NEWS: Congratulations, Graduate... Now Get Drunk

CULTURE: Congratulations, Graduate... Now Get Drunk

Welcome to America. Home to baseball, George W. Bush, and The highest drinking age in the world. I know that when I was 16 I was drinking like an Irish dock worker, because I had friends who had friends who knew a guy in college. That guy and those friends would get drunk and pass out, which is when I would pocket all the booze to enjoy with my "underage" friends at a later date. But future generations might get to enjoy something I never had: Having a drink at 18... legally.

The ban on alcohol sales to minors though is a state requirement, not federal. If states don't comply, they lose money for highway funds. Given the recent events in Minnesota, I would say the effect of missing highway funds is being felt regardless of drinking laws. Though states ban alcohol sales, they do not necessarily ban the consumption by minors. Data shows that the current drinking age really has no effect on youngsters:

I know when I first joined the US Military at 17 and began my travels of the world, I learned more from 40-something drinkers in Australia, Italy, and Thailand then I ever learned from a high school health lecture on the effects of drinking. Others seem to agree with this factor. I think its because we all like to have a drinking buddy. Thankfully we have groups like Choose Responsibly, led by John McCardell, the former President of Middlebury College. They will teach parents to get plastered with us, and respect the rights of young adults everywhere. Well, that's the hope. I think.

So here is an idea: Lower the drinking age, create tougher drunk driving penalties like in other countries, and make a family day of getting drunk. I'm sure we will learn more about our families and ourselves then we ever cared to know... at least parents will finally be aware of what REALLY happens in college.

i've always failed to see how someone can be seen as mature enough to help decide who runs the country but not mature enough to have even a Mike's Hard.

All I can say is, "Finally!!!"

The drinking age should be lowered, yes.

But if we're serious about cutting down on binge drinking in America, the whole idea of alcohol consumption should be de-mystified. Children as they grow up should see that drinking is not necessarily an exotic, overindulgent activity. It can just as easily be a glass of wine or quality ale savored with dinner, and as they reach their late teens it can absolutely be a positive experience to have their first drink, in moderation, with the family.

But of course, we would never do that here. Because that's how those filthy, socialist French do it.

But if you were captured by slavers you could have a righteous and explosive adventure while escaping. The world needs antics!

you can't change the drinking age since the culture of alcohol is so fucked up in the US. no one knows how to drink in the first place..that has to happen first.

as a countinuous drunk I would like to say, yeah! get drunk. none of my roomates wanted to drink the 7&7 with watermelon so maybe some of these kids will help me crush the half gal.

but then we wouldnt have a reason to vacation in countries with a lower drinking age...

Yeah! Fuck states rights or something...

Well, you could die. If it were up to me, however, I'd pass[1].

Tijuana is going to suffer.

But really, 18 should be the drinking age anywhere in the U.S.

+1

You know what I say to people who bitch about the drinking age being 21?

"Get older."

Oh, if I have to wait till I'm 21, and then the fuckers behind me get to drink at 18?

I'm gonna be pissed.
And get all the dishwashers piss drunk.

Beer's are on me if the age changes!

don't worry, i am pretty sure i know how to drink enough for 6 to 10 people. i mean it takes skill to be able to drink 2 fiths in a night right? RIGHT? and let me just say, keep your coke, weed, coffee, smack, crack and cereal just give me a case of beer and i am the happiest fucking boy in the fucking world... did i mention i have been drinking pretty heavily tonight? well i fucking have. proper planning is all you need for a night of bing drinking, make sure you have the following kiddies

1. water that you can stand to drink, and lots of it.
2. advil, tylenol, or some other headache/pain killer
3. good friends that you don't secretly harbor some ill will or resentment towards...
4. crap loads of your favorite alcohol, enough to put all the drinking participants in the hospital is preferable
5. at least one designated driver per 5 people
6. plenty of kick ass snacks the everyone drinking will enjoy (remember vegans don't like meat, dairy, or your favorite beef flavored beer)
7. ice cream for the newbs who hate the tase of alcohol, but still want to drink. have them eat a spoonful every so often, trust me it sounds gross, but it so fucking works...

that's it. that is all the fuck you need to know. have some condoms, fireworks, matches, and guns around and you have a recipe for success that just can't be beat... go get drunk you crazy ass kids and remember, if it was good enough for jesus, it is good enough for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They're trying to raise the drinking age to 21 in england. It's not going to happen, me thinks.

Here in The Netherlands we have (IMO) an ideal solution to this:

From the age of 16 you are allowed to drink light alcoholic beverages. Things like beer, wine, and those horrid "alco-pop" things. From the age of 18 you are allowed to move on to the heavier stuff.

The key factor to it all: You're not allowed to drive until you are 18!

Drinking and drinking ages is interesting. It's really exciting when you're sneaking around to do it, and you're all eyes out to the legal age (which for Aussies is 18) until you get there ... and realise it's boring as fuck.

My partner and I go out to dinner, and purposely organise to be picked up when we're done so we can have a couple of drinks ... and we almost never do.

I agree though, if you're mature enough to vote for your leaders and make the decision to die fighting for your country, you're mature enough to have a pint. Either the legal age for drinking should come down to 18, or everything else should go up to 21. Makes sense.

I dunno, I work at a liquor store, and I'm annoyed by the 21 and 22 year old drinkers who don't know shit about alcohol. I think if I had an influx of younger drinkers, I'd probably lose it.

I agree there are larger problems with alcohol, but I would suppose a 18-year old drinking age, it's not like they aren't already getting it.

The drinking license thing is a good idea, although we can see how well driver's education has worked out here in the states.

That "what's driving you" article about other countries penalties is both offensive and innaccurate. we do not punish drink drivers here by putting them in the newspaper!