Drinking Age..

[HappyJackie]

Now I'm probably going to get shouted at for saying this... but I do think the drinking age should be 21. Alcohol turns people into raging idiots and they not only hurt themselves, but other people!

Debate!

[addi3x]

My opinion for the USA is that the drinking age should stay at 21, BUT if you are in the United States Armed Forces at age 18, you should be allowed a drink of alcohol.

[HappyJackie]

Why not the same for everyone?

[addi3x]

Because not everybody is risking their lives for the saftey and continued so called "freedom" of the USA.

[Ryan]

I don't think it should be 21. It should be 18. Having the age at 21 would just make people want to rebel against the law.

[addi3x]

People are still going to rebel though. It doesn't matter. I've seen 10 year olds drinking, with their parents. It doesn't really matter what the age is, everyone is going to rebel and break the law to get what they want anyway.

[Ben]

^ I agree with this. In the UK, the drinking age law pretty much means NOTHING, there's still gonna be teenagers going out drinking. No change in the law would change that.

[AmbulanceIsLate]

I think buying should be 21.
And the drunk driving laws should be less lenient [say what you want about how lenient they are now, but I think they should be much more strict].
But I think drinking with your family and whatever should be fine.
My parents are divorced, but at my dad's house, he's fine if like on new years we have champagne with them, or on holidays if we have a glass of wine or something with family/friends visiting.
And I think that when people are introduced younger they're less likely to drink to just get drunk and it's more of just any other beverage.

[Vampi]

OHH MY, MY FAVORITE TOPIC...(was a public speaker about underaged drinking):dance:


I think that the drinking age should be 25. WHY? because that's about the age that your brain is fully matured. 21 is allllriiiight, but, the best age to start is...well, never, but really, 25. IF EVER. Regardless of whether you serve in the armed forces or not, if you won't look out for your own health, someone should definitely do it for you. (IMO)


Kids drinking is just nucking futs. You do SOOO SO much damage to yourself when you start at a young age, and the rate of alcoholic disease in the UK is like, double the US simply because of the age/laws/etc. (that's a general statement, I don't have the data on me, but if you ask I can try and get some)

I don't care how you're getting the alcohol, if you're under that magic age of 21-25, you're being an idiot. You're hurting yourself, and you should STOP NOW. I have enough friends who like to drink, I love them all dearly, but even drinking with your mum and dad is a NO-NO to me. No matter how much I love you, you will never have my support for drinking. Never, and I say this with every fiber of my being.


In my eyes, it does more bad than it does good. Why get drunk to have fun, when you can have all that same fun sober AND safer? Why risk doing something dangerous or that you might regret, when you can be in complete control and still do what you'd like?

I cannot relate, and I refuse to. I've had a drink or two (literally, like two) and it's SO unattractive to me. I fear so greatly for those who choose to drink, because it can bring so much pain. It's the most pathetic thing in the world to see that girl who can't stand because she's SO wasted, she's got no support in her body. To see that guy who hits on every girl in the party because he cannot control his brain, his mouth, or his (...). The next day you wake up, and I've known so many people who've called me and asked "WHAT WAS I DOING, HOW LONG WAS I DOING IT, WHO WAS I DOING IT WITH, etc." I hate it, hate it, hate it. !!!!!!!!!!!!


And if you drink, DO NOT EFFING DRIVE. DO NOT, OR I WILL COME AND HIT YOU. I WILL, DON'T TEMPT ME...:freaked-out:


-Vampi


(Ditch The Label in no way condones or approves of the purchasing or consumption of alcohol by minors in ANY country)

[Ryan]

(but if you ask I can try and get some)

YES PLEASE.

And AHEM. You WANT to come to the UK. I secretly think that you want to join us party animals and have the times of our lives, who cares if we die early, we had a *insert f word* good time doing it :') GO ALCOHOL.


Please note: DTL does NOT support underage drinking

:dance::dance::dance::dance::dance::dance:

[addi3x]

Please note: DTL does NOT support underage drinking

:dance::dance::dance::dance::dance::dance:

That made me smile


:)

[AmbulanceIsLate]

That made me smile


:)


Argh your font is massively hard to read.

