College Presidents asking for a lowered drinking age.

I'm only 20 and I've been drinking for a few years now, although I am definitely not a major alcoholic like so many people I know my age. I'm not like everybody else that drinks though, I very rarely drink anymore, I've only drank once in the last 4 months, and that was my 20th b-day back in June, and I've pretty much decided I'm not a fan of alcohol like everybody else. I learned because pretty much the last 3 times I've drank alcohol in the past year I end up going over my limit and "partying with the bucket" as they say, and overall it wasn't as enjoyable an experience as before. So now I'm pretty much keeping it casual, I find it's not fun if I drink too much. I'm pretty much glad I'm not like my other friends that rent a house and drink themselves wasted almost every night that they aren't working or busy.

Oh man you just need some more bad times in your life to drink away. then you will love the beer. I suggest start with a wife, then her mother, and finally top it off with a kid, you will be drinking like a champ. I am joking, kind of. =)

Sounds like your buddies are on skid road.

Firstdown, you really think lowering the drinking age would keep people from getting it? First of all, if you want alcohol -- it's very easy to get. First of all, fake IDs look very realistic and are easy/cheap to get. Secondly, find a friend/brother/bum most people will buy it anyways. In HS, some of my friends got a Costco account on a fake ID. He never had to be carded again, and could buy beer whenever.

Firstdown -- part of the reason for the drinking age is so that High School seniors can drink. While they're still under their parents supervision and have some rules, unlike in college when they're on their own.
In my post I said it would make it easier for kids to obtain beer because now they have friend who are 18 and can buy it for them which addes to the problem of lowering the age. I also stated that it would now bring High School kids into the picture because of what you stated above.

Kids are going to drink no matter what you set the age at. Is there any evidence that teen drinking was reduced when the limit went from 18 to 21?

Kids are going to drink no matter what you set the age at. Is there any evidence that teen drinking was reduced when the limit went from 18 to 21?

All those in favor say Yay.......Yay

Firstdown -- what I was trying to say, is finding a place/person to get beer is not an issue. In fact, I think more people would wait till the legal age if it were 18 rather than 21. You're being completely ignorant if you don't realize drinking is already a lifestyle in high school.

Advantages of 21 age requirement include a farther divide from legal purchasers of alcohol and young children/teens, which is a main concern. Every 14yr old goes to school with 18yr olds, who will inevitably provide them with alcohol at some point. Having the age set at 21 separates that 14yr old from people who can or would be willing to provide them with alcohol.

Being a father to a little girl, I certainly don't want every high school senior with a DL and a hard on to have the opportunity to feed my 14yr old daughter beer in hopes that hell get laid.

As far as being accountable, with 30 being the new 20 and many twenty-somethings taking longer to leave the nest and establish their own lives, I think lowering the age would be a move in the wrong direction. I would also argue against the heavy recruitment of high school kids by the military for the same reason. Kids that age need to be putting thoughts to their future without being inebreated or prodded by someone with an agenda.

If I'd have been able to legally drink at 18 I wouldve been stupid about it and probably ruined my life. I was stupid enough without unlimited access.


Let's not also forget that final milestone birthday. Nothing to look forward to after 18 as far as birthdays go...

Firstdown -- what I was trying to say, is finding a place/person to get beer is not an issue. In fact, I think more people would wait till the legal age if it were 18 rather than 21. You're being completely ignorant if you don't realize drinking is already a lifestyle in high school.
I know kids in High School drink and as a said in another post I have no clue if this would increase younger kids drinking or not. It does make it easier to get beer if your under age because you will have friends that are 18.

Advantages of 21 age requirement include a farther divide from legal purchasers of alcohol and young children/teens, which is a main concern. Every 14yr old goes to school with 18yr olds, who will inevitably provide them with alcohol at some point. Having the age set at 21 separates that 14yr old from people who can or would be willing to provide them with alcohol.

Being a father to a little girl, I certainly don't want every high school senior with a DL and a hard on to have the opportunity to feed my 14yr old daughter beer in hopes that hell get laid.

As far as being accountable, with 30 being the new 20 and many twenty-somethings taking longer to leave the nest and establish their own lives, I think lowering the age would be a move in the wrong direction. I would also argue against the heavy recruitment of high school kids by the military for the same reason. Kids that age need to be putting thoughts to their future without being inebreated or prodded by someone with an agenda.

If I'd have been able to legally drink at 18 I wouldve been stupid about it and probably ruined my life. I was stupid enough without unlimited access.


Let's not also forget that final milestone birthday. Nothing to look forward to after 18 as far as birthdays go...
So if the military cannot use high schools for recuitment then I guess colleges have to be banned also. One could argue that the millitary is the right choice for some while college is the right choice for other kids. I live in a military are and have seen allot of people do very well by going into the military which would have not made it in college.

Not disagreeing with military being a constructive choice, but anyone in the military knows recruiters tend to stretch the truth. My grandfather was a recruiter and he said they would flat out lie all the time. I come from a strong military family background, and think there are great opportunities there, but these guys can get predatorial on dumb kids.

So if the military cannot use high schools for recuitment then I guess colleges have to be banned also. One could argue that the millitary is the right choice for some while college is the right choice for other kids. I live in a military are and have seen allot of people do very well by going into the military which would have not made it in college.

Oh and I absolutely wouldn't ban them from the schools. Any time there would be a career day etc... they should be there. Maybe its different now, but when I was in school these guys lived at my damn school. There were no colleges hanging out with the kids damn near everyday, getting them out of classes buying them cigarettes and lying to them about how if they sign up they can just party and get paid for 6 years. Gettin paid to get laid, I believe was the preferred marines term for what he did.