Do you remember your first taste of alcohol? How old were you? Twenty-one? All 50 states currently demand that their citizens reach age 21 before they can legally drink. But there's a growing movement that says mandatory minimum laws may do more harm than good. When determining the right date when a young person can take one of their final steps towards personal responsibility and freedom, what's the right answer?
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First off, the opening statement of this objection states the same fact presented and then admits the flaw. Prohibiting your children is the only option. That is what CR is arguing is wrong. Parent's legally only have that option, not the option of teaching their children responsible drinking habits. Almost all of the closing statement that lists the risks of alcohol doesn't even apply here. The risk of dying in a car crash requires that the parent let their child go driving after drinking with them. The risk of contracting an STD and getting pregnant from drinking with your child assumes a far more horrible situation inside of the home. As far as depression, suicide, and developing a dependancy, studies are showing that these would only be a risk if you are getting your child drunk, which is not exactly teaching them responsible drinking now is it?
- PhilyG
January 29, 2009 10:44PM
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Legal Age 21 Marginalizes Parents
- From Choose Responsibility
By Choose Responsibility - Balance, Maturity, Common Sense
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Interesting argument
I'm not really sure why you would argue that the drinking age should be lowered from 21. What is your agenda here? Who can argue that not serving drinks in bars and restaurants and not selling beer to 18 year-olds is a bad thing?
Do 18-20 year-olds have a big problem with it? Do parents have a big problem with it? Perhaps beer sellers have a problem with it, but who else does?
This specific argument claims that the law marginalizes parents. Well I'm a parent and don't feel marginalized and I don't think I can name one other parent who would like to see the drinking age lowered.
Would I ever choose to have my 18 year-old drink a glass of wine at a family gathering? Maybe. Would I feel like I'm breaking the law? Of course not!
- marloma July 11, 2008 4:38PM
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Parents shouldn't break the law
Actually, I am a parent of a 17 year old and I have a problem with the 18 drinking age. Ever visit you local grocery store around high school graduation? See all the parents buying kegs for their kids HS graduation parties. Like you, I would like my daughter to have a glass of champagne at family events but it IS BREAKING THE LAW and our children know it. You may not feel like you are breaking the law but you are. What are you teaching your child? I think maybe a graduated drinking age would be appropriate, just like driving. First, only with parental supervision then just beer and wine and then finally everything. I would like to work with my daughter to ensure that she knows what effect alcohol has on her in the privacy of our home, without breaking the law.
- againes
August 21, 2008 6:09AM
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Depends on the law in your state
If you can't let your daughter have a glass of champagne at a family event you should work to get the law changed.
In my state, it is legal for parents to serve their children alcoholic beverages at home, no matter what their ages. But they cannot if they are not in their own home, e.g. Sunday dinner at a relative's house.
Thus my parents gave me an education about drinking that stood me in good stead when I went off to college at 17.
But they could have done even better if the laws were those of a nearby state, where not only do parents have the right to teach their kids about drinking while under their supervision at home, but anywhere including bars and restaurants. The only requirement is that the person's parent be there to supervise. I think it should be the law in every state that underderage drinkers may drink anywhere so long as they are under parental supervision.
- Abigail Adams August 21, 2008 6:31PM
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Strange Though
I would say that I disagree with this as well.
However, I believe that the law is the law and if it says that you cannot drink until you are 21, then you cannot drink until you are 21.
What is my responsibility to my children? Teach them that drinking at any age is not good. Teach them that there are reasons not to ever start drinking. I am a firm believer in education on every thing.
Exampl: I began at a young age teaching my children about guns and the responsibilty of owning and using them. Why? Because are a family of hunters. They now have a respect for them and as a result, know how to properly handle them.
- UltraConservative August 19, 2008 4:56AM
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Responsibility begins young
My daughter also knows how to handle weapons responsibly and we taught he well before 18 how to clean a gun and shoot and how to secure it. I would like to teach her the same about alcohol and that is my responsibility as her parent to choose, not the government.
- againes
August 21, 2008 6:12AM
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Make It Equal
I wrote about this above, but feel the need to repeat. If a person is old enough to carry heavy ordinance, drive tanks, and take lives, the person is old enough to have a drink.
Are all 18 year olds prepared for alcoholic beverages? No. But not all 18 year olds are prepared for warfare either. But we do not discriminate against that. We actually call it patriotic and doing your duty. Do not get me wrong. I agree that it is 100% patriotic and believe we should all serve our country. But if we are entrusted to be defenders of the free world at 18, we should be able to have a beer at the end of the day after defending it.
- Gideon From The Dirty Onion
August 19, 2008 7:54AM
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