I think that if any state lowered their drinking age to 18 and simply raised taxes to compensate for the lost 8% (was lowered from 10% in 2012), that state would become a booming tourist attraction
@@xxmocha_black_beanxx1039 I've been drinking since I was 16. I'm 21 Bout to turn 22, I'm pretty sucessful at work, can pay my bills, I am productive, I come from a broken home, dad is dead, mom left many years ago, hasn't affected me. I have mental disability as in psychotic depression, but I enjoy every day, and I drink every day. I never want to harm my self or others. If I can do it, you can, anyone can. It's time we change the law. I can also type correctly.
I find it ridiculous that people seem to become less passionate about this issue once they turn 21. I'm 22, I don't even drink, and I think that the federal drinking law is ridiculous now as it was when I was underage. I saw those parties in high school, I had friends that drank. I was their DD most of the time. It's a stupid law and the drinking age should return to the states where it belongs.
I love the fact that we have a 400 lbs woman from MAAD telling us it is the federal government's responsibility to legislate health and public safety choices.
In the UK this is the situation for schools. People start drinking around 15 and go to house parties etc. Then when people go to university at 18 they more or less stop all that and start going to pubs and clubs.
Wow that's insane. So glad I don't live in America. When I turned 18 I went out to dinner and I had alcohol with my meal fort the first time in public. Nearly 21 now and I can't imagine just now about to be able to be legal. I feel too old for that, I feel too mature to be new to public drinking and to be new to being able to buy alcohol.
Yes, that's because you live in a European country instead of a nanny state (the US) that babies the public into mass stupidity. The proof is in the pudding (retarded ass America)
No offense to authorities, but I find this law/bill stupid because there are some individuals who are 21+ years old who survive drunk driving. Rising the age to 21 does not reduce the risk, It makes teenagers more attractive and this is very ridiculous because we define the age of majority of persons age 18 and older. 18, 19, and 20 year olds have adult privileges, expect for drinking. My Uncle died by a Drunk Driver and the driver was 27 and had a beer in his car. We must lower the age from 21 to 18. Please lower the drinking age back to 18, so many teens will not be attractive to alcohol, wine and liquor. This bill makes america a laughing country.
I hate alcohol with a passion. But NOBODY has the right to tell me what I cannot put in my own body. When I turned 18, I was forced to register with the Selective Service and put my name on a draft list, or face a $250,000 fine and 5 years in prison. With certain rights come certain responsibilities...and with certain responsibilities come certain rights. If I am going to be given the responsibilities of an adult, I have the right to engage in any and all adult behaviors I so desire.
Buddy i say keep that drinking age! in germany we dont have to drive miles and miles to get to a party. espacially when you live in a city. germany is very tiny in comparison to america. in america those kids can drive with 15/16 for a reason: they need to drive cuz' the distances are do freaking long. i dont know if you ever been to america buddy, but sitting in a car for hous just to get from a to b is a mi d changer about kids and alcohol! imagine those teenage fuckers who drive the car even if they are drunk! thats not a problem here in germany, but it REALLY is in america.
Buddy I've been to jail twice for just having alcohol in my system, I was asleep both times and the police came and woke me up, nothing more, because I was 18 and not 21 I was turned into a criminal and the local police pull me over all the time just to see if I have been drinking
+Gary Smith I agree. I'm just going to play devil's advocate here for a moment. They say that highway fatalities jumped way until when the drinking age was changed to 18 back in the 70's what should we say?
+Gary Smith I agree. I'm just going to play devil's advocate here for a moment. They say that highway fatalities shot way up when the drinking age was changed to 18 in the 70's. What should we say to that?
+Gary Smith I agree. I actually think that you should be able to drink at 16 if you are in a restaurant with your parents. That way you can learn to drink responsibly whether you have a beer with pizza or red wine with your steak.
What we really ought to do is get away from the age issue and handle it like we do with driving cars or owning guns. Make anybody who wants to buy alcohol get a licence.after required education in the risks involved which they could lose if they don't do it responsibly without creating health risks for the rest of us The cost of the licence could be adjusted to the amount of public money we have to spend picking up the mess of people who don't drink responsibly so everybody who drinks would have more incentive for encouraging all their drinking buddies to drink responsibly. There are some people who shouldn't be allowed to drink at any age because they have had serious problems with alcoholism which drinking licences would help identify for insurance companies, medical research, and social support networks.
I served in the US Army at age 18. Lucky for me I was stationed in Germany where I was legal to drink. However, if I'm old enough to die for my country, I should also be old enough to drink in the country I defended.
So you think a 20 year old doesn't have a developed brain? So I guess you would be against them taking out a loan, severing in the military, voting, smoking etc, anything that has a significant impact on their own life or the lives of others. But suddenly, one day later when they turn 21 their brain is now fully developed? It doesn't work like that mate, every person is different.
Its all BS. Drinking has the same affected to everyone and I don't think 21 is some special number that changes everything. It should be 18 like everybody else in this world.
An 18 year old is a legal adult and old enough to smoke, drive a car, fight in a war, and vote in an election. I think an 18 year old is certainly old enough to legally consume alcohol. It was a big mistake to raise the drinking age.
The sad thing is that the drinking age does nothing but cause a hassle. Teens from 15 to 19 are still going to drink. You cannot simply stop it. This just makes it to where people aren’t as educated about alcohol. If it was acceptable for younger kids to drink, teens could have a BARTENDER take their keys if they’re drunk. When they drink behind closed doors, there’s a less likely chance that someone will stop it. If you can operate a large hunk of metal at 16 or so, drinking two years later makes more sense.
I live in Australia.. the age of alcohol consumption here is 18.. I understand that there are many reasons for and against having the age of drinking (legally) set to 18, and I would be deluding myself if I said that I haven't seen some of the downsides to drinking; however, I believe that all nations around the world need to realise that being considered an adult comes with rights and responsibilities. If you decide for that to be 21... then make the responsibilities accountable at 21...
