What should be the 'legal age'?

[TheDeadWalk]

Looking at this from a sociological point of view, when do we become adults?

Puberty? When we stop sounding like Peter Brady? When our nuts drop?

My government says 18 for everything, with the exception of alcohol which can only be purchased and consumed by those age 21 and over.

The closest porno shop to me has a strict 21 and over age as well, though the one lady let me in when I was four hours away from being 21 two years ago.

Legal age is really something that I feel should be debated more often, because its one of those things that the government determines, not really society; though society accepts it as is.

Also many troubles come when you find out that the 22 year old with the BMW that said she was a nurse at a local hospital is REALLY a sixteen year old driving her daddy's auto, and he just found out that you two scrumped.

Congratulations, you are now a felon. Go directly to prison. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

[ilovemovies]

I don't know if this is on topic but I think the legal age to drink and gamble should be 18. If you are old enough to go to war then you should be old enough to do those things.

[Tweek]

yeah if you can fight for your country at 18 you should be able to drink.


the legal age for sex should stay the same.
i'd rather not appease pedophiles...

[countchocula]

You shouldn't be able to get a driver's license until you're 18. You shouldn't be able to drink, smoke, or have access to have pornographic material until...well, this law is superfluous. It doesn't really matter what the legal age is anymore. I do feel that you shouldn't be allowed to procreate until you're 21. Teenage parents should have to pay a fine or do community service. Apparently, parenthood isn't a consequence to consider when having unprotected sex.

[bob]

Being a teenager, I...ahem...disagree.

[badberry]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
I don't know if this is on topic but I think the legal age to drink and gamble should be 18. If you are old enough to go to war then you should be old enough to do those things.

Come to Canada! Well, specifically Alberta :) Other provinces have 19. 21 just seems silly to me. As if under-21 kids in college aren't drinking their asses off every weekend anyways.

On the other hand, Canada also has a rediculously low age of consent for sex at 14....

[badberry]

.

[badberry]

Originally posted by countchocula
You shouldn't be able to get a driver's license until you're 18.

I do feel that you shouldn't be allowed to procreate until you're 21.

Disagree on both counts. 16 is fine for driving. And sex...well that really depends on the people involved. 21 is rediculous though....there are horny teenages everywhere who will find ways to screw anyways :)

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by badberry
Disagree on both counts. 16 is fine for driving. And sex...well that really depends on the people involved. 21 is rediculous though....there are horny teenages everywhere who will find ways to screw anyways :)

Yes, but I think what the Count is saying is that you could cut back on it with disincentives, the same way a lot of people will speed, but a lot will not because of the disincentive of getting a speeding ticket.

[BubbaStrangelove]

When your old enough to show you can hold a job, stay in school, be an upright dude.

18 is fine.

21 for legal drinking age is stupid. "Hey, put that beer down, and come over here so Uncle Sam can teach you how to fire this rifle."

[countchocula]

In my experience, those under the age of 18 are too immature to drive. I'm strapped for time, but I'll look for statistics tomorrow to substantiate my claim. As for my other proposal, I'm referring to procreation. Fuck all you want; just don't breed.

[SLAW]

I don't want anyone going to prison for having sex with a sixteen year-old. The circumstances need to be looked at for a fifteen year-old and fourteen and under needs to be charged. And in all honesty, anyone over 18 who has sex with someone under the age of fourteen, Meghan's law should apply.

[Benny]

18 should be the legal age for gambling and drinking. Why is smoking 18, and drinking 21? Makes no sense, both have the potential to be very harmful to you...

Also, I want voting to be lowered to 16 or 17, just so I can vote in the November election!

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by Benny
18 should be the legal age for gambling and drinking. Why is smoking 18, and drinking 21? Makes no sense, both have the potential to be very harmful to you...



An attempt to limit drunk driving. Unless you're coughing your lungs out, you're not likely to swerve off to the side of the road and smash into a family of four coming home from Disneyland after smoking a pack of cigarettes.

[Neesh]

Originally posted by TheDeadWalk
Legal age is really something that I feel should be debated more often, because its one of those things that the government determines, not really society; though society accepts it as is.


I'm having trouble getting my head around the whole government vs. society/self-government thing.... maybe some people can help me out.

