Should Nebraska lower the drinking age?
Posted by Angela on 08/21/08 in Nebraska, Ramblings
There’s been a lot of discussion here in Nebraska about whether the drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18 years of age. It seems many officials from Universities around the country are on board with doing that.
Having the drinking age set at 21 saves approximately 900 young lives per year. However, under age drinking still goes on today no matter where you set the limit.
I had the opportunity to live in Germany when I finished high school. The drinking age for Americans overseas is 18. For the Europeans, it’s a way of life.
I have heard some people say that they should think about setting the age to 19. That way, high schoolers are unable to buy booze for their friends.
To me it seems a bit contradictory to say that an 18 year old is capable of voting for the president of the united states, can join the military and put their lives on the line for the country, but can not have a beer.
I don’t know what the answers are except to say that binge drinking is not going to stop. We need to educate our young adults and maybe create a less taboo environment?
It actually felt kind of strange when I flew back to the states from Germany. In Germany I could drink alcohol but when I came back I couldn’t. I had to wait 3 months before I could buy alcohol. That was definitely strange for me.
What do you think?
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Erica | Aug 21, 2008 | Reply
I wrote an entire college essay on this point.
First of all, the statistics prior to the Federal Highway Funding Act that mandated a statewide drinking age of 21, were not recorded the same. So all these figures that show all the lives that are saved as a result of the drinking age being 21 are not conclusive.
You are 100% right about the forbidden fruit syndrome. If parents were to teach children moderation in the home, it would not be near the stigma it is to drink once they are 21. There is definitely a taboo syndrome that fuels everything forbidden in this country…. drinking, sex, etc.
ptg | Aug 21, 2008 | Reply
I’ve always thought that responsible use of alcohol should be taught, as with most social niceties, at a young age. I was able to drink in bars when I was 9, and did so. As far as I could tell, there was no ‘legal age’ in Spain at that time; all the kids I knew then drank alcohol if they wanted.
Even though I became addicted to alcohol as an adult, I didn’t engage in binge drinking except for a few times in college. I hated hang-overs.
Tracy Keeney | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
Personally, I’ve never had a drink in my entire life. Never even had a desire to try it. And personally– I’d like to keep the age at 21.
But I think the powers that be need to make up their minds. You’re either an “adult” at 18 or at “21″– pick one. They can’t have it both ways. If you’re old enough to join the military, go to war, etc, etc– you’re old enough to buy a beer for crying out loud!
angela | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
I totally agree!
Dan the socialist | Aug 25, 2008 | Reply
Do other countries that have drinking ages at 18 or lower have the same problems as the USA. The USA along with two other small countries have the highest drinking age in the world.
I agree either you are an adult at 18 or 21. Pick one.