I favor it being 19. Out of highscool and not much of a wait. Prevent drunk driving? Make it a criminal offense, let's see how many people will drink and drive if they have a chance of going to jail for half a year. How many people commit murder or rape? probably not as much as if they made it only a small offense as a DUI.
19 is reasonable. That's the age in most of Canada except for Manitoba Alberta and Quebec. That was the age in a lot of states before 1984. It's just 1 year. It's not that big of a difference. But 21 is ridiculous. If you have to sign up for the draft at 18 then the government doesn't get to tell you you aren't old enough to have a beer at a baseball game or drink a glass of wine with dinner.
I don't have a problem with 21 for hard liquor but I think a responsible 18 year old should be allowed to have a beer or two (not get drunk, just drink a beer with a meal like a responsible adult)
Malcolm Mehaffey 21 looks like they picked a number out of a hat, at least make it 20. That would make more sense. I don't view 20 as too young to drink, so 20 is wrong but 21 you magically are welcome to drink whatever you like? It's pathetic, especially the fact that a lot of people will scold an 18 year old for drinking, but with anything else he should act like an adult. If 18 is considered an adult, he should be able to drink what he wants. Is it 19 for hard and soft alcohol in Canada?
A DUI is a big offense…also only people that can’t handle alc can’t drive drunk. I know many people that can drive perfectly fine drunk. I would want a DUI to be a 200$ ticket like speeding
When I turned 18 I lived in a part of Canada where the drinking age was 18. A few months later I moved to a part where the drinking age was 19. Nothing changed, fake IDs were still easy to find and sixteen year old girls were still being let into the clubs if they dressed skanky enough. The fact is high schoolers are going to drink and if they have the money and desire to do so in bars, they'll find a way.
@ls1z28chris The tried as an adult for crimes thing is, in my opinion, the biggest problem. We basically tell kids, "If you fuck up, you're going to be held accountable like an adult and you're going to do time like an adult. On the other hand, if you do well and don't break the law you have to wait until you're 21 to fully participate in our society." This system is completely asinine.
If you restrict or take something away from a person they will want it more just because it is restricted. It makes it that much more appealing. European teens don't have this problem, since they are not restricted by a age law allowing them to have access to the product making it not as attractive. Allowing teens to have access to alcohol will take away the "binge" drinking because it won't be as appealing once you can always posses it.
I personally believe that informing the dangers and keeping a principle against drinking in a family environment would significantly help children to develop a safer idea on the use on alcohol throughout their life. It would be ingrained in their character, and hopefully be a hard principle to stray away from. Even when that child does become 21 and can legally drink, it could still keep them away from alcohol or at least drink responsibly.
Besides most of the MADD members I have met are former members of DAMM (Drunks Against Mad Mothers) and many of those also happen to have no children as of yet.
I think greater awareness of drunk driving and the campaigns for assigning "designated drivers" has been more of a factor in reducing the deaths caused by drunk drivers over the past 25 years. When I attended parties as an underage person I attended them as a designated driver, and I usually wasn't the only sober person at these events. It was awesome to be able to act crazy with the other DD's without actually being drunk because everyone else wouldn't remember anyway.
Just like many other aspects of our society, this is a role and responsibility of the family. If the family adults drink alcoholic beverages, 16 year-olds should be introduced to beer and wine if they want to try it with dinner. Getting a view of moderation is important. If with their parents, a parent should be able to buy alcohol for a 16 year-old son or daughter. The legal drinking age should be 18. Yes - there will be those that abuse it as there are now with those 21 and older.
If states wanted to add to the highway fund by lowering the drinking age to 18, why not but a little more tax on alcohol to cover it. They'd have a larger amount of sales. Maybe It wouldn't cover it but, just an idea.
I was touring with a band for two weeks in May, and one of our shows in NY was at a bar. I had many friends in the area that I wanted to come that were over 18, but under 21, and they couldn't get in. They don't even drink either. This law is fucked up and it scares me that politicians think it's helping young people.
Abolish legal drinking age laws. Reduce the legal alcohol purchase age laws to 18 years of age. It should be up to the parents until the child reaches the age of 18 and is able to purchase alcohol themselves. If a man or woman is able to fight for freedom on the battlefield, they should be able to use that freedom - all of it.
We don't have a legal age for drinking in Denmark, but have to be 16 to buy in shops (though, many don't care), and clubs let you in at 18-21. Usually parents buy alcohol for some small parties at the age of 13-14. The youth drink a lot (beers mainly) in Denmark, but it wouldn't go down by changing the laws (they have tried ;).
@libertyfizz I have a huge problem with this tiered entry into adulthood. You can drive and buy tobacco when 16. When 17 you can get tried as an adult for crimes, but can't enter contracts, join the military, buy long guns, vote, or otherwise be considered an adult until 18. Then you have to wait until 21 to drink or own a handgun.
Just make everything either 18 or 21. I lean towards 18, but i at least like consistency. There is no correlation between drunk driving deaths and higher drinking age. And nowadays we have things like Uber if someone thinks they or others cannot drive.
The libertarian solution is, of course, to have no drinking laws at all. Let "the market" decide whether a 4-year-old is too young to order a whiskey in a saloon.
The problem with the ban is that it forces states into a tough position regarding highway funding. As Justice O'Connor said, the ban is both over- and under-broad; it prevents ALL individuals 18-20 years old from having access to alcohol (even if they drink responsibly) while at the same time the vast majority of drunk drivers are not 18, 19, or 20. Great video, terrible law.
