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I would argue that it actually ends up having the opposite effect. The culture towards drinking that the US has, means that young people either have to hide rea
by Tehnix 8y ago
I would argue that it actually ends up having the opposite effect. The culture towards drinking that the US has, means that young people either have to hide really hard that they are in fact drinking, or that they never learn control before much later in life, because they go all in when they are 21. This, funnily enough is after they have had their drivers license for some years, and those two mix bad together (lack of experience drinking, and a drivers license).
I contrast this to my own country, Denmark, where we are much more lax about drinking. You can buy alcohol lower than 16% at age 16, and you can get your drivers license at 18. Parents accept that people will probably slowly start out drinking before this though, and are therefore more involved with this aspect of young people’s lives. This means they also has a chance to supervisor, guide and help their children manage this new experience of being drunk, and educate them on how it works.
At least that’s my armchair take on it :)
- ghaff 8y agoI'd like to agree but the evidence suggests differently, e.g. [1] Arguably, there was an increased awareness in the US of drunk driving as a problem during that period but the effect still seems to be real even correcting for that. Of course, if we assume a completely different culture around alcohol, the results might well be different. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20497803 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20497803
- Tehnix 8y agoAh, I should maybe have been more clear. My point was that it would have better effects to change the culture around drinking, rather than increasing the age limit of when you can drink. I’m not suggesting that it’s an easy thing to do though.
- danans 8y agoAnother approach is to change technology. Volvo has keys with a built-in breathalyzer: https://accessories.volvocars.com/en-us/C30/Accessories/Document/VCC-449113/2013 https://accessories.volvocars.com/en-us/C30/Accessories/Docu... And of course, autonomous vehicles could make drinking a non-issue for getting around, just like trains and buses do today.
- saghm 8y agoIf this were a universal thing, I could see it helping, but unfortunately I'd be surprised if only people who opt in having this feature makes a significant dent in the issue.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- TulliusCicero 8y agoMost US states do allow some measure of underage drinking with parental permission, IIRC. But it's true that that's not really a strong/common part of the culture.
- ghaff 8y agoAs a practical if not legal matter, people can do more or less as they please in their own homes. But I'm personally glad I went to college at a time when drinking alcohol was pretty much all above board. (At least at the time, the fact that the drinking age was legally 18 meant that drinking as a college student was pretty much OK even if you weren't actually 18 yet. The local bar we frequented was fine with just a college ID; they didn't otherwise check age.)
- gambiting 8y agoWell yes, your own home is certainly one thing. But I'm pretty sure in the UK you can totally order alcohol for your own kid at a restaurant and it's not illegal as long as the parent gives permission. In some other places it's illegal for someone to sell alcohol knowing that it will be consumed by a minor - so that scenario couldn't happen.
- youngtaff 8y agoIn the UK 16+ year olds can have alcohol with a meal in a pub / restaurant etc. providing it's bought by someone over 18 https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]