "tell on their parents" for giving them alcohol. Alcohol has no "forbidden fruit" quality to it.
Here in America we have turned it into a dirty drug. A legal drug. And illegal for those under 21. Our juvenile system is clogged with alcohol related crimes. Because children are not educated about alcohol. There is a mysticism about it. An allure. It is something "naughty" for them to do.
Our culture cannot be changed. It is too far gone.
They can lower the legal age to 18, it will still be abused the same way it was back in the day when the legal age was 18 before.
I say take away the legal age. And then hold people accountable for their actions while under the influence.
Bill
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| 11/27/2009 5:17:41 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
Bill has a good idea. We're the land of the free, almost. My take on this is even if they want to stay with the 21 age for drinking, they not should but need to change it for any military. Again, back to the fight for your country and die and cannot have a drink?? Congress can go to he** on this one.
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| 11/27/2009 6:04:01 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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lgold
Port Saint Lucie, FL
age: 48
|
This is an interesting subject because as has been said, you can die for your country but cant drink at 18 at this time. But if you raised the military service up to 21 then people will have jobs, families and careers and will not go into the military (unless there is a recession)But if you lower the drinking age, then a lot more kids and people will die due to drunk driving and binge drinking. I have 2 teenage boys, and I know that they have been drinking for several years now. My ex treid an experiment this past summer, allwing the kids to drink freely while at her house. They drank like fish and I had to put my foot down and stop it as they were drinking everyday and night. So underage drinking is going to happen whether the age is 18 or 21. My personal opinion is that they should lower the drinking age for those in the military only and prosecute those that drink or provide drinks to underage drinkers more.
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| 11/27/2009 10:53:56 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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aint_old
Lake Worth, FL
age: 62
|
Ellen, I think there are probably many people age 18, 19, or 20, that are responsible adults, and could safely be allowed to drink, and on the other hand I, and you know many in their 40's 50's and 60's who can't cotrol their drinking. In general, I would be against lowering the drinking age, basically becuase of the odds of having more drinking drivers on the road,and I also think that some 18 year olds, might drink too much due to peer pressure, and possible do things they will later regret. They allready drink at house parties, allowing them to do so in clubs in too much. Here's a quick story from many years ago in NJ. One of my daughters friends in H.S., had a party while his parents were out of town. Luckily my daughter didn't go, as we had a family gathering. To make a long story short, the next moring, a teenage boy was found on the front yard, dead from being stabbed with a kitchen knife. Without all the alchohol ttha was flowing, I doubt that would have happened, and the family was sued, and destroyed
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| 11/27/2009 2:20:21 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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jnugg
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
age: 28
|
Alcohol should be made illegal once again and forever.
Also someone already stated bringing the age of adult/consent up to 21...there's plenty of people 21-60+ that can't handle being adults and sure as hell don't act like adults.
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| 11/27/2009 8:43:49 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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ger_c_girl
West Palm Beach, FL
age: 52
|
Wow, so many very interesting responses. The 18 year olds these days are nothing like 18 when I was 18. I truly think back "in the day" those that were 18 were more mature than they are now. You see kids drinking and driving and getting killed. Their friends gathering around saying they will never drink and drive ---- I wonder if they really stick to what they say? I'd like to think so but doubt it. We have 17+ riding these crotch rockets doing wheelies with no fear of death. I don't remember seeing 17+ doing that when I was 18. My nephew was 18 when he went into the Marines. He really needed growing up and an attitude adjustment. The Marines made a man out of him. He came out after doing the tour he was required to do mature. A man. After not being able to find a job, he enlisted in the Army. His dad was an alcholic. Mother (my sister) didn't drink. He doesn't drink either.
My opinion is leave the drinking age where it is. There are enough kids out there that drink in their mid-teens. Sad to say that most of their parents know it. I think that if more parents suffered consequences for contributing to underage drinking, then maybe things would be different. I don't mean consquences like losing a child but if your child is caught drinking, then you need to be fined, jailed, both and/or have your child taken away. That would teach the parents to be parents and maybe teach the kids what would happen. Also, make them watch those movies of what happens to your body when you drink and what happens when you drink and drive. Take the license/permits away from the kids. Somebody needs to suffer consequences.