It is not the age that is the 100% matter t's mainly maturity and being responsible, but how can you have "responsible" drinking when most of the point of it is to be crazy and be a bit immature for a laugh!? I live in the UK where it is 18 but just like the US there are regular (a few probably under 13!) 13,14,15,16,17 year old drinkers but that's what you are going to get with it, in a mature and responsible world i wold say 14 or 15 but sadly it's not like that any more :( i do think though that in the world we live in today 16 is to young especially if they will binge and be out all night but 21 is way to high weather it's buying a bottle or buying a case of beer for example. i think that for the way teens act now days 16 is to low but 21 is to high i think 18 is right.
drinking age at 21 is completely a cultural number. it has nothing to do with biology or brain development. and the reason no one wants to lower it is because of the party mindset that's kept with the idea of drinking. in other countries kids are drinking at 16 or 14 cuz they are taught to respect it. in america everyone wants to get shitfaced every night. its ironic because the people enforcing the drinking age are people who drank when they were under 21. cuz everyone drinks (mostly)
To all you ignorant people who say that "The body is not fully developed until you turn 21", then why the hell can I join the army at 18? I am in the ARNG, and I can't take IEDs, but not a beer? That is jacked up. Granted, I havn't been deployed yet (thank God) but I have a 19 year old friend in the army who has been deployed and came back safely (also thank God for that).
Every time kids turn around today, they find themselves in violation of some bull***t law that I didn't have to deal with 30 years ago. If we consistently treat our kids like potential criminals, will they look at themselves as citizens or as something else?
If they lower the drinking age wouldn't the inevitable extra sales in alcohol make up for the 10% fine? Or even a raise on the tax on alcohol to help cover the loss in high way funds.
Let's lower the fuckin' age. I don't need to argue it as the video just did in fine style. Our neighbors to the north and south support a lower age and it seems to work for them.
Colleges and Universities should provide amnesty for underage drinkers on campus. If they go to get help, they shouldn't be arrested, if they are drinking in the privacy of a dorm room or house nothing should happen. Its almost like don't ask, don't tell or if its unseen there is no issue.
Europe is by far the greatest and most free Continent. America lost its freedom when they changed the drinking and smoking age. I started drinking I'm 18 well 4 I had one Suit of beer from my dad,but I drank in europe for the first time and went crazy. 3 days I had a hang over because I mixed beer with liquor. But now that I'm 29 I have more tolerance with my alcohol because I started drinking at a young age. God bless poland Germany for giving me the knowledge and respect for alcohol. Europe by far is the best and will have more freedom then the america.
One should refrain from drinking at all, but if you are considered an adult at age 18 then that should give you the right to do anything that is legal for any other adult. What else should one expect from a nanny state though?
I used to drink at work because it was the only place I could get away with it. I drank as much as I could because I couldn't drink anymore till the next work day. I would kill a 750 ml bottle in three days and was only able to drink on lunch break for 30 min behind a grocery store. I risked losing my job getting arrested and driving home a couple hours later just so I could drink. And I was 17 at the time
umm, we need to lower it even more so now that weeds being legalized. having the weed age 21 is even stupider than the drinking age and far more absurd
Look, if you can smoke cigarettes, smoke weed (in some states), drive, join the army, leave the country, buy a house, to marry, have kids, adopt kids, foster kids, get a job and own a gun. Why the hell can't you have a drink? In the UK, you can drink in a private home from the age of five, you can buy alcohol and get served at 18. America needs to get their priorities straight.
The United States violent crime RATE was 403.6 per 100,000 adults in 2010. England and Wales’ violent crime RATE was 4079.7 per 100,000 adults in 2010. You failed to take into account the US is much larger than the UK and criminals who commits violent crimes are not concerned about possession charges.
Maybe we should implement licenses for purchasing/consuming alcohol. Most current individuals (age >=21) would fail the test starting with #1 "What kind of alcohol is in alcoholic beverages?" It's dumbfounding how many are thoroughly clueless over such a fundamental question. See for yourself sometime.
The "go to war argument" is uniformed. The age for drinking was 21 from prohibition until 1970. The age of war was also 21 until Viet Nam. Why not argue not to send you off to war until 21?
I'm from Portugal and here we can drink (legally) at 16! And we're perfectly fine, I mean, it all depends on the person's responsabilities, I think. I believe 21 is too high!
I think they should raise the drinking age to 30 that way it will have less drunk driving accidents and people can reflect on life thumbs up if you agree
Tax on alcohol has not kept up with the rate of inflation. A case of beer should be at at least $20 now. 25 years ago, alcohol was much more expensive in inflation adjusted terms, that helped curb excessive consumption then, it's the main reason binge drinking rises now, not the 21 legal age. Somehow, I don't see Reason TV advocating higher excise taxes.
umm, I live in Indonesia and I don't think that drinking age matters. You won't get arrested for drinking. You can enter nightclubs without getting your ID checked. I used to buy beer while still wearing my school uniform
The law in the United States, stating that you cannot purchase alcohol till aged 21 is absurd, the United States is the only country in the developed World, and one of the very few in the entire World that say "You are an Adult when you are 18 but cant buy Alcohol until you are 21", In all the Countries of Europe and all the Countries of Latin America, as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, China, Russia and most other countries in the World the Legal Age to purchase alcohol is 18 which is the age one becomes an Adult, in the case of Canada the legal drinking age is either 18 or 19 depending on which province. Its time for the United States to lower the Drinking Age to 18.
Hell no! Its not time to lower the drinking age. Please... Leave it as it is based on my use of alcohol before the legal age. It prevents us from doing it as much as we would have if it were legal.
Mike man My coworker who just turned 21 buys me my alcohol and I’m 18. Guess he’ll just have to keep doing it for 3 more years because of this bullshit law! Some of us seriously need to step up and do something about it to get it lowered back to 18.
