I think that if im old enogh to go to war than im old enogh to Drink.

Great Britian decided to keep the bars open longer so that there wouldn't be the binge drinkers rolling out all at one time, and yes, knifing each other (big weekend pleasure with hoodies in London). This year, after 4 years of chaos, they have decided that it was a bad decision. Young people still came out in gangs, and still got into trouble, but were now able to do it longer into the night.

What happened to enforcing the laws that are there? And what is happening that we allow young people to demand and get rules changed to allow them to drink, use mj, etc. Why are we spoiling the young people who are supposed to be our future. If a person wants to drink, learn to do it correctly, not in excess. Learn not to roll out of a bar drunk; be an adult like you want us to think you are, and say no on that last drink. Regardless of your age, because there ARE 18 yr olds drinking now. Breaking the law, but hey, boys will be boys. 20th century thinking.When will men be men? And when will girls be embarrassed to see photos of themselves drunk, and acting like a 12 yr. old?
Grow up and learn responsibility, not just in drinking, but in driving and in sexual conduct. Life isn't fair, it isn't easy, but it does carry consequences when making bad choices. Don't change the rules to satisfy some idiotic justification; change the thinking at a young age, making nicotine and alcohol just as bad as cocaine and other drugs. Quit glamourising and let youngsters know that life choices are made at young ages, at times.
Lower the age...then what next? Yes, you can go to Iraq or where ever you want, but that doesn't make you a man or someone who can think responsibly...it just means you were available to go. How many parents years ago sent their child to military service to 'help him grow up'. So don't use this as an excuse to get 'plastered' with consent.

i still think you should have to be 21 unless your in the armed forces at which point you have earned the right to drink drinking is not a right its a privilege

18 thats my vote!!!!!! im 19 but i i cant go to srtin places because you have to be 21! like there is this club called peares were i live and all of the best bands go there and i cant because i am not 21!!! i thout i was an adalt i gess not!

Actually, research indicates that if the drinking age were raised to age 24 there would be a profoundly substantial drop in the number of alcoholics among those who consume alcohol. Fact is, alcohol is not a benign or "safe" drug, but is selectively addictive with around 1 out of 10 people who begin alcohol consumption going on to eventually meet the clinical criteria necessary for the diagnosis of active alcoholism. Experimentation with alcohol consumption is like Russian roulette. After you begin drinking, ostensibly socially, you wil eventually find out whether or not you are the unlucky 1 out of 10. People who do not drink before the age of 24 are highly unlikely to begin drinking after that age and therefore never manifest the clinical symptoms of alcoholism. France is always touted as a model for "teaching" youngsters "how to drink safely" via parental influence; however, it's also not widely publicised that France has one of the highest rates of alcoholism in the world. A few years back, France even ran a public service announcement that said something to the effect of "remember: only 1 liter per day! (meaning wine consumption). Legal age should absolutely be raised, not lowered under any circumstances.

people drink partly too look cool and bad, lower it to 18 and at first you will see a SURGE or drinking but over the years college kids will drink like casual adults. personally i hate the taste of beer and wine so i dont really care. although it woul be GREAT to have a mikes hard lemonade right now.

I agree that teen drunk driving is a problem. However, even when I was a teen back in the early 80's, I thought that raising the drinking age was a backwards solution. A much better solution would be to raise the driving age to 18 and reduce the drinking age (with some limits on younger drinkers) to 16. Also, drinking under a parent's supervision should be legal at any age, so parents can teach their kids to drink responsibly.

I grew up drinking with my parents at meals and special occasions. I am fine, healthy and average height and build. So to those who say that drinking adversely affects the growth of children, I say your research is incomplete. I never felt the need as a teen or young adult to go out and drink only to get drunk. Drinking has never been anything other another assortment of beverages to choose from when selecting what to drink as anyone would choose from soda, juice or whatever. Our country's continued Victorian value system needs to be re-examined.

I just come back from europe from a long vacation. In general kids are allowed to drink when 16y old, and even earlier at home under the supervision of parents and family. But kids are not allowed to drive a car until they are 18y old.
And that makes perfectly sense.
America has a big problem with not willing to give more responsability to kid, the same paternalisme you see regarding other drugs.
Let kids learn to deal with it, teach and educate them. Restrictions and prohibitions never made sense, see the history of prohibition and the lost war on drugs. Educating, thats the solution

At 18 you graduate from school and either head off for college or enter the workforce. You are no longer considered a dependent, but an adult and therefore should be allowed to make decisions on every aspect of your life. The drinking age should be reduced to 18. At 21 your first legal experience is usually out of control, as it would be at 18. The courts waste too much time on prosecuting 18 year olds.

if you're old enough to die in Iraq, then you're old enough to drink a beer.