[addi3x]

I'm sorry. ):

[Katy]

Okay. Heres my thing. If you drink, and i do on occasion, dont drive. My parents and I have an understanding about drinking. They did it when it was my age, and they arent going to turn around and say that im not allowed to do it. I occasionally drink at parties, and what not, but thats why i have (or used to have) my cell. To call them and have them pick me up. The drinking age should be 18. People are always going to break the law, so why not lower it?

[Ryan]

Do you think that in America, underage drinking happens a lot and because the age is 21, it wastes police time?

[Katy]

Well, my mom is a dispatcher (she tells them where to go) and personally from hearing her complain that the drinking age is to high, yes. it wastes all their time. IT should be lower.

and also yes, underage drinking happens quite a lot.

[ninaYAYA[x]]

Alcohol turns people into raging idiots and they not only hurt themselves, but other people!

Now, this part I have to disagree with.
Yes, there is a huge problem with drinking, particularly underage drinking - and yes, it causes accidents and people get hurt.

However, the issue isn't with the drinking itself, the danger of alcohol is people not knowing their limits and/or ignoring them.

Alcohol - when handled responsibly is not a danger issue.

However, I agree that it should be handled with extreme caution.
A lot of people, particularly in the UK, completely ignore the risks associated with alcohol consumption.

These are the people that endanger themselves - as well as the people around them.

I myself have spent many weekends looking after friends who've just had too much to drink.

Thankfully, people have only been taken to hospital for it twice (since I was 11).

Now, I don't know about in America but I do know that in the UK drunk teenagers are one of the main drains on NHS resources. It's a very serious issue, for several reasons.
The alcohol prevents ambulance crew from communicating with the patient, which means that they can only get a vague idea of how much they have drank, and what they may have taken. They then have to waste an awful lot of time (and money) doing various blood tests and checking to see if anything else is wrong.

Teenagers, more than anyone else, are at a huge risk of alcohol poisoning due to binge drinking. I don't know if any of you have ever seen anyone with alcohol poisoning, or known anyone whose relatives have suffered from it, but it is a super serious issue and - in severe cases - it kills.

Now, the UK drinking laws are pretty controversial - even out here.
The law in England states that you have to be 18 to buy alcohol.
BUT you can legally consume alcohol in a residential area (with the permission of an adult) from the age of 5.

I presume this is because people think that the adult that is there will be responsible enough not to let you drink yourself into a coma.

What do you guys think about this though?

[Darren]

The drinking age should just stay the same. It doesn't matter what you change it too people will still be violent, age doesn't determine violentness.

And like Ryan and Ben said people underage will still drink nontheless, it's not hard to get alcohol if you're underage. Anyway when you turn 18 (or 21 if you're in America ect) drinking isn't as much of a big deal, when i was underage all i wanted to do was drink but now that i'm 18 i hardly drink.

[Vampi]

;26325']
Now, the UK drinking laws are pretty controversial - even out here.
The law in England states that you have to be 18 to buy alcohol.
BUT you can legally consume alcohol in a residential area (with the permission of an adult) from the age of 5.



Every time I remember this little fact, it makes me want to pass out. If ANY adult lets a 5 year old consume alcohol, I personally think they should be shot. SHOT, YES. Allowing a small child to drink alcohol should be considered child abuse, even! With the amount of damage alcohol does to organs, putting a small child at risk is inexcusable.


Ryan...I looked for my public speaking packet to back up my statement, and I've thrown it all out. I'm very disappointed that I can't back up that statement, though I KNOW I've been taught something like that. And yes, I'd love to come there. You know who I'm coming for? You, Liam and Benny. IDGAF about the drinking of the drugging or WHATEVER. I'm coming to spend time with the people I love. I don't have to drink to love you proper, I just have to love you the way I know best: sober and happy.


This is something from my memory, this MAY be wrong. I'll continue to look:

age of liver failure from excessive consumption in the US: 35-45 years of age.
age of liver failure from excessive consumption in the UK: 25-35 years of age.
(**THIS IS A VAGUE MEMORY, I DO NOT HAVE INFO ON ME TO BACK IT UP ATM**)



soooomething like that, but I remember hearing the numbers and it shocked the shi*t out of me.


I can't talk about this anymore, actually. It makes me want to throw my computer. I really can't do it, no offense to anyone.