Your Damn Right you should Just Raise the Age of Majority in all States to 21 because its not fair that at 21 you can buy tabacco Drink and Gamble but at 18 we can risk our lives on the battlefield for the Country and Die for the Safety of the Government but not be allowed to Drink ITS FUCKING BULLSHIT
@Vlaxitov I actually agree with Reason TV that the reduction of alcohol fatalities drop from 26 to 13 thousand over the last 25 years has been in large a result of other factors. But they can't argue thousands more would get killed with a lowered drinking age.
Interestingly, China, Bolivia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Gabon, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos have no drinking age and the drinking age in UK where I live is 5 years old when on domestic private property. Maybe it's better to abolish the government drinking age altogether. As was the case in 1800s USA.
@fupedworld I agree with you...but, we need to find a good middle ground...the majority of teens are good, responsible people! Unfortunately, the minority of abusers have messed it up for the rest of you! I was allowed to drink when I was 18, and I never abused it...but so many people I knew did! Sadly, there's no real way to tell the responsible people apart from the abusers, until after the fact, and someone has been hurt or killed because of it :(
It won't be changed because nobody over the age of 21 cares about the drinking age. It's unfair you're an adult at 18 but can't drink but I really don't care at all. The way I see it you can be patient just like we all were.
I'm all for this age change. If their going to start drinking, let it be at 18 when kids are still at home and can experience normal casual drinking as opposed to binging. Also I challenge MADD to tell me what are the statistics of teen victims of car accidents WHETHER or NOT related to drinking -- compared to 20 years ago. I bet its the same cause teenagers do dumbass things when driving even when they are NOT drunk!
@Catsie15 I agree...not all teens are like that! Sadly, it only takes a few to screw it up for the rest! I think the majority of teens are responsible enough, without their friends...unfortunately. there's not a way to separate the responsible from the abusers :(
@fishsama999 I think you don't realize I am talking about younger than 18 drinking which should be allowed under parental supervision. At 18 I consider that person an adult. I think you have every right to be proud of your accomplishments. We joke all the time about once the last kid is 18 we are escaping to parts unknown. But we also plan to give our children the tools to be able to make adult choices by 18. And part of that is teaching responsible drinking before they hit 18.
yes, lower the drinking age, if you're old enough to serve your country at 18, and risk dying in Iraq or Afghanistan, then you should also legally have a beer.
i think that the drinking age being 21 is stupid as fuck my grandma and my grampa are 60 and the drunks and drive drunk and are very irresponsible when they drink same for there friends who are also 60 . Im 22 so im older thn 21 so i cud drink but i kno ALOT of 18-20 year olds who are still not 21 and drink and are waaay more responsible than senior citizens and dont drink like all them old people so i think they shud make a law were old people cant drink nd lower it to 18.
The last time that I remember the drinking age being lowered was during the Vietnam war. The suggestion was, you're old enough to kill and be killed for your country but, you are not adult enough to have a drink.
@KLillz I am most certainly not being sarcastic. It's called cause and effect. if we have bad enough problems as it is and we lower the drinking age it will make the problems grow.
That said, age doesn't really matter, but responsibility does. I started drinking at about 13, but as long as u act mature and don't get stupid, no big deal regarding drinking age. instead having laws telling what age to u can drink, they should posess laws that would be very strict regarding to the after effects and consequences where one's life is at stake. If you drink stupidly and suddenly kill someone, ur life should b a living hell where u won't even dare touch alcohol again.
It's ridiculous how you can smoke at 18 which shouldn't even be legal. But can't drink until you turn 21. I would say 17 for lower alcoholic drinks and 18 for all alcohol.
Since I'm not 21 any more, so I really don't care one way or the other about this. However, I think age limits should be set aside at least for soldiers.
I think that if any state lowered their drinking age to 18 and simply raised taxes to compensate for the lost 8% (was lowered from 10% in 2012), that state would become a booming tourist attraction
The fact that the age is 21 is rediculous.
MegaVergan It Feels so random. I mean it looks like it's supposed to be 20 but they accidentally put a 1 after 2. I say 18 like every other place.
Nathan Medina Yea. If I can be sent to die for my country I can buy a beer.
MegaVergan yup I’m 20 and I drink
@@xxmocha_black_beanxx1039 I've been drinking since I was 16. I'm 21 Bout to turn 22, I'm pretty sucessful at work, can pay my bills, I am productive, I come from a broken home, dad is dead, mom left many years ago, hasn't affected me. I have mental disability as in psychotic depression, but I enjoy every day, and I drink every day. I never want to harm my self or others. If I can do it, you can, anyone can. It's time we change the law. I can also type correctly.
@@nathanmedina2809 16 in germany
I find it ridiculous that people seem to become less passionate about this issue once they turn 21. I'm 22, I don't even drink, and I think that the federal drinking law is ridiculous now as it was when I was underage. I saw those parties in high school, I had friends that drank. I was their DD most of the time. It's a stupid law and the drinking age should return to the states where it belongs.
Agree that "brain doesn't develop til 25" fallacy is complete horseshit. It's like saying a person can't hit puberty until they turn 13
I'm all about da BASED da da BASED no treble!!
I love the fact that we have a 400 lbs woman from MAAD telling us it is the federal government's responsibility to legislate health and public safety choices.
Chris, I know it's been 12 years, but I love you, bud. Your comment was so aged fine like a good wine, man.
I would encourage the woman @0:13 to refrain from over eating. There are lots of things you can do that don't involve food.
In the UK this is the situation for schools. People start drinking around 15 and go to house parties etc. Then when people go to university at 18 they more or less stop all that and start going to pubs and clubs.
Wow that's insane. So glad I don't live in America. When I turned 18 I went out to dinner and I had alcohol with my meal fort the first time in public. Nearly 21 now and I can't imagine just now about to be able to be legal. I feel too old for that, I feel too mature to be new to public drinking and to be new to being able to buy alcohol.