How would you suggest that society determine something like legal age? I would think that a vote would have to take place. Where would the people vote on it? How would they vote on it? Could it all be done online? There are a thousand issues that would come up. Someone would have to be elected to oversee the voting process. You have now just put someone in a position of authority... someone who has control. Possibly control over the outcome. Someone who could probably be influenced. Then what have we got? A smaller scale form of government, which would inevitably lead us right back to where we are today. Right now we have a government that is elected by society, to look out for our interests. We elected them to do what's right by us.
I'm pretty good at recognizing problems with government and society, but I'm bad at coming up with solutions.

About ages.... I pretty much agree with everyone here. If someone is old enough to be forced to go and fight and die for your country, then you should also be able to drink a beer in your country.

[ANavissi500]

According to my old government teacher, the reason that the U.S. limit was changed from 18 to 21 was basically blackmail. The government told the states, "Okay, we won't make you raise the limits, BUT if you don't within 5 years we will slash your roads budget by 50%." I really don't see the huge deal with it being 21, but I for one am not the biggest drinker by any means - I am 99% the DD at the parties I go to (by choice). As for gambling, lower that sucker to 18 - more money for the casinos and the schools (they get cash from lottery).

[Neesh]

Originally posted by ANavissi500
According to my old government teacher, the reason that the U.S. limit was changed from 18 to 21 was basically blackmail. The government told the states, "Okay, we won't make you raise the limits, BUT if you don't within 5 years we will slash your roads budget by 50%." I really don't see the huge deal with it being 21, but I for one am not the biggest drinker by any means - I am 99% the DD at the parties I go to (by choice).

that's basically true. Alot of people don't realise that the legal drinking age is actually state law, not federal law. There were probalby other things besides roads that would've lost funding, if the states didnt comply.
The legal drinking age in Louisiana was 18 until I think about 7 or 8 years ago.

[ANavissi500]

Originally posted by Neesh
that's basically true. Alot of people don't realise that the legal drinking age is actually state law, not federal law. There were probalby other things besides roads that would've lost funding, if the states didnt comply.
The legal drinking age in Louisiana was 18 until I think about 7 or 8 years ago.

Right you are. One final irony: the woman who started this campaign, Candy Lichtner, founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (her son died) now works for Seagrams.

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by Neesh
I'm having trouble getting my head around the whole government vs. society/self-government thing.... maybe some people can help me out.

How would you suggest that society determine something like legal age? I would think that a vote would have to take place. Where would the people vote on it? How would they vote on it? Could it all be done online? There are a thousand issues that would come up. Someone would have to be elected to oversee the voting process. You have now just put someone in a position of authority... someone who has control. Possibly control over the outcome. Someone who could probably be influenced. Then what have we got? A smaller scale form of government, which would inevitably lead us right back to where we are today. Right now we have a government that is elected by society, to look out for our interests. We elected them to do what's right by us.
I'm pretty good at recognizing problems with government and society, but I'm bad at coming up with solutions.

About ages.... I pretty much agree with everyone here. If someone is old enough to be forced to go and fight and die for your country, then you should also be able to drink a beer in your country.

Well I'm not actually saying how it would be done persay, I'm just trying to envoke the sociological imagination and have others step outside of the metaphoric box and look at what society has set up for us. Why 18? Why not 19? Why not 20, when you're past the whole teen thing? Why not 13?

It's probably something that most people can really dig into when they are inebriated.

[Neesh]

Originally posted by TheDeadWalk
Well I'm not actually saying how it would be done persay, I'm just trying to envoke the sociological imagination and have others step outside of the metaphoric box and look at what society has set up for us. Why 18? Why not 19? Why not 20, when you're past the whole teen thing? Why not 13?

I hear ya. I've had all of these thoughts before. I'm at the point now, in my ripe old age, where I'm trying to think of sensible solutions. Thats the hard part.

About the drinking age.... I actually think 21 is good. 20 might be okay too. Sorry teens... Hey, I was there once. It was frustrating as hell being 20, when most of my friends were all 21, and I couldnt go out to bars with them. 21 couldnt get here fast enough. But hindsight is 20/20. It's not like people under 21 can't drink anyways, they just cant go buy it themselves or get into bars.
I do have a problem with the fact that an 18 year old could get sent to war. My father got sent to Viet Nam when he was 19 or 20. Sorry, thats just too young.... youre still a kid at that age. But... I guess it's not a huge issue, since the odds of a draft being initiated again are pretty slim. I've have conversations with friends of mine, about whether or not a draft would even fly in this day and age. I just dont see Generation Z slackers going for it. There'd be massive backlash and refusals to go.