-Vampi




(Ditch The Label in no way condones or approves of the purchasing or consumption of alcohol by minors in ANY country)

[Vampi]

Well, my mom is a dispatcher (she tells them where to go) and personally from hearing her complain that the drinking age is to high, yes. it wastes all their time. IT should be lower.

and also yes, underage drinking happens quite a lot.


In Texas, every 15 minutes, one teenager dies from an alcohol-related car accident.

My dad is a cop, and I hear alot of things about teenagers and underage drinking. I don't think it's an issue of the law of the age, even. I think it's the media's fault. flat-out, if they didn't make it look so cool and fun, then kids wouldn't try to look cool or have fun in that manner.

There are other fun things you can do to have fun. there are other ways to be cool.


I personally think they age should be higher, and that the laws should be more strict. I really do.


-Vampi


If you'd like to see where I got my underage drinking background from, you can look up "YouthLaunch", or Youth Partnership for Change. (YPC) Those were the programs I worked with to present to kids the drinking dangers.


OKAY, NOW I'M REALLY DONE. NO MORE. GAME OVER.


(Ditch The Label in no way condones or approves of the purchasing or consumption of alcohol by minors in ANY country)

[Darren]

And yes, I'd love to come there. You know who I'm coming for? You, Liam and Benny. I wish you would hurry up and get here!! I can't wait to hang out with you! You'll be so embarrassed by me DD; (You know what i'm like).



age of liver failure from excessive consumption in the US: 35-45 years of age.
age of liver failure from excessive consumption in the UK: 25-35 years of age.
(**THIS IS A VAGUE MEMORY, I DO NOT HAVE INFO ON ME TO BACK IT UP ATM**) WE ARE JUST THAT DARN COOL!

Note: The (over)use of alcohol is very dangerous and damaging to your own health (and sometimes other people's), we do not encourage the use of alcoholic beverages here at DTL.
-Benny.

[ninaYAYA[x]]

In Texas, every 15 minutes, one teenager dies from an alcohol-related car accident.

This is the only reason why I'm glad that our driving age is so much higher than yours.
Personally? I don't think teenagers should be allowed to drive. It's a huge responsibility and even at the english driving age it's a responsibility far too often overlooked.

Every time you get in a car, you are holding not only your own life, but the lives of everyone around you in your hands.
A steering wheel is a powerful thing and there are far too many bad drivers on the roads :/

EVERY TIME YOU DON'T INDICATE, YOU KILL A FAIRY ):

[Darren]

;26527']This is the only reason why I'm glad that our driving age is so much higher than yours.

Much higher? It's only like one year higher xDD


Not much love. :P

[ninaYAYA[x]]

Much higher? It's only like one year higher xDD


Not much love. :P

In some states you can get a learner's permit at 14 :P
The learning age in england was just raised to 18. It's going to apply to everyone born in 1993-onwards.

:P 4 years > 1 year.

[Darren]

I'm well behind on the times DD;

[ninaYAYA[x]]

Ahahaha, I only know 'cause I was born in '93 ¬¬

[Darren]

'91 :]]

[LeahAriane]

Here's what I say (and many countries use a similar structure just different ages for the most part): I say beer and drinks such as that should be allowed at 18. Then hard liquors at 21. Maybe if people were be able to drink SOMETHING by 18 then they wouldn't go so crazy. Plus, this also gives people a chance to know how much alcohol they can handel so they don't go out on their 21st birthday and get more than they can handel (not knowing they can't handel that) and passing out.
I know there's still going to be some rebels, but thta's just going to happen. And this way people who are 18 and in the army can still at least drink something. However, I do think that if you're in the middle of a war and you're 18 then you're probably mostly doing so to 'cut the pain' and odds are probably higher that you're going to turn into an alcoholic. Not saying they shouldn't have the right, just saying it's probably not competely smart to choose war to start drinking.

[Ryan]

;26531']The learning age in england was just raised to 18. It's going to apply to everyone born in 1993-onwards.


Oh yes,
1992 byotch :D

[AmbulanceIsLate]

Oh yes,
1992 byotch :D
Me too!

[Ryan]

Me too!

hi 5! :D

[AmbulanceIsLate]

hi 5! :D
Woot!
I love them!

[Darren]

Psh....children ¬¬

[AmbulanceIsLate]

Psh....children ¬¬
Psh, mr. one year older.