Yes, that's because you live in a European country instead of a nanny state (the US) that babies the public into mass stupidity. The proof is in the pudding (retarded ass America)
No offense to authorities, but I find this law/bill stupid because there are some individuals who are 21+ years old who survive drunk driving. Rising the age to 21 does not reduce the risk, It makes teenagers more attractive and this is very ridiculous because we define the age of majority of persons age 18 and older. 18, 19, and 20 year olds have adult privileges, expect for drinking. My Uncle died by a Drunk Driver and the driver was 27 and had a beer in his car. We must lower the age from 21 to 18. Please lower the drinking age back to 18, so many teens will not be attractive to alcohol, wine and liquor. This bill makes america a laughing country.
We have seen the 21 law actually proving to be the opposite of what it was intended to do. This was a really stupid law, at least make it 19
I am 21 just had my 21st birthday in feb 2015! But I do still support the 18 year old drinking age!!!
Same. Except turned 21 last may.
Gretta Bramblett Right you shouldn't deprive adults their liberty's based on their age, sex, and religion.
I support 18 legal drinking age in America even though next time I go to America I will be 21
Gretta Bramblett wow did you feel that magical change inside of you that showed you were ready to drink. Lol
I hate alcohol with a passion. But NOBODY has the right to tell me what I cannot put in my own body. When I turned 18, I was forced to register with the Selective Service and put my name on a draft list, or face a $250,000 fine and 5 years in prison. With certain rights come certain responsibilities...and with certain responsibilities come certain rights. If I am going to be given the responsibilities of an adult, I have the right to engage in any and all adult behaviors I so desire.
Proud to be a german... This rule is just unrealistic
Right I can't wrap my head around it
Buddy i say keep that drinking age! in germany we dont have to drive miles and miles to get to a party. espacially when you live in a city. germany is very tiny in comparison to america. in america those kids can drive with 15/16 for a reason: they need to drive cuz' the distances are do freaking long. i dont know if you ever been to america buddy, but sitting in a car for hous just to get from a to b is a mi d changer about kids and alcohol! imagine those teenage fuckers who drive the car even if they are drunk! thats not a problem here in germany, but it REALLY is in america.
Buddy I've been to jail twice for just having alcohol in my system, I was asleep both times and the police came and woke me up, nothing more, because I was 18 and not 21 I was turned into a criminal and the local police pull me over all the time just to see if I have been drinking
Jake Sweeney well if that are the rulez at your country then you have to follow them!
I agree it's fucking stupid that you can fight in wars and be in an adult film, but not be able to have a beer
+David Baldock Join Choose Responsibility they are against the 21 law.
+Gary Smith I agree. I'm just going to play devil's advocate here for a moment. They say that highway fatalities jumped way until when the drinking age was changed to 18 back in the 70's what should we say?
+Gary Smith I agree. I'm just going to play devil's advocate here for a moment. They say that highway fatalities shot way up when the drinking age was changed to 18 in the 70's. What should we say to that?
+Gary Smith I agree. I actually think that you should be able to drink at 16 if you are in a restaurant with your parents. That way you can learn to drink responsibly whether you have a beer with pizza or red wine with your steak.
What we really ought to do is get away from the age issue and handle it like we do with driving cars or owning guns. Make anybody who wants to buy alcohol get a licence.after required education in the risks involved which they could lose if they don't do it responsibly without creating health risks for the rest of us The cost of the licence could be adjusted to the amount of public money we have to spend picking up the mess of people who don't drink responsibly so everybody who drinks would have more incentive for encouraging all their drinking buddies to drink responsibly. There are some people who shouldn't be allowed to drink at any age because they have had serious problems with alcoholism which drinking licences would help identify for insurance companies, medical research, and social support networks.
I served in the US Army at age 18. Lucky for me I was stationed in Germany where I was legal to drink. However, if I'm old enough to die for my country, I should also be old enough to drink in the country I defended.
Making something illegal just changes the way it's done. An effective approach to the problem is educating kids about alcohol early on.
I waited until I was 21. What a mistake... I am going to allow my children access to alcohol long before they are 21.
Yes very good encourage your children to engage in an activity that is bad for them and possibly others
So you think a 20 year old doesn't have a developed brain? So I guess you would be against them taking out a loan, severing in the military, voting, smoking etc, anything that has a significant impact on their own life or the lives of others. But suddenly, one day later when they turn 21 their brain is now fully developed? It doesn't work like that mate, every person is different.
Its all BS. Drinking has the same affected to everyone and I don't think 21 is some special number that changes everything. It should be 18 like everybody else in this world.
I agree with you everyone is different I don't think they thought about that when lowering the drinking age to 21
An 18 year old is a legal adult and old enough to smoke, drive a car, fight in a war, and vote in an election. I think an 18 year old is certainly old enough to legally consume alcohol. It was a big mistake to raise the drinking age.
The sad thing is that the drinking age does nothing but cause a hassle. Teens from 15 to 19 are still going to drink. You cannot simply stop it. This just makes it to where people aren’t as educated about alcohol. If it was acceptable for younger kids to drink, teens could have a BARTENDER take their keys if they’re drunk. When they drink behind closed doors, there’s a less likely chance that someone will stop it. If you can operate a large hunk of metal at 16 or so, drinking two years later makes more sense.
I live in Australia.. the age of alcohol consumption here is 18.. I understand that there are many reasons for and against having the age of drinking (legally) set to 18, and I would be deluding myself if I said that I haven't seen some of the downsides to drinking; however, I believe that all nations around the world need to realise that being considered an adult comes with rights and responsibilities. If you decide for that to be 21... then make the responsibilities accountable at 21...
I favor it being 19. Out of highscool and not much of a wait. Prevent drunk driving? Make it a criminal offense, let's see how many people will drink and drive if they have a chance of going to jail for half a year. How many people commit murder or rape? probably not as much as if they made it only a small offense as a DUI.
