Why is the legal drinking age 21 in the U.S.?

[Mega Ultra Chicken]

You can go die in a war or be a pornstar but you can't drink at 18. Yeah, makes total sense.

[RRW359]

Postat inițial de Raelic:

These kind of arguments come up often where people try to equate something with something completely unrelated.

The legal age for consuming alcohol isn't based on the things you're equating it to. It's based on what's safe.

21 was where it started because at the time 21 was the legal age for many of the equivalencies you're drawing. As States lowered the age, they noticed that many alcohol related accidents like Driving Drunk increased. So they kept it at 21.

Many States don't care if you drink at home even under 21 because you're home. The entire purpose of the law is just to keep alcohol related accidents low.

Other countries don't rely on cars as much as the US as well.

It's just not the same.

And this is an easy thing to google instead of asking on a video game off-topic forum.

Also, it's not even a big issue in the US. Alcohol in general in the US has declined significantly. It's a waste of money.

None of this explains why even though several States had provisions allowing for people to either have a licence or be able to drink under 21 Federal law only allows States full road funding if they don't allow anyone under 21 to buy alcohol, licence or not.

[RRW359]

Postat inițial de Dom:

Postat inițial de RRW359:

I thought we already did that with Cannibis. Hopefully 3'rd time's the charm!

Well, that's quite crazy how cannabis is illegal but alcohol is completely legal.

Why should Cannibis be legal but not Alcohol? They should both be legal and regulated. Plus some counties in the US genuinely outlaw Alcohol and some States (sort of) legalize Cannibis.

[Ulfrinn]

Postat inițial de SQUINGUS:

Does it truly actually matter though? Think to yourselves why do you care so much ? Im not trying to flame anyone, or derail this thread, but why waste time arguing over the ins and outs of a law that does not permit you to partake in drunkenness?

Drinking and drunkenness are not the same.

[Dom]

Postat inițial de RRW359:

Postat inițial de Dom:

Well, that's quite crazy how cannabis is illegal but alcohol is completely legal.

Why should Cannibis be legal but not Alcohol? They should both be legal and regulated. Plus some counties in the US genuinely outlaw Alcohol and some States (sort of) legalize Cannibis.

I meant that if cannabis is illegal, so should alcohol be.
If alcohol is legal, so should cannabis be as well.

There is no way to justify it being only the other way around.

[RRW359]

Postat inițial de Dom:

Postat inițial de RRW359:

Why should Cannibis be legal but not Alcohol? They should both be legal and regulated. Plus some counties in the US genuinely outlaw Alcohol and some States (sort of) legalize Cannibis.

I meant that if cannabis is illegal, so should alcohol be.
If alcohol is legal, so should cannabis be as well.

There is no way to justify it being only the other way around.

Agreed but the solution is to promote both being legal, not neither. If people have an easy way of getting something they will usually chose it over the illegal way even if it is slightly cheaper, if it's illegal people will just get it illegally and contribute to other crime.

[Dom]

Postat inițial de RRW359:

Postat inițial de Dom:

I meant that if cannabis is illegal, so should alcohol be.
If alcohol is legal, so should cannabis be as well.

There is no way to justify it being only the other way around.

Agreed but the solution is to promote both being legal, not neither. If people have an easy way of getting something they will usually chose it over the illegal way even if it is slightly cheaper, if it's illegal people will just get it illegally and contribute to other crime.

I have no problem with people promoting both being legal. As long as their positions are consistent on the matter.

Even though I oppose alcohol use and personally believe that no one should drink, ever.

[Ulfrinn]

Postat inițial de RRW359:

Postat inițial de Dom:

I meant that if cannabis is illegal, so should alcohol be.
If alcohol is legal, so should cannabis be as well.

There is no way to justify it being only the other way around.

Agreed but the solution is to promote both being legal, not neither. If people have an easy way of getting something they will usually chose it over the illegal way even if it is slightly cheaper, if it's illegal people will just get it illegally and contribute to other crime.

Which is why I'm fine with most things being legal. And fairly unregulated too.

