Should There Be a Minimum Drinking Age?

[Australian rePublic]

Alcohol- The Cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems

So alcohol. Some countries allow everyone to drink it, irrespective of age, some only allow those above a certain age to drink, and other countries don't let anyone to drink at all

So, my question is- which is the best approach?

I believe that eliminating the drinking age all together is the best approach. And before you ask, no, it's because I am underage and want to drink. I am in mid-twenties, l above the world's highest drinking age of 21, and well above my country's drinking age of 18

In countries where there is no drinking age, or where the drinking age is unenforced, children learn to drink responsibly from a young. If 12 year olds have a glass of wine with dinner, they are accustomed to booze, and learn to drink in moderation.

However, if children are prohibited from drinking until they reach age x, then in many cases, they'll drink themselves stupid when they reach x birthday, (as people tend to over-indulge in things that they consume for the first time, legally or otherwise) and carry that habit with them throughout their lives. Further, if underaged children manage to get their hands on booze, they will also drink themselves stupid because they don't know how long it will be till they can get their hands on booze again. And the thing is, if you have a habit of drinking yourself stupid, you won't just magically start drinking responsibly when you turn 18, or whatever the minimum drinking age is.

To an underage person, there is no difference between full on prohibition and a minimum drinking age, and we all know how prohibition turned out for... every country that's tried it. If we teach responsible drinking from a young age, kids will carry that habit with them through life. In fact, countries with no or unenforced drinking ages have lower incidents of alcoholism than nations with enforced drinking ages, for the very reason that 12 y/os are taught to drink responsibly from a young age.

Well, that's my 2 cents, or should I say, that's my 18 cents (crickets chip). What's your 2 cents?

Side Note: I'm not an alcoholic, I rarely drink more than a glass of wine or so in an average month or so, (unless I attend an event, like a wedding, Christening, etc)

[Black Moon Sodality]

No, people should just have treatment available.

Side note, I don’t drink personally as it doesn’t do much for me.

[Australian rePublic]

No, you should just have treatment available.

Oh, I'm not an alcoholic. It's very rare for me to have more than a glass of wine in an average month, (unless I attend an event like a wedding, Christening, etc.)

[Black Moon Sodality]

month, unless I attend an event like a wedding, Christening, etc.

Sorry, I meant the general you, not you personally.

[Australian rePublic]

month, unless I attend an event like a wedding, Christening, etc.

Sorry, I meant the general you, not you personally.

I see

[Arkhane]

Alcohol is literally poison, and with the number of adults irresponsibly making themselves sick and die, I don't think children should be even given the chance to play and outdrink their other fellow toddlers.

[Black Moon Sodality]

Alcohol is literally poison, and with the number of adults irresponsibly making themselves sick and die, I don't think children should be even given the chance to play and outdrink their other fellow toddlers.

You can’t prevent people from getting alcohol, you can only try to teach them responsibility.

[Australian rePublic]

Alcohol is literally poison, and with the number of adults irresponsibly making themselves sick and die, I don't think children should be even given the chance to play and outdrink their other fellow toddlers.

Who in the f**k gives booze to a toddler, legal or otherwise? No matter how negligent or irresponsible one is a parent, I don't think I've ever heard of that

[Australian rePublic]

Alcohol is literally poison, and with the number of adults irresponsibly making themselves sick and die, I don't think children should be even given the chance to play and outdrink their other fellow toddlers.

You can’t prevent people from getting alcohol, you can only try to teach them responsibility.

My point exactly

[Arkhane]

Alcohol is literally poison, and with the number of adults irresponsibly making themselves sick and die, I don't think children should be even given the chance to play and outdrink their other fellow toddlers.

Who in the f**k gives booze to a toddler, legal or otherwise? No matter how negligent or irresponsible one is a parent, I don't think I've ever heard of that

One google search is all you need, and studies do show that introducing alcohol early DOESN'T prevent alcoholism or dependency, quite the opposite actually, like cigarettes, drugs or any bad habit, it hooks them up.

[Black Moon Sodality]

Studies also show that if people do drugs it’s because they lack community or things like that. Which I suppose is one of the functions provided by AA groups.

[Gudmund]

I personally think the age restriction makes alcoholic beverages more illustrious to kids under the age, it seems like a forbidden sort of thing, and makes them want it more. Like how kids think smoking is cool and badass or whatnot. In highschool I knew a large majority of my classmates were drinking and smoking, some doing even dumber things, but at the time I didn't care since it was their business. I'm definitely biased. I hate it's taste, the addictiveness, and the side-effects after having too many. If they don't want underage people drinking it, they shouldn't build booze shops in the same town as schools.

[Thepeopl]

Alcohol is literally poison, and with the number of adults irresponsibly making themselves sick and die, I don't think children should be even given the chance to play and outdrink their other fellow toddlers.

Who in the f**k gives booze to a toddler, legal or otherwise? No matter how negligent or irresponsible one is a parent, I don't think I've ever heard of that

In the dark ages it was saver to drink beer than water.
Everyone drank then.

Do mind, the alcohol percentage was 0.25- 2 % ( home brewed, so just a gestimate)

I would advocate shandy for children till 16, 1 can a day max. When 16, you can try beer and wine, 1 max 2 glasses .
So you know the effects of alcohol on your body before you learn to drive.
Drinking and driving ( or drugs) should be prohibited.

If we really don't want the children to drink, the legal age for drivers license should be higher too.