19 is reasonable. That's the age in most of Canada except for Manitoba Alberta and Quebec. That was the age in a lot of states before 1984. It's just 1 year. It's not that big of a difference. But 21 is ridiculous. If you have to sign up for the draft at 18 then the government doesn't get to tell you you aren't old enough to have a beer at a baseball game or drink a glass of wine with dinner.
I don't have a problem with 21 for hard liquor but I think a responsible 18 year old should be allowed to have a beer or two (not get drunk, just drink a beer with a meal like a responsible adult)
Malcolm Mehaffey 21 looks like they picked a number out of a hat, at least make it 20. That would make more sense. I don't view 20 as too young to drink, so 20 is wrong but 21 you magically are welcome to drink whatever you like? It's pathetic, especially the fact that a lot of people will scold an 18 year old for drinking, but with anything else he should act like an adult. If 18 is considered an adult, he should be able to drink what he wants. Is it 19 for hard and soft alcohol in Canada?
A DUI is a big offense…also only people that can’t handle alc can’t drive drunk. I know many people that can drive perfectly fine drunk. I would want a DUI to be a 200$ ticket like speeding
When I turned 18 I lived in a part of Canada where the drinking age was 18. A few months later I moved to a part where the drinking age was 19. Nothing changed, fake IDs were still easy to find and sixteen year old girls were still being let into the clubs if they dressed skanky enough. The fact is high schoolers are going to drink and if they have the money and desire to do so in bars, they'll find a way.
I love how this reason tv is sooo balanced in how they do news. they really are awesome, How are they not on the air everyday?
@ls1z28chris
The tried as an adult for crimes thing is, in my opinion, the biggest problem. We basically tell kids, "If you fuck up, you're going to be held accountable like an adult and you're going to do time like an adult. On the other hand, if you do well and don't break the law you have to wait until you're 21 to fully participate in our society."
This system is completely asinine.
If you restrict or take something away from a person they will want it more just because it is restricted. It makes it that much more appealing. European teens don't have this problem, since they are not restricted by a age law allowing them to have access to the product making it not as attractive. Allowing teens to have access to alcohol will take away the "binge" drinking because it won't be as appealing once you can always posses it.
I personally believe that informing the dangers and keeping a principle against drinking in a family environment would significantly help children to develop a safer idea on the use on alcohol throughout their life. It would be ingrained in their character, and hopefully be a hard principle to stray away from. Even when that child does become 21 and can legally drink, it could still keep them away from alcohol or at least drink responsibly.
Besides most of the MADD members I have met are former members of DAMM (Drunks Against Mad Mothers) and many of those also happen to have no children as of yet.
I think greater awareness of drunk driving and the campaigns for assigning "designated drivers" has been more of a factor in reducing the deaths caused by drunk drivers over the past 25 years. When I attended parties as an underage person I attended them as a designated driver, and I usually wasn't the only sober person at these events. It was awesome to be able to act crazy with the other DD's without actually being drunk because everyone else wouldn't remember anyway.
Just like many other aspects of our society, this is a role and responsibility of the family. If the family adults drink alcoholic beverages, 16 year-olds should be introduced to beer and wine if they want to try it with dinner. Getting a view of moderation is important. If with their parents, a parent should be able to buy alcohol for a 16 year-old son or daughter.
The legal drinking age should be 18.
Yes - there will be those that abuse it as there are now with those 21 and older.
If states wanted to add to the highway fund by lowering the drinking age to 18, why not but a little more tax on alcohol to cover it. They'd have a larger amount of sales. Maybe It wouldn't cover it but, just an idea.
Here is denmark you can drink at any age, buy alcohol in shops from age of 16, and at bars and discos from age of 18, Its great!
I was touring with a band for two weeks in May, and one of our shows in NY was at a bar. I had many friends in the area that I wanted to come that were over 18, but under 21, and they couldn't get in. They don't even drink either. This law is fucked up and it scares me that politicians think it's helping young people.
I'm glad I live in Canada. I just turned 18 today and now I can legally drink! (well in Alberta and Quebec)
Abolish legal drinking age laws. Reduce the legal alcohol purchase age laws to 18 years of age. It should be up to the parents until the child reaches the age of 18 and is able to purchase alcohol themselves. If a man or woman is able to fight for freedom on the battlefield, they should be able to use that freedom - all of it.
Ron makes a great point here. You can't stop a certain population from doing something. They will do it anyway behind closed doors.
wait so at 18 i can understand the risks of going to war and dying yet i cant understand the risks of drinking?
We don't have a legal age for drinking in Denmark, but have to be 16 to buy in shops (though, many don't care), and clubs let you in at 18-21. Usually parents buy alcohol for some small parties at the age of 13-14. The youth drink a lot (beers mainly) in Denmark, but it wouldn't go down by changing the laws (they have tried ;).
The "kids" who have undeveloped brains, have a better grasp of the situation than a lot of adults.
@libertyfizz
I have a huge problem with this tiered entry into adulthood. You can drive and buy tobacco when 16. When 17 you can get tried as an adult for crimes, but can't enter contracts, join the military, buy long guns, vote, or otherwise be considered an adult until 18. Then you have to wait until 21 to drink or own a handgun.
Just make everything either 18 or 21. I lean towards 18, but i at least like consistency. There is no correlation between drunk driving deaths and higher drinking age. And nowadays we have things like Uber if someone thinks they or others cannot drive.
The libertarian solution is, of course, to have no drinking laws at all. Let "the market" decide whether a 4-year-old is too young to order a whiskey in a saloon.
The problem with the ban is that it forces states into a tough position regarding highway funding. As Justice O'Connor said, the ban is both over- and under-broad; it prevents ALL individuals 18-20 years old from having access to alcohol (even if they drink responsibly) while at the same time the vast majority of drunk drivers are not 18, 19, or 20.