P.S. I do not have any children of my own. I am tired of seeing kids that are drinking, driving and not only killing or hurting themselves but hurting or killing other kids.
Thanks for the different opinions and comments. Keep them coming.
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| 11/27/2009 10:17:45 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
|
I don't mean consquences like losing a child but if your child is caught drinking, then you need to be fined, jailed, both and/or have your child taken away. That would teach the parents to be parents and maybe teach the kids what would happen.
All I have to say to that is YIKES that is way too extreme for me. I'm not an extremist and I can't live with extremism in my life. That is not to say I agree with drinking at any age TO AN EXTREME or anything being legal or illegal.
Those of us who have children KNOW when they get to a certain age, and even before that, you don't always have complete control over what they do when you're not around. To say they should be taken away, or fined or jailed, for behavior they had no control over, is in my opinion, too extreme.
I agree drinking and driving and accidents are a problem but it's an individual responsibility thing and to put parents in jail for their teenager's bad decisions would not be beneficial in any way that I can see.
I think the drinking age was 18 where I grew up, yet I was going to bars and drinking before that. My son is 19 and doesn't drink at all, he doesn't like it and has no desire to and I am so very thankful for that! We have enough to worry about to not add that into the mix is a good thing BUT he also knows if he wanted a beer now and then or wine with dinner I wouldn't be lecturing him, it's only EXTREMES and we DO have other issues in our lives, drinking is just ONE thing out of many many things that go to extremes.
I don't think they should lower the legal drinking age but they should coincide the laws so that if you're considered an adult to go fight in the war then you should be adult enough to drink. There are people here saying alcohol should be totally illegal, then you have people saying pot should be legal. No one will ever agree on the legalities of these things but they will ALWAYS be doing them regardless of the laws. Alcohol was illegal at one point so you had the rum runners... it was a big money-making business for the equivalent of today's drug dealers. Would there be less drunk drivers?
I like the European way of doing things where it's not such a big issue and therefore less of a problem, at a young age it's glorified as a way of being rebellious, independent, etc., you take that away and choices become less about being rebellious and more about personal choice.
[Edited 11/27/2009 10:32:35 PM PST]
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| 11/28/2009 5:00:34 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
Hallie you and everbody else has liget answers, but, they are all opinions. We have different views on this subject. I can agree about the people in Europe as I have been there many times. Being retired military, I do know that when on a military base, years ago, you were allowed to drink on the base even if the local laws dictated an older age. That's why I said what I said about military. If we have a choice to live or die, we should have a choice to drink or smoke. This can be done on a military base because they are on Federal land and not the local laws. I'm for the military having all the pleasures they want because not many (even in congress) know what they are going through. If you have not been there (in the military), then, you don't know them. You might think you do, but, you don't. The old saying about walking in their shoes first.
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| 11/28/2009 8:36:21 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
|
Now that I think about it, I don't believe I drank much as a teenager at all. One time in junior high school a girlfriend's parents went away for a weekend, she had a sleepover and we sampled all the stuff in their bar in the basement and we all got sick. I think after that I never drank until I had a big fight with my dad and moved out at 17 and fell into the wrong crowd because of my unhappiness, and did OTHER things, which WAS all about REBELLION.
Yes it's all opinions but the idea of putting parents in jail every time a teenager drinks is just beyond my comprehension. Teenagers may not be "adults" but they're old enough to learn about personal choices and responsibiility, especially if they're old enough to drive.
Kids can work and drive at 16, then they should be held responsible for their own actions if they drink or don't let them drive at that age.
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| 11/28/2009 10:57:01 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentdragn
Lake Worth, FL
age: 49
|
The main reason that kids wanna drink or get high(after they've tried it and grasped
the results)is that's it's an easy if temporary method of controlling/altering their mood at that moment,re-inforced by our cultural(adult)habits..think not? Examples::
-Back from a long trip/job?Relax,let me get you a drink...
