 Should the legal drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18 years of age? I used to think that if you're old enough to serve in the U.S. military at 18 then you're old enough to drink. Most if not all university campuses across the country have students who binge drink that are below the legal age. Some of these university presidents are looking into possibly changing the law to allow 18 to be the legal age. Some of these presidents argue that it would cut down on the binge drinking because it would allow students to drink more normally starting out at 18 and thereby limiting the binge drinking in these frat houses. But if the legal age is lowered, wouldn't there be more drunk driving out on the roads putting people at risk? I say the legal age should stay at 21. What do you think?
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| Should the legal drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18? |
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mrknowuwell
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Aug 19 @ 8:05AM
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18...19...20.......they drink anyway........so whats the big deal ???  
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StraddleMyNose
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Aug 19 @ 8:12AM
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so whats the big deal ???
The big deal is that more and more would be drinking, and more than likely driving drunk as well...
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mrknowuwell
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Aug 19 @ 8:15AM
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i dont think that is the case........those who wanna drink......do.....reguardless of the law......almost like prohibition stopped drinkin too........
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lifeizabitch
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Aug 19 @ 8:16AM
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But if the legal age is lowered, wouldn't there be more drunk driving out on the roads putting people at risk? I say the legal age should stay at 21. What do you think?
^^^ This sounded like a question to me^^^
Your own comment seemed to answer that so I guess there is no room for disscussion on it.
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1bunny629
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Aug 19 @ 8:22AM
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I think if you are in the military you should have a special ID allowing you to be able to have a drink with all your commrade in arms. If you choose to join the military, leave your family, fight in war and secure our countries front you should be able to have a round or two legally with your buds. jmo
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StraddleMyNose
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Aug 19 @ 8:23AM
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I gave my opinion, and I asked for feedback and debate on this topic. Simple as that... 
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Lisa46
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Aug 19 @ 9:08AM
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hey Staddle your not old enough to remember but at one time the legal age was 18 we also had 3.2 beer it was discountinued when I was around 21 I think and yeah then kids start drinking earlier  yeah umm I know that one for a fact 
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Wordsofwit
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Aug 19 @ 9:11AM
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Some of these university presidents are looking into possibly changing the law to allow 18 to be the legal age. What is your source for this statement? I couldn't find anything to corroborate that statement in a quick search.
However, I did find a very interesting page on the subject that includes professors advocating reducing the legal age. It also has statistics showing the legal age in countries around the world and the US is has the highest.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html
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StraddleMyNose
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Aug 19 @ 9:19AM
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What is your source
Was watching Fox and Friends this morning and they had a segment on this.
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slohand_47
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Aug 19 @ 9:52AM
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Back in the early 70's, the legal age in Illinois was 19 for beer and wine only.
I would not be in favor of 18 simply because you still have kids finishing out high school turning 18 and I don't favor kids in class on monday morning hung over, legally.
19 I could live with .
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StraddleMyNose
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Aug 19 @ 9:56AM
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I would not be in favor of 18 simply because you still have kids finishing out high school turning 18 and I don't favor kids in class on monday morning hung over, legally.
Very good point!
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lifeizabitch
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Aug 19 @ 10:01AM
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I would not be in favor of 18 simply because you still have kids finishing out high school turning 18 and I don't favor kids in class on monday morning hung over, legally.
Yes it would be much better if they were hung over illegally.
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Ewe_Wish
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Aug 19 @ 10:13AM
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Most drugs kids do is illegal...........and they are still doing them........so why would it be any different if the legal drinking age doesnt change........kids are going to do it regardless if its legal or not..........JMO
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themama
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Aug 19 @ 11:18AM
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I say yes and no.. I for one let my 19 year old drink.. But only at home..
I am one that when they changes the drinking age years ago was stil aloud to go out and drink cause of when my birthday was when I turned 18..
Binge drinking has become a thing w/ teens now adays really bad..
it is up to the parents to teach their children not to drink and drive when to be aloud to drink and I am one that keeps a close eye on my kids..
I tell them I was young once also been there done it..
Want to be stupid w/ your life go ahead but mom won't be there to pick up the pieces...
Now I also agree w/ Bunny.. They should be aloud in the military to drink..