Great video, terrible law.
It is not the age that is the 100% matter t's mainly maturity and being responsible, but how can you have "responsible" drinking when most of the point of it is to be crazy and be a bit immature for a laugh!? I live in the UK where it is 18 but just like the US there are regular (a few probably under 13!) 13,14,15,16,17 year old drinkers but that's what you are going to get with it, in a mature and responsible world i wold say 14 or 15 but sadly it's not like that any more :( i do think though that in the world we live in today 16 is to young especially if they will binge and be out all night but 21 is way to high weather it's buying a bottle or buying a case of beer for example. i think that for the way teens act now days 16 is to low but 21 is to high i think 18 is right.
I guess the word "too" doesn't exist anymore.
drinking age at 21 is completely a cultural number. it has nothing to do with biology or brain development. and the reason no one wants to lower it is because of the party mindset that's kept with the idea of drinking. in other countries kids are drinking at 16 or 14 cuz they are taught to respect it. in america everyone wants to get shitfaced every night.
its ironic because the people enforcing the drinking age are people who drank when they were under 21. cuz everyone drinks (mostly)
To all you ignorant people who say that "The body is not fully developed until you turn 21", then why the hell can I join the army at 18? I am in the ARNG, and I can't take IEDs, but not a beer? That is jacked up. Granted, I havn't been deployed yet (thank God) but I have a 19 year old friend in the army who has been deployed and came back safely (also thank God for that).
Every time kids turn around today, they find themselves in violation of some bull***t law that I didn't have to deal with 30 years ago. If we consistently treat our kids like potential criminals, will they look at themselves as citizens or as something else?
Great video
Is there a difference in the drunk driving rates in the USA and in Canada, where the drinking age is 18 or 19 (depending on the province)?
If they lower the drinking age wouldn't the inevitable extra sales in alcohol make up for the 10% fine? Or even a raise on the tax on alcohol to help cover the loss in high way funds.
Let's lower the fuckin' age. I don't need to argue it as the video just did in fine style. Our neighbors to the north and south support a lower age and it seems to work for them.
+gamefire10 south??
+Ramled Mas I was talking about Canada and Mexico
Yeah, Mexico is like prison or any other 3rd world/ or developing country..That I would never want to be intoxicated in..
+Ramled Mas Yeah and Canada is totally like that, not...
+Battlefield fucking sucks I am, oddly enough.
I didn’t 21 until 20 days before I Graduated from a College! Plus the only time I binged Drinker was in College! After College I never binged again!
Colleges and Universities should provide amnesty for underage drinkers on campus. If they go to get help, they shouldn't be arrested, if they are drinking in the privacy of a dorm room or house nothing should happen. Its almost like don't ask, don't tell or if its unseen there is no issue.
For the military argument...if you are in the military you can drink on base at 18. So if it means that much to you, go ahead and sign up.
belgium 16
16 in the UK as well if you're having a meal with someone 18+, (excluding spirits/liquer).
Europe is by far the greatest and most free Continent. America lost its freedom when they changed the drinking and smoking age. I started drinking I'm 18 well 4 I had one Suit of beer from my dad,but I drank in europe for the first time and went crazy. 3 days I had a hang over because I mixed beer with liquor. But now that I'm 29 I have more tolerance with my alcohol because I started drinking at a young age. God bless poland Germany for giving me the knowledge and respect for alcohol. Europe by far is the best and will have more freedom then the america.
Its ironic how we can be trusted to die and yet not drink
One should refrain from drinking at all, but if you are considered an adult at age 18 then that should give you the right to do anything that is legal for any other adult. What else should one expect from a nanny state though?
It's 18 in Sweden, and we start drinking at like 15. We do fine.
I used to drink at work because it was the only place I could get away with it. I drank as much as I could because I couldn't drink anymore till the next work day. I would kill a 750 ml bottle in three days and was only able to drink on lunch break for 30 min behind a grocery store. I risked losing my job getting arrested and driving home a couple hours later just so I could drink. And I was 17 at the time
umm, we need to lower it even more so now that weeds being legalized. having the weed age 21 is even stupider than the drinking age and far more absurd
Look, if you can smoke cigarettes, smoke weed (in some states), drive, join the army, leave the country, buy a house, to marry, have kids, adopt kids, foster kids, get a job and own a gun. Why the hell can't you have a drink? In the UK, you can drink in a private home from the age of five, you can buy alcohol and get served at 18. America needs to get their priorities straight.
1:19 That guy is from Wisconsin and wearing a Bears hat TRAITOR
What is the legal drinking age differences between the UK and the USA?
I would agree to raise the drinking age to 25 in the US.
Fuck off dick.
18 is not a kid. Stop acting like it is
@@anthonyioane4438dixon
The United States violent crime RATE was 403.6 per 100,000 adults in 2010.
England and Wales’ violent crime RATE was 4079.7 per 100,000 adults in 2010.
You failed to take into account the US is much larger than the UK and criminals who commits violent crimes are not concerned about possession charges.
Maybe we should implement licenses for purchasing/consuming alcohol.
Most current individuals (age >=21) would fail the test starting with #1 "What kind of alcohol is in alcoholic beverages?"
It's dumbfounding how many are thoroughly clueless over such a fundamental question. See for yourself sometime.
The "go to war argument" is uniformed. The age for drinking was 21 from prohibition until 1970. The age of war was also 21 until Viet Nam. Why not argue not to send you off to war until 21?
I would be happy to consider a lower drinking age only with a move for the driving age to 18.
I'm from Portugal and here we can drink (legally) at 16! And we're perfectly fine, I mean, it all depends on the person's responsabilities, I think. I believe 21 is too high!