[RRW359]

Postat inițial de SQUINGUS:

Does it truly actually matter though? Think to yourselves why do you care so much ? Im not trying to flame anyone, or derail this thread, but why waste time arguing over the ins and outs of a law that does not permit you to partake in drunkenness?

There are a couple reasons including caring about people who don't understand why the law is the way it is and are effected by it but even if it doesn't (directly) effect you it still can contribute to things like induced demand. If you can't drink in exchange for road funds why not take advantage of those road funds (assuming you can pass a drive test)?

[Boblin the Goblin]

Postat inițial de Raelic:

These kind of arguments come up often where people try to equate something with something completely unrelated.

The legal age for consuming alcohol isn't based on the things you're equating it to. It's based on what's safe.

21 was where it started because at the time 21 was the legal age for many of the equivalencies you're drawing. As States lowered the age, they noticed that many alcohol related accidents like Driving Drunk increased. So they kept it at 21.

Many States don't care if you drink at home even under 21 because you're home. The entire purpose of the law is just to keep alcohol related accidents low.

Other countries don't rely on cars as much as the US as well.

It's just not the same.

And this is an easy thing to google instead of asking on a video game off-topic forum.

Also, it's not even a big issue in the US. Alcohol in general in the US has declined significantly. It's a waste of money.

Yeah, that's false.

It wasn't 21 before. It was 18 before and then raised to 21 under threat of losing federal funding. Then eventually became a federal regulation.

The studies for drunk driving deaths is also inconclusive since safety features in cars became more and more standard right after raising the age.

[RRW359]

Postat inițial de SlowMango:

Postat inițial de Raelic:

These kind of arguments come up often where people try to equate something with something completely unrelated.

The legal age for consuming alcohol isn't based on the things you're equating it to. It's based on what's safe.

21 was where it started because at the time 21 was the legal age for many of the equivalencies you're drawing. As States lowered the age, they noticed that many alcohol related accidents like Driving Drunk increased. So they kept it at 21.

Many States don't care if you drink at home even under 21 because you're home. The entire purpose of the law is just to keep alcohol related accidents low.

Other countries don't rely on cars as much as the US as well.

It's just not the same.

And this is an easy thing to google instead of asking on a video game off-topic forum.

Also, it's not even a big issue in the US. Alcohol in general in the US has declined significantly. It's a waste of money.

Yeah, that's false.

It wasn't 21 before. It was 18 before and then raised to 21 under threat of losing federal funding. Then eventually became a federal regulation.

The studies for drunk driving deaths is also inconclusive since safety features in cars became more and more standard right after raising the age.

It's complicated. Most States put it at 21 after they re-legalized it and some but not all changed it to various ages between 18 and 21 until the NMDA happened.

[Devsman]

Postat inițial de BlackDragon875:

Postat inițial de Devsman:

Yeah I agree OP, they should raise the age of those other things to 21 so it's consistent

I don't really see the point in the legal drinking age being 21 when people are already underage drinking more in college than the legal age.

Relax man, I'm agreeing with you.

[Raelic]

Postat inițial de WhiteKnight77:

Postat inițial de Raelic:

These kind of arguments come up often where people try to equate something with something completely unrelated.

The legal age for consuming alcohol isn't based on the things you're equating it to. It's based on what's safe.

21 was where it started because at the time 21 was the legal age for many of the equivalencies you're drawing. As States lowered the age, they noticed that many alcohol related accidents like Driving Drunk increased. So they kept it at 21.

Many States don't care if you drink at home even under 21 because you're home. The entire purpose of the law is just to keep alcohol related accidents low.

Other countries don't rely on cars as much as the US as well.

It's just not the same.

And this is an easy thing to google instead of asking on a video game off-topic forum.

States, or rather localities, do care if you are drinking while under age, even at home. Parents get busted all the time for hosting parties and providing alcohol to those under 21 all the time, as well as those under age getting busted as well.

Only if they are being obnoxious.

[76561199445701497]

Interesting that so many people say to never trust the government or scientists. Gamers say that even more than others. But when it comes to the drinking age, you trust what they say 110%.

:O

[Pocahawtness]

Postat inițial de BlackDragon875:

You can go die in a war or be a pornstar but you can't drink at 18. Yeah, makes total sense.

Because you have guns.