-Rough day? You look like you could use a drink...
-Getting plastered because I'm getting married/enlisting/start new job/lost job/etc...
-Let's have a drink to get in the mood(sex)...
-I'm happy/successful/won today/got laid/drinks for everybody...
-Am so angry/depressed,will drink 'till I pass out...
Get it? The desire to control one's mood/emotions has generated entire industries!
Knowing that most children are naturally little hedonists,starting with candy binges,
and working up to more forbidden(to them)indulgences helps to understand these behaviors.
But,for some reason,in the USA we tend to criminalize behaviors that are natural pursuits,
(smoking,drinking,sex,eating is next)whenever uncontrolled or
outside of strict rules...In europe and japan
they have wisely turned a blind eye to jaded behaviors that are essentially
victimless...What about DUI? The acute lack of **mass/public transportation** actually
helps create this problem,which is hugely diminished by **, just check stats for NY,
tokyo,etc...The difference is providing education,tolerance,and OUTLETS for these behaviors,a sort of mosh-pit of self reliance and self responsibility with reasonable
boundaries...I have a son over 21 who expresses no desire for highs of any kind,is content with the natural distactions of media or exercise,even though he has complete access...
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| 11/28/2009 12:07:19 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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topazz61
Saint Petersburg, FL
age: 48
|
I think that if you're old enough to fight and die for your country or vote for who will be President then you should be old enough to drink! And another thought, you don't see this problem as much in many of the European countries because there's not really a legal drinking age. I let my daughter have a little alcohol beginning at about age 16...as long as she was staying at home and not driving...it took away the whole taboo, what's the big deal thing. When she went away to college she never participated in binge drinking or drunk driving because it was not a big deal to drink. Either raise the age of service in the Military and voting to 21, same as the drinking age or lower the drinking age. Just sayin......
[Edited 11/28/2009 12:09:02 PM PST]
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| 11/28/2009 12:47:39 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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jnugg
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
age: 28
|
But it is the 18 year olds CHOICE if they want to join the military or not...they join the military for their own reasons....we don't have the draft like some of you older folks had to deal with.....if that were the case then I would say yes,lower the drinking age to 18 but fact of the matter is alcohol cuases a whole heap of trouble and not just for the one ingesting it but others around them and their families,friends and co workers.
To the woman that replied before me....what and you know your duaghter didn't drink at parties in college or binge-drink becuase you were there the whole time right....right!
[Edited 11/28/2009 12:47:54 PM PST]
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| 11/29/2009 12:33:03 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
You are a piece of work. Their joining is their choice while you sit on your butt and let others fight for you. You discuss me. When you grow up and get a brain, come back and talk to me. I'm for the military. You are not. I'm for this country. You want others to fight for you?? Again, love it or leave it.
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| 11/29/2009 2:18:46 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentlemanjim1
North Fort Myers, FL
age: 61
|
But it is the 18 year olds CHOICE if they want to join the military or not...they join the military for their own reasons....we don't have the draft like some of you older folks had to deal with.....if that were the case then I would say yes,lower the drinking age to 18 but fact of the matter is alcohol cuases a whole heap of trouble and not just for the one ingesting it but others around them and their families,friends and co workers.
To the woman that replied before me....what and you know your duaghter didn't drink at parties in college or binge-drink becuase you were there the whole time right....right!
Your statement that we don't have the draft is wrong. They can institute the draft again at any time. So YES, we still have the draft available when and if needed to put young men on the front lines.
It makes no difference however, IF a young man choses to join or if he is drafted. Like many, I strongly feel if he (or she) is old enough to die for this country, then they are old enough to drink. If the idiots that make our laws don't want to lower the drinking age, fine...but then we need to raise the age that a man or woman can die in service to this country.
To me, it's appalling to call a person an adult and fully responsible for their actions and old enough to die in combat on one hand, and on the other say you are to young.