I think they should raise the drinking age to 30 that way it will have less drunk driving accidents and people can reflect on life thumbs up if you agree
Thumbs up IF THEY SHOULD AT LEAST LOWER DRINKING AGE TO 19
CHAAAANGINGGGGG LITE BOLBS
great piece we are gonna post it on our blog
Tax on alcohol has not kept up with the rate of inflation. A case of beer should be at at least $20 now. 25 years ago, alcohol was much more expensive in inflation adjusted terms, that helped curb excessive consumption then, it's the main reason binge drinking rises now, not the 21 legal age.
Somehow, I don't see Reason TV advocating higher excise taxes.
Did anyone else notice @3:30 that guy had a dip in haha
umm, I live in Indonesia and I don't think that drinking age matters. You won't get arrested for drinking. You can enter nightclubs without getting your ID checked. I used to buy beer while still wearing my school uniform
The law in the United States, stating that you cannot purchase alcohol till aged 21 is absurd, the United States is the only country in the developed World, and one of the very few in the entire World that say "You are an Adult when you are 18 but cant buy Alcohol until you are 21", In all the Countries of Europe and all the Countries of Latin America, as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, China, Russia and most other countries in the World the Legal Age to purchase alcohol is 18 which is the age one becomes an Adult, in the case of Canada the legal drinking age is either 18 or 19 depending on which province. Its time for the United States to lower the Drinking Age to 18.
Hell no! Its not time to lower the drinking age. Please... Leave it as it is based on my use of alcohol before the legal age. It prevents us from doing it as much as we would have if it were legal.
You are a legal adult at 18, period. So who is anyone to say what one at 18-20 can and cannot drink?
Mike man My coworker who just turned 21 buys me my alcohol and I’m 18. Guess he’ll just have to keep doing it for 3 more years because of this bullshit law! Some of us seriously need to step up and do something about it to get it lowered back to 18.
@@aft5264 lol your almost there bro
Exactly
Maybe we should return the draft age to 21
Your Damn Right you should Just Raise the Age of Majority in all States to 21 because its not fair that at 21 you can buy tabacco Drink and Gamble but at 18 we can risk our lives on the battlefield for the Country and Die for the Safety of the Government but not be allowed to Drink ITS FUCKING BULLSHIT
@Vlaxitov I actually agree with Reason TV that the reduction of alcohol fatalities drop from 26 to 13 thousand over the last 25 years has been in large a result of other factors. But they can't argue thousands more would get killed with a lowered drinking age.
How?
Its better to have the drinking age above the driving age. At least we could have sober drivers!
Interestingly, China, Bolivia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Gabon, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos have no drinking age and the drinking age in UK where I live is 5 years old when on domestic private property. Maybe it's better to abolish the government drinking age altogether. As was the case in 1800s USA.
@fupedworld I agree with you...but, we need to find a good middle ground...the majority of teens are good, responsible people! Unfortunately, the minority of abusers have messed it up for the rest of you! I was allowed to drink when I was 18, and I never abused it...but so many people I knew did! Sadly, there's no real way to tell the responsible people apart from the abusers, until after the fact, and someone has been hurt or killed because of it :(
It won't be changed because nobody over the age of 21 cares about the drinking age. It's unfair you're an adult at 18 but can't drink but I really don't care at all. The way I see it you can be patient just like we all were.
I'm all for this age change. If their going to start drinking, let it be at 18 when kids are still at home and can experience normal casual drinking as opposed to binging.
Also I challenge MADD to tell me what are the statistics of teen victims of car accidents WHETHER or NOT related to drinking -- compared to 20 years ago. I bet its the same cause teenagers do dumbass things when driving even when they are NOT drunk!
@Catsie15 I agree...not all teens are like that! Sadly, it only takes a few to screw it up for the rest! I think the majority of teens are responsible enough, without their friends...unfortunately. there's not a way to separate the responsible from the abusers :(
It should be 20 years old and older
@fishsama999 I think you don't realize I am talking about younger than 18 drinking which should be allowed under parental supervision. At 18 I consider that person an adult. I think you have every right to be proud of your accomplishments. We joke all the time about once the last kid is 18 we are escaping to parts unknown. But we also plan to give our children the tools to be able to make adult choices by 18. And part of that is teaching responsible drinking before they hit 18.
yes, lower the drinking age, if you're old enough to serve your country at 18, and risk dying in Iraq or Afghanistan, then you should also legally have a beer.
Great analogy at the end.
It was 18 when I was in High School. We have to stop MADD!!!!
They are the devil here.
i think that the drinking age being 21 is stupid as fuck my grandma and my grampa are 60 and the drunks and drive drunk and are very irresponsible when they drink same for there friends who are also 60 . Im 22 so im older thn 21 so i cud drink but i kno ALOT of 18-20 year olds who are still not 21 and drink and are waaay more responsible than senior citizens and dont drink like all them old people so i think they shud make a law were old people cant drink nd lower it to 18.
The last time that I remember the drinking age being lowered was during the Vietnam war. The suggestion was, you're old enough to kill and be killed for your country but, you are not adult enough to have a drink.
@KLillz I am most certainly not being sarcastic. It's called cause and effect. if we have bad enough problems as it is and we lower the drinking age it will make the problems grow.
That said, age doesn't really matter, but responsibility does. I started drinking at about 13, but as long as u act mature and don't get stupid, no big deal regarding drinking age. instead having laws telling what age to u can drink, they should posess laws that would be very strict regarding to the after effects and consequences where one's life is at stake. If you drink stupidly and suddenly kill someone, ur life should b a living hell where u won't even dare touch alcohol again.
It's ridiculous how you can smoke at 18 which shouldn't even be legal. But can't drink until you turn 21. I would say 17 for lower alcoholic drinks and 18 for all alcohol.
Since I'm not 21 any more, so I really don't care one way or the other about this. However, I think age limits should be set aside at least for soldiers.
Yes, lower the drinking age and teach kids how to do things responsibly.