Debate discussion

We're doing this debate in my LA class. What are your guys' views on it?

i think it's ok as it is

but i guess i don't have much of an opinion (i really don't care for drinking.)

i don't think it matters, cuz ppl kind of ignore the law anyway, and get fake id's and all ... so i guess it should just stay the same.

Yeah, it should stay the same. There's no point in bending it so that it's easier to obey the laws by making it a younger age. If people aren't paying attention to the laws set you shouldn't reward them by saying, "oh it's okay that you don't think the laws apply to you. We'll make it easier for you." That's like if a teacher told you to work on an five page essay in class or else it would be due that day and then you talked during all of class so he says, "Oh, it must have been too hard, let's make it three page, okay?" It's ridiculous.

the only thing they could do with the law is enforce it better

Yes, it is

Well a person can drive by 18, smoke by 18, sign up for the army by 18, but they cant drink until theyre 21.

Its just a bit confusing as to why.

Yeah that's one of the arguements..they drink anyways though. Even certain religions drink a very tiny sip of wine at church.
And if we made it legal then it'd be allowing them (teenagers) to drink w/o conseqences.
But the arguemnt to that is: Other countries have it legal and they don't have problems w/ it like we do.
Arguement to that: Well, our high schoolers would abuse it. So then maybe we should just gradually lower it, you know, so we don't have a bunch of 12th graders off-ing themselves in drunk driving accidents.
Arguement:... I got nothing to that....

I think it should be 19 for everything
(except for driving)
1) Smoking (wont smoke in school, or sell smokes to kids)

2) Military (Can graduate highschool 1st)

3) Drinking (out of school, not a harm to younger kids)

i think a younger drinking age would make people break the law less. for example, u would rather have something that u cant have then something thats right there, right? so teenagers feel more pressuered to drink young/break the law/do drugs because people feel exhilarated to do things they arent suppposed to. so i say, lower the drinking age!

But we want people to obey the law because it's THE LAW not bend to the fact that some people LIKE to break the law because it's rebelling. Alcohol causes brain damage if your brain isn't fully developed so it should stay 21. If people think that the numbers should all be the same then make smoking and military 21 too.

I seriously doubt that the cigarett companies will agree to that.

1 say 19. Already out of school, a legal adult, everythings cool

yea. I agree

:D

The drinking age used to be 18. Did you know that?

But then they changed it to 21. From what I know, they did not REALLY enforce it those first few years. I mean, people who were 19 and 20 had been able to drink for two years, and suddenly they were too young? That's not really fair, so I don't think that they cared much for people that were those ages.

anyhow, just a little story that I felt like telling you.

in italy, there is no drinking age. in germany, its 15 for wine and beer ad 18 for hard liquor. same in switzerland. but yeah, 19 would probably be good.

WIne actually isnt bad for you. Its just grape juice, which happens to be really good for your heart.

It's not that that's bad. It's the effects it has on your mind. It just distorts you, makes you do irrational things.

haha yeah

well DUH. why else would DUI be illegal?

I don't think the age should be changed. Everyone drinks WAAAAYYY before 21, so there really is no point, even if they do change it. My sister started drinking in her senior year of high school, and she only turned 21 this year, so when she was supposed to have her very first drink, she's already been drinking for four years (not heavy drinking or anything, of course, just the usual college-party-kind of thing).

Lol

19 sounds good to me

uhu

yeah, its pointless to change it, but idk. i dont think we will know unless it actually is changed.

true

uhu.

Well, MOST people drink before they are 21. My sister didn't though. Well, except for church wine, but that is a sip and doesn't count.

She only turned 21 this past april, and that was the first time that she ever actually had alcohol. I guess it helps when beer smells so revolting.

Ive had wine before at a dinner, i also accidently got drunk at a dinner party, and my friend thought it would be funny to spike my gingerale once....


it wasnt funny.

I've had champagne at New Year's, but only a sip

XD

i have had wine. but, like, a sip.

Red wine is yummy.

it is. but i like white better... its sweeter

They are both good

The cons won in my class, but the pros one in another class. And in another class they tied(in points) XD

Lol

Actually, alot of people brought that up. And if that's the case then they should(this is what my mom says) give people who are in the military special license's so they could drink..

Yeah i mean it makes sense.

no, i'm sorry when i meant alot of people brought it up..i meant alot of pro-lowering the age ppl brought it up in our class debate..

XD

XD

...............

Sella wrote: Not heavy drinking, just the usual college part thing

Uhhh, if that's not heavy, what is?

*Not part of this conversation*

I don't care if they raise, but I don't think it should be dropped any more. I'm not going to drink unless it's wine at a super important occasion. I won't be controlled by anyone or anything, so why would I put myself at the hands of Alcohol?

well, i think we should look at europe or canada as an example. their drinking age is lower, and in some places non-existant, i believe, and they have way less problems than we do with drunk driving an stuff. my history teacher grew up in canada, and on christmas and other family occasions he would have a little cup of wine for toasts, and as he got older, he got more wine, so by the time he was in america and 21, he knew how much he could drink without getting drunk. and he knew how to be safe about it. now, with the drinking age where it is, no one pays attention to it, and high schoolers get drunk all the time. and get hurt. maybe if it wasn't such a big deal to be drinking, if it was just everyday, bad things wouldn't happen.....:)

I think it should just say the same, because I don't drink, so I don't really care too much about it.

I wouldnt mind if they lowered it.....heheee

Eliza, I can't believe you know Mr. H's whole drinking history! How did you get him to tell you all that??
But i agree. There is so much illegal drinking going on, partially because its illegal and kids sometimes think its cool to break rules/laws, and so maybe there would be more responsible and less illegal drinking if it was substantially lowered to 18. My parents' philosophy is that if you raise children by letting them have alcohol in reasonable amounts, they will continue to be responsible drinkers and they also know they don't have to break laws to get alcohol because they can have it at home. It has worked very well.