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| 11/29/2009 11:51:44 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
Jim, I totall agree. Only "ignorant" (look it up in Webster's) people post what they don't know about. 
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| 11/29/2009 5:06:54 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
|
My thoughts are I'm totally ignorant and have no idea what anyone should do either legally or illegally with regard to drinking alcohol, parenting, and/or the military of the U.S. Government.
[Edited 11/29/2009 5:07:18 PM PST]
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| 11/29/2009 5:49:18 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
Yes, unless you were in the military and been away from home and being shot at and seeing death, you or ignorate to it.
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| 11/29/2009 6:04:40 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
|
Well, I've been a kid, and I'm a parent, and I'm still ignorant about that as well as the military, all I know is my own experience.
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| 11/29/2009 6:38:45 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
LOL, Hallie, that's what I was talking about. Like men know about PMS??? Not a chance LOL. Do they know about childbirth?? Not a chance either. What I'm saying is that people that know nothing about what the military do should not tell them what to do in certain situations like this. They want to control them and tell them to do it their way and they don't even know the way.
I've been a kid and a parent also. I've also been in the military and only 21 years. Again, we have to walk in somebody's shoes before we know what they are thinking.
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| 11/29/2009 7:05:30 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
|
Cajun, one thing I do know is I don't want my son fighting in a war, or drinking and driving, or for any reason in a situation where he will either kill others or be killed! That's just how mothers are I suppose, has nothing to do with patriotism on my part.
As to whether the legal age of anything is legal or not is what I was saying, as far as drinking goes, I don't think legality will change much regardless.
(I don't think that last sentence made sense grammatically or to anyone reading it probably lol)
[Edited 11/29/2009 7:07:52 PM PST]
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| 11/30/2009 2:57:03 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
|
danosan40
Port Richey, FL
age: 49
|
Don't worry Hallie..If they can understand my grammer you have no problem..
Funny this came up right after I had to hand deliever the Selective Service letter
to my stepson...But as he plans to serve it was no big deal..He has tried alcohol
and dosn't care for it..But i do believe it's hes right to be able to drink..with
out fear of the law..
Seeyaa!! Dan
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| 11/30/2009 5:39:12 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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kenrick_
Lake Worth, FL
age: 32
|
If you compare 12 year olds here with 12 year olds in another country (maybe except for Canada) you will see a big gap in maturity exists and this is only getting worse as our society promotes irresponsible behaviour. How many kids nowadays don't have a myspace or facebook account that doesnt chronicle their drug and alcohol use? I think its the parents of today that have failed BIG time in raising decent kids. Legislation is good for lawyers and law enforcement related jobs. Drugs are illegal for any ages and yet the addiction rate is currently on the rise specially among kids. We have to look first at why people use drugs or alcohol and then find an answer. I can tell you that it mostly start as a recreational activity but quickly develops into a cure to handle any depression or obstacle being thrown at these kids. So maybe the focus should be on guidance of at risk kids.
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| 11/30/2009 7:45:02 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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justjimster
West Chicago, IL
age: 62
|
one thing I do know is I don't want my son fighting in a war, or drinking and driving, or for any reason in a situation where he will either kill others or be killed! That's just how mothers are I suppose, has nothing to do with patriotism on my part.
Your right Hallie as no mother wants to lose a son or daughter at such a young age. I know my mother had to sign my papers for me to enlist, and at first she refused until I pleaded with her. lol
And in Illinois they did change the law to 18 to drink during the VietNam war for awhile but it went back to 21 later.
Now to get on topic, people will drink if they want to no matter at what age and imo the responsibility factor of young people is far greater today then it was years ago, as we did not have designated drivers and all that so I applauded them for that.
One's upbringing and environment also comes into affect and we as parents share that role and do the best we can.
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| 11/30/2009 8:58:47 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
My son is going through Navy Seal training. It was his choice. I HIGHLY respect that choice. I'd rather my children stand up for their country than me being afraid of that and they don't support their country. As far back as recorded history goes, there have been both men and women giving their lives for their country. It's not an easy topic when it's your child, but, somebody has to do it. Without it, we won't have a free country to live in.