Someone mentioned setting a legal age on procreation. I'm with you there.....

[ilovemovies]

I'm 21 so it doesn't matter to me personally but on principal if you are old enough to go to war then you should have ALL the rights an adult American citizen.

If you don't want to want to lower the legal age of drinking then put the age of going to war up to 21.

I know if I was 18 and there was a major war that they had to draft people I wouldn't go until I had the legal right to drink and gamble. Simple as that. It would be total BS otherwise.

[SenorSpielbergo]

Originally posted by TheDeadWalk
The closest porno shop to me has a strict 21 and over age as well, though the one lady let me in when I was four hours away from being 21 two years ago.


LOL! Could you not wait any longer?

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by SenorSpielbergo
LOL! Could you not wait any longer?

Haha, I was with some friends and they wanted to stop there. They told me since my birthday was in four hours I should bargain with her. It worked. She was an old thing though, glad I didn't have to do her any favors.


My father got sent to Viet Nam when he was 19 or 20. Sorry, thats just too young.... youre still a kid at that age.

They do that for a reason. If the government is going to cost American lives, they want to do it with lives that probably haven't had time to start a family yet...

[Raymond Babbit]

Does anyone know why it's 21 to drink? I mean, of all the ages to pick, why 21? Why not 20 or 22?

[Grebdron]

21, for everything. Driving, military, drinking, smoking...the whole shebang.

[horrorfreak13]

Originally posted by Grebdron
21, for everything. Driving, military, drinking, smoking...the whole shebang.

That sucks here it's 18 to gamble, vote, drive and drink(if your are in Quebec, otherwise it's 19 here)

Me I'm 21 now so I can whatever I want well legaly that is.

[badberry]

Originally posted by countchocula
As for my other proposal, I'm referring to procreation. Fuck all you want; just don't breed.
Ah, sorry, misinterpreted you. That actually makes some sense.

Originally posted by countchocula

In my experience, those under the age of 18 are too immature to drive.
Sure, some may be, but I know plenty of 16 and 17 year olds who are more mature than other 21 year olds...age doesn't really equate to maturity. If anything, we should keep the age the same, and have stricter requirements for getting a licence. Where I live at least, the test is a joke.

[badberry]

Originally posted by Grebdron
21, for everything. Driving, military, drinking, smoking...the whole shebang.

Spoken like a true old-timer :p

[Grebdron]

Originally posted by badberry
Spoken like a true old-timer :p

Indeed.

But I've come to that conclusion legitimately.

But be happy. I could advocate 35, as I'd still make it.

But I'm nothing if not fair and balanced.

Just call me Fox News.

[Raoul Duke]

Isn't Europe pretty easy going when it comes to this stuff? I mean, hash, prostitution is all legal in...Amsterdam is it? Also the legal drinking age there is like 16. And there they don't seem to being swinging into chaos. There's a lower murder rate and probably a lower traffic accident rate that Canada or U.S.

Where I live, P.E.I, Canada. The legal drinking age is 19. I'm fine with that, I guess...It's not like I can't just go to a friend's house and get a bunch of booze and stuff.

[BubbaStrangelove]

Originally posted by Grebdron
21, for everything. Driving, military, drinking, smoking...the whole shebang.



I think driving should be handled in the same way guns and stuff are.

You can drive when you are 16, but only unmodified light engine cars.

It freaks me out seeing 16 year olds wizz by in overpowered SUVs and stuff.

Seriously though, I had no reason to drive when I was 16. No one I knew had any reason, and the only reason we ever used our cars was to stir shit up. I would totally vote on having the age raised to 18.

The car makers will never let it happen though.

[countchocula]

Y'know (http://www.car-accidents.net/car-accidents-statistics.html), young drivers are four times more likely to die in auto accidents than middle-aged drivers. Most teenagers aren't experienced enough to know that they are vulnerable. They take too many risks on the road. This intrepid bluster can extend into your mid-20's, but I think that raising the legal driving age to 18 would be reasonable. And as Bubba said, adolescents don't have many reasons to drive, unless it's to revel themselves wasted (Jesus, I sound like a parent).