They are out fighting for our country then they should be aloud to drink...JMHO
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Thenewguy2957
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Aug 19 @ 12:15PM
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Back in the 70's and 80's if you were in the military you COULD drink in the E-clubs on base. A lot of fatal accidents too. That may have changed but if not it certainly removes a reason to lower the drinking age.
I think most 18 year olds are too pampered, immature and irresponsible to drink, vote, drive or be allowed out after 8pm without adult supervision.
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Wordsofwit
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Aug 19 @ 2:16PM
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Here is a link to a story that confirms straddle's claim on the university presidents.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/08/18/college.drinking.age.ap/index.html
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BABYDOLL666
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Aug 19 @ 3:13PM
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The age to drink in canada is 19 and even if they lower the age in the states it wont stop the binge drinking hell i have friends in their 40's who binge drink i have friends my age who do also ......i dont think Binge drinking has an age requierement but no i think they should keep the age limit to what it is...My mom told me when she was younger the age in canada was 21 and they brought it down to 19..Hell kids are drinking even if the bars wont let them in where im at its easy to find an adult to buy your booze my friends sister and friend are 17 and they drink every weekend i think kids now and days sneak around to drink the kids i know and have seen had started drinking at a verry young age . So No theres no age for drinking anymore i dont think there ever was now that i think about it
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Sunshine79
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Aug 19 @ 3:24PM
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Nope.
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lunanegra
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Aug 19 @ 4:29PM
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21 is fine.
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southerngent64
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Aug 19 @ 5:01PM
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Binge drinking has always been, and will always be, prevalent among kids who start drinking. It takes time to figure out that drinking a fifth ain't a good idea!
I heard about this on NPR this AM. One of the opponents stated that it would increase drinking in HS.
How about a compromise, of sorts? Change the laws back to the way they used to be (18 for beer and wine, and 21 for anything stronger). However, the buyer would have to be a HS graduate and have such a designation on their ID.
This would help keep booze out of the hands of HS kids. Of course, they will find a way, but this would make it more difficult. College students and the military would then be legal.
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evild614
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Aug 19 @ 5:59PM
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Law doesn't have anything to do with it either way. This is America. Puritan culture+Native American culture = absolutely no inborn or historical concept of accepted moderate drinking like in most parts of the world. So kids only drink when nobody is watching, nobody teaching them how to drink responsibly. Most people who drink in our culture only learn to drink moderately much later in life.
I say lower the drinking age to 13-15. We'll have a significant increase in teen binge drinking, yes. But with each generation, the age at wich kids learn to drink responsibly will get lower and lower, until our kids are caught up with the rest of the worlds' kids on the concept of "One beer, not ten"
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mike1369
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Aug 19 @ 8:10PM
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Check your local paper in the Police report and see the age of the people caught Drunk Driving. I can only speake from what I've seen in mine, most of the drivers are 22 or 23. On some, not all Bases, allow you to drink if you are in the service. Or they did about 10 years back. Put it back to 18. That brings up a good point though, If 18 year olds would take the time to register to vote they might be able to change the age
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sugarnspice005
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Aug 19 @ 8:38PM
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Whether the drinking age is 18 or 21...there is still going to be binge drinking...and there is still going to be underage drinking......and, unfortunately, there will still be drunk drivers.
Lowering the age to 18 isn't going to stop binge drinking...in fact, it just might encourage it more because then they don't have to try to find someone 21 or older to buy for them. Just my own opinion.
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redbronze
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Aug 20 @ 10:16PM
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You may as well write about the abortion issue or underaged sexual relations, you will get many opinions and most will not agree with yours.. So yeah a contested blog at best.. Perhaps a fight or two thrown in for good measure..
I drank as a teenager and do not as an adult..
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geena
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Aug 28 @ 2:34PM
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Shawn, it's not drinking or the alcohol 's issue here, it's the mind set of the person, the sense of responsbility and knowing when to say enough is enough. Philippines doesn't have any age limit, heck a four year old kid can go to the store and buy Rum or any form of alcohol no problem. But kids know alcohol is just for grown ups and mess your brains if you abuse it. I started drinking at an early age, but I never had problems with both alcohol and drugs, my parents implanted concrete values that we have seen and grown up with regarding balance of fun and realities. Age is not a sole factor on deciding what is right and wrong. Set no limits, let common sense decide or experience teach you a lesson.
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