What should the drinking age in America be?

[Dick]

If you can die for your country at 18 then you can drink too

[Thracian]

You can join the army before 21 but you can not drink a beer. That's weird. Also they should only ask for ID who looks under 25.

[Dragoon]

Considering that many young adults these days are less mature, delaying their marriages, stuck on smartphones/videogames, addicts, smaller attention spans)
its probably best to have alcohol, voting, weed, driving a bit later than sooner.

First you have to fix the culture and then when people are ready lower it again.

[Mingle]

18 may be best. But 21 is alright too.

[happycow]

We're the odd country out by having it so high...if you're old enough to vote in elections, join the army, and live on your own, you're old enough to drink a beer or two.

Perhaps. But lets be real. Most people aren't drinking just a beer or two. It's about getting "buzzed" or beyond that. Alcohol is evil. lol

[Bobby Martnen]

Considering that many young adults these days are less mature, delaying their marriages, stuck on smartphones/videogames, addicts, smaller attention spans)
its probably best to have alcohol, voting, weed, driving a bit later than sooner.

First you have to fix the culture and then when people are ready lower it again.

Treating young adults like overgrown adolescents will only make things worse.

[happycow]

If you can die for your country at 18 then you can drink too

Alcohol among minors is a big problem in the military. They can't help themselves.

[Bobby Martnen]

Perhaps. But lets be real. Most people aren't drinking just a beer or two. It's about getting "buzzed" or beyond that. Alcohol is evil. lol

That's equally true of 21+ drinkers. I say we should treat all adults equally, and not treat young adults like overgrown adolescents.

[Westbrook]

16 year olds are already handling "booze". I was introduced to beer even younger than that.

I guess I'm the odd man out. Leave it at 21 or even raise it. Adults do stupid shit when intoxicated I cannot imagine how a 16 year old would handle booze.

Can't be good for a developing brain either.

[Bobby Martnen]

Alcohol among minors is a big problem in the military. They can't help themselves.

Minors drinking alcohol isn't inherently problematic, anymore than chewing gum in Singapore is.

It's illegal, but that doesn't inherently make it wrong.

As long as they are drinking responsibly and not driving while drunk, I have no problem with it.

I will let my teenage children drink if they want to, but make it clear to them that they are never to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while drunk, and that they must call me when they want a ride home.