My other son is a preacher in his church. I HIGHLY respect that too. I tried to teach my children to be responsible and unlike some, I gave them chores and never paid them for those chores. I rewarded good grades in a different way than giving money. We spend too much time giving our kids high tech toys and let them do whatever they want as long as it does not bother us. We do not educate them in the ways of life as we should. How many have a savings account at age 14-18??? Not many. Not many parents do either. They do have credit cards and that is what they teach their children.
Respect is another that is not in the agenda for todays children. "Speak your mind" is what I hear. It comes from now adults that were not allowed to do that as a child. They don't even realize that it was out of respect for others that they were not allowed. Fredom of speech is one thing, but, insulting is another. If I ever talked back to an adult, my parents would correct that problem immediately and it did not matter where either. Thus, I learned and never disrespected my elders. Something not done in this generation.
Hallie, when your son is an adult, he has the right to choose his life. I know that I am nervous about my son too, and that my parents were nervous about me. I made it. My dad and all my uncles served during WWII. Don't you think my grandparents were nervous too?
Back on subject. Jim, I lived in Illinois too when in the Air Force. We were allowed to drink at 18 on the bases even if the state or local laws prevented it. We did not have any problems and any accidents. Well, we had some, but, minor and not many. It is a fact that in Europe and along the Med that they children drink wine or beer and there is no law against it. They also grow to be good adults. Back to the "ignorant" word. I've seen it. I've been there. If you only listen to the news and read books, you are actually ignorant to the ways of people in other areas.
Fear can cause more problems that we realize. Not to say that fear when one's son or daughter is in the military and in combat, but, fear of things that can happen here. We can stick our heads in the sand and it might go away, but, it won't. Walking down the street these days might be more dangerous than having 1-2 drinks and driving. Depends on what street and in which city.
The OP states that the law says you are an adult when you turn 18. You can be tried in court as an adult before that age. What he said is that 18 then is not the 18 now and I have to agree with him. At my age (39 for 21 years), we were much different in our thinking. We had respect for elders and authority (police, teachers, etc.). Our generation has taken that respect away. We are the cause of this problem, not our children. It's up to us to try to tell them to change it back. How?? Heck if I know. Too many children to retrain!!!!
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| 11/30/2009 9:51:53 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentlemanjim1
North Fort Myers, FL
age: 61
|
Well said Cajun. I agree with much of what you said.
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| 11/30/2009 10:58:32 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
Ok, you didn't agree with the part that I'm still 39?? 
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| 11/30/2009 11:16:07 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentlemanjim1
North Fort Myers, FL
age: 61
|
Ok, you didn't agree with the part that I'm still 39??
No, I agreed with that Cajun. See, I am exactly 39+21 too. Well at least till the end of January. Then I'll be 39+ 22.
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| 11/30/2009 11:44:09 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
We won't discuss what happens soon. I've been forgeting that March 1st comes around each year. I take it off my calander for the last 21 years and it does not show up on the 2010 one either.
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| 11/30/2009 12:28:21 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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d_freebird
Cocoa, FL
age: 50
|
Thanksgiving is when we should all remember, that
the Indians should have given the Puritans each
an arrow in the neck and thrown them in the bay.
As it is, we have to suffer their legacy to this
day. Except for those who join with glee, the
cause of taking liberty from their fellow man.
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| 11/30/2009 2:56:40 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
|
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| 11/30/2009 3:06:24 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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kenrick_
Lake Worth, FL
age: 32
|
indeed
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| 11/30/2009 8:08:40 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentdragn
Lake Worth, FL
age: 49
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Yes,even those of us who are descendants just a couple of generations removed from
europe or elsewhere still struggle under the pall of the puritan(so called)ethic
that constantly drives the intellect/progress of this great country backward;very similar
to islam in that respect....Think not? Subjugation of women,tolerance of slavery,
intolerance of all other religion/philosophy,murder in the name of god,total sacrifice
and dedication only for the betterment of one's "superiors" with only hope for reward
in the "afterlife"....as with all fundamentalist dogma rather anti-human....those who
rant in the name of christianity the loudest seem to conveniently forget the words
spoken by Jesus:love thy neighbor,suffer the children,do unto others,render unto ceasar,
judge ye not/cast ye not the first the first stone,BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS(or false
profits,depending on which televangelist is on right now).....I'm sorry,what were we
talking about? OH, yes,Jesus DID make wine out of water for a young married couple's
wedding reception,who according to those ancient times,were certainly WELL under the age
of 21, or even 18........
