Age discrimination?

[Biovail]

With regards to the legal drinking age of alcohol.

Isn't the argument that adults under the age of 21 are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents, worse at proper decision making, and more vulnerable to alcohol's detrimental effects on the developing brain? Well yes, it is.

If drinking was shown to be more harmful to women then men (it has been) and women were shown to be worse drivers than men (*ehem*), couldn't we ban the sale and possession of alcohol for women under the same logic?

But wouldn't that be considered sexism?

Now replace women with Asians, the mentally handicapped, even senior citizens, and the logic still holds true. Yet people would be in an uproar if somebody were to even suggest alcohol be sold only to white males under age 60.

So why this double standard against adults under age 21?

 

[PeacePipeChief]

i think its just generally because people under 21 (my legal drinking age is 18 ) have undeveloped brains , also are inexperienced in correct dicision making as it is .

 

[Biovail]

Sorry but I think you missed the entire point.

You can't make laws based on vague generalizations. An adult is an adult and you shouldn't be able to discriminate based on age for the same reason you can't discriminate based on gender, race, religion, etc.

And your brain continues to develop throughout your life. There's nothing magical about the age of 21. A 22 year old brain doesn't grow much differently than a 20 year old brain.

 

[xstayfadedx]

There actually was a new study that shows women are better at driving than men and even parking. It was on nightly news with Brian Williams. In the end, we could debate over this issue over and over but nothing will change the fact that law makers can do what they want.. Even if we don't agree. Its like doctors who won't prescribe young adults pain medication even if they need it since they're kids and will probably have more of a chance of abusing it 8) Even though they actually need it. Yeah because if your an adult you won't have much of a chance of doing so 8) another roll of the eyes. I guess we have to just deal with it which sucks.

 

[AfterGlow]

We understand your point. You don't understand the point of the law.

It's not a vague generalization. Until you have reached a certain maturity level and have developed critical thinking skills that come with life experience and physical development of the prefrontal cortex in your early 20s, it is unwise to partake in a drug that has a profound detrimental affect on your inhibitions and judgement.

That's not to say that everybody is affected to exactly the same degree or that lots of irresponsible adults shouldn't be drinking either. But now that I'm older I understand why it was not a good idea for me to drink when I was 18 even though at the time I thought I could handle it just fine.

It might be different if American culture in the USA nurtured and promoted responsible enjoyment of alcohol at family gatherings and meals. But the USA has outlawed parents serving alcohol to their own children under 21. We ought to start there if we're going to allow kids to drink alcohol.

Sorry but I think you missed the entire point.

You can't make laws based on vague generalizations. An adult is an adult and you shouldn't be able to discriminate based on age for the same reason you can't discriminate based on gender, race, religion, etc.

And your brain continues to develop throughout your life. There's nothing magical about the age of 21. A 22 year old brain doesn't grow much differently than a 20 year old brain.

 

[Biovail]

But that age isn't 21, it's 25. So why do we let 21-24 year olds drink? Sure 21 is better than 18. But 18 is better than 16. And 25 would be better than 21.


And again I'll repeat myself. I'm not debating that an 18 year old has a brain as developed as that of a 30 year old. If you're an absolute idiot, your rational thinking skills are likely not as great as those of a very intelligent person. But we don't require intelligence beyond a certain point like we do age. Both are discrimination, and both are equally justified by the same exact argument. If you can say "these adult's can not be allowed drink because they are at higher risk" based on age, you should be able to do so based on any quality you can statistically prove (ie gender, race, IQ, sexual orientation, height, annual income, political orientation, etc, etc).

And American culture isn't going to change if laws prevent it from doing so (which they do).

 

[Venrak]

...It might be different if American culture in the USA nurtured and promoted responsible enjoyment of alcohol at family gatherings and meals. But the USA has outlawed parents serving alcohol to their own children under 21. We ought to start there if we're going to allow kids to drink alcohol.

The laws are most likely similar here in Canada, if not exactly the same, yet throughout childhood, mostly from age eight on, I had been allowed to consume small amounts of alcohol during family gatherings such as Christmas, birthdays etc. in the form of weak drinks such as an inch of white wine in my glass of sprite, moving on to a glass of wine with dinner as I grew into my early teens. This type of drinking in a non-chalant social context taught me that alcohol has its place in moderation. Surprisingly enough, my alcohol consumption is the one thing I have been able to keep easily under control.

The drinking age is somewhat arbitrary, and somewhat logical. As mentioned above it can be argued that certain stages of development aren't complete until well into our early twenties and that for this reason it can be argued that one can only make an informed choice once one has reached maturity. The age at which this occurs is different for each and every one of us, therefore a reasonable guideline has been established for the sake of simplicity and convenience.

There is a saying here in Quebec; The legal drinking age is just a suggestion, esti.

 

[Znegative]

I just think it's rediculous that you can send a "boy" out to a war to die, but it takes a "man" to have a cold beer. None of my friends who are now past the legal age requirement are any more responsible, if anything, they're worse-the whole thing is a joke.