[The Emerald Legion]

Alcohol- The Cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems

So alcohol. Some countries allow everyone to drink it, irrespective of age, some only allow those above a certain age to drink, and other countries don't let anyone to drink at all

So, my question is- which is the best approach?

I believe that eliminating the drinking age all together is the best approach. And before you ask, no, it's because I am underage and want to drink. I am in mid-twenties, l above the world's highest drinking age of 21, and well above my country's drinking age of 18

In countries where there is no drinking age, or where the drinking age is unenforced, children learn to drink responsibly from a young. If 12 year olds have a glass of wine with dinner, they are accustomed to booze, and learn to drink in moderation.

However, if children are prohibited from drinking until they reach age x, then in many cases, they'll drink themselves stupid when they reach x birthday, (as people tend to over-indulge in things that they consume for the first time, legally or otherwise) and carry that habit with them throughout their lives. Further, if underaged children manage to get their hands on booze, they will also drink themselves stupid because they don't know how long it will be till they can get their hands on booze again. And the thing is, if you have a habit of drinking yourself stupid, you won't just magically start drinking responsibly when you turn 18, or whatever the minimum drinking age is.

To an underage person, there is no difference between full on prohibition and a minimum drinking age, and we all know how prohibition turned out for... every country that's tried it. If we teach responsible drinking from a young age, kids will carry that habit with them through life. In fact, countries with no or unenforced drinking ages have lower incidents of alcoholism than nations with enforced drinking ages, for the very reason that 12 y/os are taught to drink responsibly from a young age.

Well, that's my 2 cents, or should I say, that's my 18 cents (crickets chip). What's your 2 cents?

Side Note: I'm not an alcoholic, I rarely drink more than a glass of wine or so in an average month or so, (unless I attend an event, like a wedding, Christening, etc)

As a side note. At least in the US while you can't purchase or legally consume alcohol given to you by strangers. You CAN consume alcohol given to you by your parents before 21. It's less 'Kids shouldn't have alcohol at all' and more 'Kids should only be given Alcohol if their parents want them to have alcohol because Alcohol is dangerous.'

[Indo-Malaysia]

In the UK, it is :

• 16 if it’s a half pint with a meal
• 18 to get boozed at a pub
• 25 to buy at most shops

[-Ocelot-]

Studies also show that if people do drugs it’s because they lack community or things like that. Which I suppose is one of the functions provided by AA groups.

People do drugs because drugs are addictive and withdrawal can make you feel like your body will turn upside down.

The idea that addicts are addicts because they lack "social interaction" is pure b.s and is supported by people who've never actually been addicted to anything.

[Vendellamoore]

Yes, there should. I mean, we can't have 15 year olds getting drunk. I say either 21 years old or 19.

[SD_Film Artists]

Yes there should be a minimum drinking age but it shouldn't be too high as otherwise it runs the risk of turning alcohol into a cool forbidden fruit. It seems weird how in some US states you can vote, buy a firearm, join the army and ride a 1000+cc motorcycle all before you're allowed to drink the watered-down piss that they call "beer".

[Black Moon Sodality]

I mean, we can't have 15 year olds getting drunk.

Why

[The Free Joy State]

In the UK, it is :

• 16 if it’s a half pint with a meal
• 18 to get boozed at a pub
• 25 to buy at most shops

Not quite.

If you look under 25 in the UK, you will probably be ID'd to prove you are legal age (18). That's what "Think 25" means.

As for the OP, I have no objection to minors being able to drink at home -- if it's purchased for them by a parent or similarly responsible person (in the UK, children aged 5-17 can drink on private premises). But I think there should be a minimum drinking age to actually go out drinking.

[Nakena]

Yes, there should. I mean, we can't have 15 year olds getting drunk. I say either 21 years old or 19.

It isnt good but it will happen anyways. the 21 years thing is an muricanian oddity, that usually leads to people not coming in touch with Alcohol until College and then getting fucking trashed and get on the loose with all problems that entails.

[New haven america]

Yes, there should. I mean, we can't have 15 year olds getting drunk. I say either 21 years old or 19.

Lotta 15 years olds are already doing that regardless of laws and limits.

[Ifreann]

Alcohol is literally poison, and with the number of adults irresponsibly making themselves sick and die, I don't think children should be even given the chance to play and outdrink their other fellow toddlers.

Who in the f**k gives booze to a toddler, legal or otherwise? No matter how negligent or irresponsible one is a parent, I don't think I've ever heard of that

It used to be pretty common to give teething babies a little whiskey.

[The Free Joy State]

Who in the f**k gives booze to a toddler, legal or otherwise? No matter how negligent or irresponsible one is a parent, I don't think I've ever heard of that

It used to be pretty common to give teething babies a little whiskey.

And nursing mothers used to be advised to drink plenty of beer to increase their milk supply.

[Vivolkha]

Alcohol is a literal poison and, much like tobacco or quite frankly any other drug, should be banned. If they get their hands on it anyway they are risking (hopefully serious) legal retribution, and just "hey, you'll get it anyway so it's fine!" doesn't entitle you to hurt others while you are high (if you hurt yourself for being irresponsible who cares - but don't expect me to pay for this healthcare).

Alcohol is literally poison, and with the number of adults irresponsibly making themselves sick and die, I don't think children should be even given the chance to play and outdrink their other fellow toddlers.

Who in the f**k gives booze to a toddler, legal or otherwise? No matter how negligent or irresponsible one is a parent, I don't think I've ever heard of that

A newborn kid just died in Spain after her mother overdosed him with heroin (source, in Spanish).