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| 12/2/2009 9:47:55 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
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Cajun, you have a few months to go before you're 39 again!
Just saw this article, it caught my eye, so much for limiting alcohol availability in Boca Raton!
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-boca-alcohol-laws-20091201,0,5932771.story
[Edited 12/2/2009 9:54:10 AM PST]
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| 12/2/2009 11:25:49 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
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Hallie, no matter how you feel, it's just your personal opinion. Same as mine on the military. The law is the law no matter how we think. We have to follow it. What gets me is those who judge others when they don't know others. Take, for example, my travels and living in different countries. People think they know these people when they watch TV or listen to news. They don't know them at all. They only see the news and that's not the majority of the people, only a small portion. Nobody is forcing anybody to drink, smoke, etc., but, it's our right to do so in our laws (not get drunk and drive or smoke where not permitted).
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| 12/2/2009 12:00:42 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
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I thought we already had the "personal opinion" issue settled already. Nobody knows what ANYONE'S like if you haven't experienced what they have, only you know what you experience and as someone else would say, your perception is your reality (and no one else's) or something like that.
Anyway, as the article says, this way people can "continue their parties" without having to driver "further west" if it's 5:00 a.m. and they're not done partying yet.
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| 12/2/2009 3:32:47 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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knightonafrog
Fort Lauderdale, FL
age: 52
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Either raise the voting, smoking and military ages to 21 (also increases child support) OR lower the drinking age.
If you serve in the military you can drink and purchase alcohol on any and every military installation even at the age of 17!
The federal government does not even inforce the mandates it places on the states and not allowing civilians to drink at the age of 18 is cleary age discrimination. Personally, I'm surprised you legal people don't challenge this one in the courts.
But then...
You also allow women to be arrested for prostitution and that flies directly in the face of Roe v. Wade (a womans right to self determine what she does with her own body).
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| 12/2/2009 4:42:24 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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cajun3149
Brooksville, FL
age: 61
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We have an attorney in here.
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| 12/2/2009 5:24:51 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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knightonafrog
Fort Lauderdale, FL
age: 52
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If I were an attorney there would be a WHOLE lot of lawsuits against the government including pushing the prostitution thing all the way to the supreme court!
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| 12/2/2009 5:50:58 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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davidr32114
Daytona Beach, FL
age: 45
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I think the young adults of society are taking life too much like a joke, and the drinking for them at 18, would cause more problems for the law. I think the age should stay 21, maybe even go higher to 24.
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| 12/2/2009 7:00:00 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
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We have an attorney in here.
I think it's a froggy.
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| 12/2/2009 9:38:41 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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knightonafrog
Fort Lauderdale, FL
age: 52
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I think the young adults of society are taking life too much like a joke, and the drinking for them at 18, would cause more problems for the law. I think the age should stay 21, maybe even go higher to 24.
There isn't a 16, 18 or 20 year old alive in this country that can't get all the alcohol they want anytime they want it. All outlawing teenaged drinking has done is drive it underground and kids now drink closer to home but consumption is not down. Changing the age will not change consumption no more than prohibition got rid of alcohol. To think other wise is niave.
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| 12/3/2009 4:20:30 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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justjimster
West Chicago, IL
age: 62
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Changing the age will not change consumption no more than prohibition got rid of alcohol. To think other wise is naive
I say you can't go to college till your 21, lol,get into the work force,and learn what it takes to make a living first then you can appreciate what it is to get ahead!
