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In my opinion, there is one really good reason for US drinking age to be higher: it is much more common for American teenagers to drive personal vehicles, so if
by enraged_camel 8y ago
In my opinion, there is one really good reason for US drinking age to be higher: it is much more common for American teenagers to drive personal vehicles, so if you lower the drinking age, you would (at least, I believe) cause a drastic increase in DUIs and related accidents and deaths.
- beenBoutIT 8y agoIt makes drinking exponentially cooler. Putting something out of reach elevates it in young people's minds. Crack was cool back when only the rich could afford it, now that it's been democratized through a genius chemistry rework it's affordable enough for homeless people and has a terrible image. Drinking needs to undergo a similar process here in the States.
- dragonwriter 8y ago> Crack was cool back when only the rich could afford it Cocaine (specifically, powder), sure; crack was always low status. In fact, that was the whole source of the political brouhaha over crack vs. powder sentencing disparity.
- mises 8y agoYou might reduce the stigma if you lowered the age. People continue to perceive drinking as an act of "rebellion" even after 21, mostly because it was for so long. Besides, it doesn't work. I am literally the only person I have ever known who did not drink in HS.
- Pils 8y agoThis was also the primary reason the drinking age was (re-)raised to 21: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Drinking_Age_Act#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Drinking_Age_...