What do you guys think?

[Dash Riprock]

Should the legal drinking age be lowered to 18?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249460/?GT1=10252

[jkroner659]

Not sure...I would not vote I guess...cause I know of some older people who aren't mature enough to drink...Don't think it would bother me...

[KPierce]

I voted yes. WHen I was in the military I could drink at age 18 on base. If an 18 yr old is old enough to make the choice to serve in the military, old enough to handle a moving vehicle and old enough to vote then they should be old enough to drink.

[jkroner659]

Good point, if your old enough to die for your country...your old enough to enjoy a frosty beverage...

[RiverFisher]

I can truly see both sides of this one. I come from a long line of alcoholics. I also have an extremely high tolerance for alcohol. I also did ALL of my drinking before I was 21. From beer to hard liquor, I drank any alcohol I could get my hands on, and most of it without the knowledge of my parents. The last time I drank alcohol, I was straight shotting everclear with a stupid friend of mine (I'm with stupid), and probably should have died. That experience scared me into deciding that I would never drink alcohol again; a pledge that I have honored to this day. Now I am a parent and in a few years, I will have to deal with this situation. Granted, I have since "dun got religion" and the teachings of my religion prohibit consumption of alcohol, perhaps I will be successful in raising my children to make what I consider to be wise choices. In the end it will be their choice, as it is for all of us, but I will not hesitate to let them know that the law where we live prohibits the consumption of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21. I wonder if the "do the crime, do the time" thing will have any effect. Hopefully it will not be needed.
My $.02

[Sinatra877]

How about if we just open up the taps to Active Duty members on base/post? They can get shitfaced there and let the MP's deal with it. Overall I think the general civilan population should stay at 21 years of age. I've seen too many accident scenes involving alcohol so my opinion is very biased.

[Headhunter 13]

Ok the view from a retired Drinker plus other ingredients (went out with a championship belt BTW and did it on 4 continents over 30 years) and someone who turned 21 the year they dropped the age to 18 in PA and many other states I have to say no with the exception from Sinatra above. For the most part as a country we teach oiur teenagers very little about responsibilty comraed to other parts of the world I have been in. Also we tend to make light of drinking and the consequences. One final point with outr poor education system some of those 18 yo are still in HS. Hey Mikey let's go to the bar at lunchtime before math class!

[TcRoc]

I think it should remain 21.
I know how dumb and lucky I was at 18 .

[The Guinea]

No. But I think the legal driving age should be raised to 18. Way too many fuck nut 16 year olds driving out there! :love4:

The Guinea

[sleepyweasel]

i dont think it really matters, alcohol is easy to get for a teenager.by the time i was 21 i was pretty much done with my hardcore drinking.

[trigger]

I'm for raising the drinking age to 25. The thought of these 21 year old children running around and it's legal for them to drink and carry a gun at the same age is something that keeps me awake at night.