I know,that's old school and or the school of hard knocks....lol
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| 12/3/2009 4:22:56 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentdragn
Lake Worth, FL
age: 49
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Why is the response always "restrict freedoms" instead of more severe punishment for
chronic abusers/offenders? Everyone knows at least one of these types:
Thrill/high junkie who demands regardless of situation or periphery....
Functional inebriate can't be trusted after 6pm....
Borderline sociopath who feels justified as long as are not caught....
Parasite who NEVER takes full responsibility(and the world owes a living)....
These types are the lifeblood of tort and the reason for much aggressive legislation limiting behavioral opportunity....That's why:
Can't walk down the street drinking a beer...
No more diving boards at public pools...
Kids can't play organized sports without cost-prohibitive insurance...
Police more aggressive about arresting dui than violent criminals...
I'm sure y'all can think of lots more,but they're probably not politically correct views!
BTW public intoxication is punishable BY DEATH in certain muslim nations/communities...
Please remember this is the USA,supposed to be innocent/ok until proven guilty/dangerous!
Also,if someone can't function,be trusted,must learn/change,or just have an addictive
personality syndrome---isn't it better to discover at a young age than later?
Adults are so much more dangerous.....
........................... 
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| 12/4/2009 3:34:36 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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knightonafrog
Fort Lauderdale, FL
age: 52
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^^^^^ Is a conservative republican and voted for Bush.
I say you can't go to college till your 21, lol,get into the work force,and learn what it takes to make a living first then you can appreciate what it is to get ahead!
I semi agree with that one... a couple of years mandatory public, military or foreign service between highschool and anything else and then perhaps we'd not have so many idiots running loose.
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| 12/4/2009 7:25:18 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
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^^^^ how about not mandatory for the kids who have clear vision and goals, good grades and are working towards achieving those goals, but the above mandatory or provided as an option for those who are aimless, unsure, floundering or otherwise unmotivated. Could be very helpful to them.
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| 12/4/2009 7:30:53 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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knightonafrog
Fort Lauderdale, FL
age: 52
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^^^^^ Even of the ones with clear goals etc, how many of those actually end up working in their degreed field? Unless they are doctors, lawyers etc. where they have invested so heavily in their eductation they have no choice, most end up working in entirely other fields.
But, back to the topic... there is a massive age discrimination suit waiting for some kid who gets popped for underaged drinking.
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| 12/4/2009 3:39:03 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentdragn
Lake Worth, FL
age: 49
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At first was worried with knifrg's seeming obsession with a boy(lawyer)named sue
until I remembered what a lawyer(my mom's nearly retired BFF)advised many winters
ago::the intention or ability to initiate tort is in direct proportion to the possibility
of profit for the lawyer(s) involved....as any good lawyer knows his latin,CUI BONO,
or in the venacular,SHOW ME DA MONEY!! As I said before,the law is really about public
intoxication(the ability to pursue thereof)since it doesn't address unreported libation
in the privacy of whatever....like ron white said,after being tossed from a bar for
excessive celebration,subsequently arrested for public intoxication::
"I was drunk IN PUB! they THREW ME into PUB-LIC,and I had the RIGHT to remain silent,
but I didn't have the ABILITY!!
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| 12/4/2009 4:45:05 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
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Gent, you have very valid points about the need for many to alter their consciousness, to escape reality, to use alcohol as well as drugs to feel differently or not feel anything, but that's never going to change, is it? Some people due to their life circumstances will want and need to do that, some won't. Some are genetically predisposed to addiction, some are not, whether it's physically or psychologically. Is there an easy answer to the problem? I do think the laws and attitudes sociologically speaking and the transportations systems as some mentioned have bearing also on the actual psychological desires and personal choices available to be made, they all combine to form an overall susceptibility, vulnerability, etc. If you are put in a position of power, of choice, as opposed to judgment, and scorn, it could make a difference in a young mind. Not saying it should be promoted, however.
