Should the legal drinking age be lowered to 18?

I think the reason for not being able to "gamble" (you can buy lottery tickets and such in most states at 18) is because of the drinking and smoking on the floor, not because of the actual gambling.

If you had an alcohol free, smoke free environment, I believe you could, technically, gamble at a casino.

 

32 year-olds want to be President. Where's the outrage to change the age requirement to allow them to live their dream?

 

Prime evidence as to why the drinking age should be raised to 35.

 

Oh, sweet! It's Thursday now: change the subject to something completely unrelated day. WooHoo! I can play, I can play.

Dirty. Girl. Smirk.

 

I gambled at an Indian* casino near(est) Knoxville in undergrad before I was 21. It may just be a Nevada law.


*feathers, not dots

 

Do you really not understand the larger point that age is used as a requirement in many things, yet there's no outrage about it. It's only when cold beer is discussed when it comes pouring out.

And don't be a ****ing [penis]. I was being outrageous on purpose.

 

I think you have to be 21 in Mississippi as well, but to be honest, I've been once, and I don't remember much of what happened.

 

Do you not understand that I understand the point of using arbitrary age cutoffs for administrative conveniience, and on the basis of reasonable assessments about when people are able to do certain tihings like drive cars or vote. And do you not understand that a statement that the 21 year old drinking age is indefensible under those criteria and paternalistic is not dickish at al, but my opinion on the issue?

 

I think the point is that simple things are simple, and complex things are complex.

An 18 year old drinking a beer causes no risk of harm to anyone but himself. An 18 year old drinking beer and driving is covered under the same law as all individuals drinking while driving, so, there is no age discrimination there.

A 32 year old who is elected as President is a complex problem involving an entire country, and causes the risk of harm to many people. A 32 year old who is elected President of his own household poses no problem. So the two aren't synonymous.

The age requirement for President is arbitrary, but it is complex. The age requirement for alcohol consumption is arbitrary, but it is not complex.

 

What about legal contracts, workplace restrictions?

 

And my opinion is stated forcefully because, again, I think it's indefensible nonsense, and will thus tend to refrain from using qualifiers and the like.

 

You were being a [penis]. It's your go to move when someone disagrees with you. Perhaps that might answer some questions you posed to me awhile back.

I never said it wasn't arbitrary. Age is used regardless.

 

Involves more than the individual.

 

Nothing happens in a vaccuum. Even an 18 year-old drinking.

 

No, but there are simple things and complex things.

 

Lighten up, Francis. The 8 year old driving hypo was a silly one, and I honestly wasn't even following your first hypo. And I'm barely following the above. It's your go to move when someone disagrees with me? I don't know of any questions that answers.

Yes, age limits are always going to be arbitrary. Is there anything magical that happens when you turn 18 that changes your ability to handle tobacco products? Of course not. But an age had to be picked.

The age that is picked, though, should at least make some sense. The 21 year old drinking age does not. Now, I saw where you disagreed, and I saw your reason for disagreeing, and I didn't find it to be particularly compelling. I'm sure you'll be able to carry on,.

 

I can agree with that.

I'm really not of a hugely strong opinion on the matter. I said earlier that I can see the issue with the age requirements, but that has been lost on some apparently. It would make sense to have a uniform age for "adulthood." However, I'm sure we both know some 18 year-olds that are vastly more mature than some 20 somethings, 30 somethings, or pick any decade somethings.

 

I'm as cool as a well digger's ass. Just some advice. Take it or leave it.

See my above reply to float

 

Gotta add Maryland, Pennsylvania and Michigan

 

I would say no simply because I wouldn't want a bunch of drunk 18 year olds at the same bars I go to.

Hell If I could move the legal age to 25 I would.