[Morgana]

Originally posted by countchocula
Y'know (http://www.car-accidents.net/car-accidents-statistics.html), young drivers are four times more likely to die in auto accidents than middle-aged drivers. Most teenagers aren't experienced enough to know that they are vulnerable. They take too many risks on the road. This intrepid bluster can extend into your mid-20's, but I think that raising the legal driving age to 18 would be reasonable. And as Bubba said, adolescents don't have many reasons to drive, unless it's to revel themselves wasted (Jesus, I sound like a parent).

I agree. High school teenagers who cut me off and who think they own the road piss me off to no end. Irresponsible, cocky drivers is what they are. I'd like to kick their asses. But raising the driver age limit to 18 would be safer. ;)

Otherwise I think 18 is a good, round number for everything. If people are old enough to vote, and go to war, they're old enough to drink. I know being under-aged never stopped me from drinking when I was in college.

[Raoul Duke]

Originally posted by countchocula
Y'know (http://www.car-accidents.net/car-accidents-statistics.html), young drivers are four times more likely to die in auto accidents than middle-aged drivers. Most teenagers aren't experienced enough to know that they are vulnerable. They take too many risks on the road. This intrepid bluster can extend into your mid-20's, but I think that raising the legal driving age to 18 would be reasonable. And as Bubba said, adolescents don't have many reasons to drive, unless it's to revel themselves wasted (Jesus, I sound like a parent).


Well, I'm 17, but I drive like an old woman. So don't worry if you see a purple cavellier comin on down the road, kay?



..Yeah..Purple....:(

[Annie Hall]

Originally posted by countchocula
You shouldn't be able to get a driver's license until you're 18. You shouldn't be able to drink, smoke, or have access to have pornographic material until...well, this law is superfluous. It doesn't really matter what the legal age is anymore. I do feel that you shouldn't be allowed to procreate until you're 21. Teenage parents should have to pay a fine or do community service. Apparently, parenthood isn't a consequence to consider when having unprotected sex.

This doesn't quite work- around the age of 16 or so, teenagers start wanting to stay out later. Or, they have jobs and their parents don't want to drive them. I think the 16 driving age makes sense, because it lets kids have 2 years of driving practice in their hometown that they know, with their parents keeping an eye on them. What'd be scarier than going to college and having to drive alone for the first time too?

I know someone who got married at 19...maybe a bit young to get married, but, I don't think that he and his wife should be forced into community service for having a child, married, before 21. Then you see that that law only applies to unmarried couples...well, then they could say that they don't believe in marriage. Fine. You can't really persecute a dedicated couple who doesn't BELIEVE in marriage but might as well be...ok, so, the people you can prove were irresponsible are the single mothers. Let's fine single, teenage mothers. Not gonna go over well, doesnt' really make sense.

I think 16 for driving, 18 for drinking, smoking and marriage. 21 is the most pointless law ever, it just gets more people drinking and driving because they technically can't just "be drunk".

[cstroman]

Legal Age should be 18 and should stay there.

NAMBLA thinks that it is ok for a 12-16 year old boy to be able to become "emancipated" (his own agent and guardian) and then have sex with (and marry if you live in Massachusettes) a 60 year old man.

I happen to see a problem with that, and it all boils down to "morals" which science can't support, but community standards or religion/spirituality can.

The way the morals in this country are heading we really, truly are one SMALL step away from a young 15/16 year old boy who is A. given permission from his mentally defective parents, B. Emancipated from his parents, for him to go to Massachusettes and marry a practicing pedophile.

I happen to have a problem with that.

[Unicron]

I couldnt imagine not beening able to drink until i was 21!??!

The legal age in Australia USED to be 21 like 40yrs ago, and they lowered it to 18 and has been that way ever since.

When your 18yo your classitfied as a ADULT in the eyes of the law. 18yo you can drink gamble, vote (which you HAVE to do)throw a huge out of control birthday party and get trashed....LEGALLY :D

Then when your 21, again you have a bigger party. The whole 21st Birthday never died when they changed the legal age.


17yo you get your drivers licence, and i THINK join the Army.

So yeah, im Happy that 18yo IS the Legal Age in Oz

As for America....well im 22 now.......a trip i can do yes :D