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| 12/4/2009 8:43:04 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentdragn
Lake Worth, FL
age: 49
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^^^^^ Is a conservative republican and voted for Bush.
I say you can't go to college till your 21, lol,get into the work force,and learn what it takes to make a living first then you can appreciate what it is to get ahead!
I semi agree with that one... a couple of years mandatory public, military or foreign service between highschool and anything else and then perhaps we'd not have so many idiots running loose.
Ok I hope you weren't talking about ME voting bush even facetiously;if so,then you need to read my posts-nothing could be further from the truth...
As to mandatory military or public service as a pre-requisite to higher education or
even citizenship,I believe switzerland and israel have great success with this
(mentioned in a previous post somewhere)......
And Leohal, the perfect example of learning from excess in a partially controlled or at least somewhat isolated and monitored environment would be the spring break
escapades most of us fondly remember(yes,naughty one?)
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| 12/7/2009 7:08:47 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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mavra
Orange Park, FL
age: 43
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Lots of pros and con's to what and if there should be a legal age limit to anything.
The unfortunate thing is that our current generation of youths has been coddled and "loved" to boredom and fustration instead of told that they were lucky to have food on the table and a roof - and the %^&*() with ever getting the latest toy or game in the name of "love". This environment of entitlement combined with the natural inability of teens to not recognize their own mortality and think ahead to the consequences of their actions can only lead to greater disasters.
When 75% of teens 18+ were working full time jobs, starting families and showing responsibility as true adults then a drinking age of 18 made sense. Now-a-days I'm hard pressed to find an 18 year old that is mature enough to handle driving a car or motercycle, much less even begin a discussion of drinking alcohol which only impairs the natural clear headed thinking needed for life.
Perhapse we need to eliminate the age requirement and call it a maturity requirement instead. Is there a good way to objectively test the maturity of a person to make sure they are responsible enough for the priviliages of adults such as driving, drinking, marrying, having kids, etc?
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| 12/7/2009 8:01:12 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
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And Leohal, the perfect example of learning from excess in a partially controlled or at least somewhat isolated and monitored environment would be the spring break
escapades most of us fondly remember(yes,naughty one?)
Actually Gent, no, I never went on Spring Break! I went to work full-time after I graduated high school and my parents never had money to send me on vacations, we never even took vacations when I was a child. I was never in Fort Lauderdale till we moved here all together in 1972. I'll admit, however, being 17 and not knowing anybody, I ended up at "the Strip" a lot because I had nothing else to do (or so I thought), and that was not a good thing. 
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| 12/7/2009 9:19:05 AM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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knightonafrog
Fort Lauderdale, FL
age: 52
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The unfortunate thing is that our current generation of youths has been coddled and "loved" to boredom and fustration instead of told that they were lucky to have food on the table and a roof - and the %^&*() with ever getting the latest toy or game in the name of "love". This environment of entitlement combined with the natural inability of teens to not recognize their own mortality and think ahead to the consequences of their actions can only lead to greater disasters.
There is a ton of truth in that statement!
However, in most all European countries the legal drinking age is 16!
We've all heard the expression that "with freedom comes responsibility" and as parents we have used that expression to tell our kids that if they want the freedom we are allowing them, they need to be responsible. However, there is a second meaning to that statement and that is giving young adults the freedom to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes does allow maturity and responsibility to grow.
Again, I believe that if you are old enough to enlist in the Armed Forces, you are old enough by and consume alcohol anywhere you please.
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| 12/7/2009 3:27:53 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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gentdragn
Lake Worth, FL
age: 49
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Leohal,the naught(ical)y one I referred to was not you but the bead trader,relax
and have some 18 year old.............WINE,I meant WINE!
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| 12/7/2009 5:10:19 PM |
Lower the drinking age to 18? What's your thought? |
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leona813
Palm Beach, FL
age: 56
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Hmmm well you addressed it to "Leohal" so what was I to think? Not my fault there mister.
Your "switcheroo" wasn't apparent enough.
I "GET IT" now thanks.
[Edited 12/7/2009 5:13:36 PM PST]
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