Busted for having minors over, alcohol present

I just can't believe your drinking age is 21. That is the insane part of all of this. A lot of my friends had graduated from a 4 yr degree by the time they were 21. I can't say alcohol related problems are greater in the rest of the western world as compared to the US, so I wonder what is driving this paternalistic policy.

the grump wrote:

I just can't believe your drinking age is 21. That is the insane part of all of this. A lot of my friends had graduated from a 4 yr degree by the time they were 21. I can't say alcohol related problems are greater in the rest of the western world as compared to the US, so I wonder what is driving this paternalistic policy.

I believe the impetus for the current drinking age (21) can be traced back to the desire to reduce the number of teenage drunk driving fatatilies. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) started the whole thing, and then the automobile insurance lobby got behind it as a way to reduce the liability they are exposed to when they insure teenaged drivers.

I grew up in NYC and remember that when I was younger, 18 was the defacto drinking age despite the law. Nobody really cared because nobody drives in NYC. However, when I went to college out in the sticks (where you had to drive everywhere, including to the bar if you wanted a drink) the 21 year old drinking age was enforced with puritanical zeal. From this I infer that the reason the drinking age is so high in America is because we do so much driving compared to the rest of the developed world.

Next time you're having a party with minors over be sure to put a sign on the fridge stating that anyone under the age of 21 is prohibited from drinking. This will end up absolving you of any blame as you attempted to prohibit their alcohol consumption. Of course it goes unsaid that you will not be enforcing those rules but it at least covers your own ass.

History Lesson wrote:

I believe the impetus for the current drinking age (21) can be traced back to the desire to reduce the number of teenage drunk driving fatatilies. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) started the whole thing, and then the automobile insurance lobby got behind it as a way to reduce the liability they are exposed to when they insure teenaged drivers.

From this I infer that the reason the drinking age is so high in America is because we do so much driving compared to the rest of the developed world.

You might be right on MADD, but I can't buy the driving part. What about Canada or Australia for example? I doubt their teen drunk driving accidents are more frequent (per capita).

A lawyer youre not wrote:

Where's the contempt?

"You sound like a snotty little turd"

"Be thankful you didn't get charged with a real crime and you can continue on with your immature lifestyle."

And malmo called him a nancy. But, that was funny.

The Age of Majority, when one is considered an adult, had been 21 in the modern age in the United States.

However, the Viet Nam war came along and by 1962 the US was drafting large numbers of boys into the army right out of high school at age 18. As the old Barry McGuire song went, "You're old enough to kill, but not for voting . . ."

The age of majority was lowered to 18, when you could vote, get married without your parents' consent, and consume alcohol. That was around 1970.

That worked during the war, but by the disco era (1978-79), most states were moving the drinking age back up to 21. Other states, during this period, also let their 18-20 year olds drink "neer beer" which was 3.2% alcohol (instead of the usual 5%) and 10% formaldehyde (kidding).

I suppose MADD can take some of the heat for this. But the fact remains: Nation-wide, nearly 75% of all accidents involve drinking and driving. Also, since a lot of kids turn 18 while still in high school, moving it up to 21 made it a lot harder for high school kids to scrounge up some beer. There were a lot of principals and high school booster groups working as well to get the age moved up and out of the local schools.

Now only parents are allowed to show up at high school sports events legally drunk and yell obscenities at the referees and the opposing players.

MADD won't stop until there is zero tolerance. What started out as a noble cause has gone over the top -- even the original founders of MADD have quit the organization because it's too extreme.

Sad to say, more kids die from texting while driving than drinking while driving. But there's no Mothers Against Texting..