Teenage Drinkers

[geburgess]

It's all about maturity level and responsibility.

I started drinking responsibly with my parents at 15, then went to my first party at 16. Parents bought me alcohol throughout high school as long as I was responsible (no tickets, no drunk driving home, etc.) Now I'm 21 and only have had one really bad alcohol experience (Freshman year at ISU, Everclear pre-game on a wild Friday night...)

So I guess my answer is let people drink as teenagers, but give them ABSOLUTELY NO LENIENCY. I know I will do the same for my kids as my parents did for me, but they will know that ******* up once will be highly inadvisable.

 

[Clones21]

Just as long as they're not idiots when they drink. If they are idiots and dumb when they drink i have no problem ratting out under age drinkers

 

[CloneIce]

I liked it when I was a teenager.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Drinking (heavily) usually loses it's appeal when you become legal. I'm fine with 21 though, as it restricts access (or makes the little bastards work harder for it).

 

[IowaStateClones]

I like the age at 21 because I'm getting tips from a lot of people for supplying!:wideeyed:

 

[Dave19642006]

Big can of worms....we can fight for this country at the age of 17 but we cant drink a beer. We can kill another human being while in a war to protect the rights that we so proudly stand behind, but we cant drink a beer. I would set the facts like this. If you have served the US in the military then yes, drink before 21, if you have not then no. Use your military ID to prove that you have served in the military.

 

[Al_4_State]

The concept of graduated adulthood is ridiculous. Once you're 18, you can go to jail, vote, die for your country, etc, but you can't drink? It's ludicrous, and the US is one of very few first rate nations to have a drinking age of 21.

I definitely think that kids who have drank in high school handle their booze a lot better in college. The kids that get out of control drunk their first weekend at college and end up getting their stomach pumped, always seem to be the kids who didn't drink in HS at all. My folks knew we'd drink in high school, and they didn't really have a problem with it as long as we didn't drive, and accepted the consequences of our actions (both my brother and I got MIPs in high school).

 

[thatguy]

I didn't know anybody that didn't drink in HS. Helps learn your limits so you aren't that ******* that pukes on the bar and pisses himself the first time they drink.

 

[Al_4_State]

Just as long as they're not idiots when they drink. If they are idiots and dumb when they drink i have no problem ratting out under age drinkers

That's low.

 

[Clones21]

That's low.

I'm not saying all of them. Just the idiots that are dumb and wacko when their drunk. It annoys me.

 

[heitclone]

I'm not saying all of them. Just the idiots that are dumb and wacko when their drunk. It annoys me.

Cuz thats a behavior exclusive to under age drinkers

 

[CycloneWanderer]

Honestly, I don't think it matters much. There are those kids who have been drinking since high school in a "Controlled environment" who get just as stupidly drunk as those who didn't. There are also those who do not drink in high school who go on to drink responsibly. I think it has more to do with the personality of the individuals than the parents tolerance/acceptance of underage drinking. A portion of young people view alcohol as a tool to getting to their goal of drunken debauchery. I doubt that will change.

 

[cycoticfan]

There will always be a first time you get drunk...better to have it happen as a teenager in a controlled environment.

Riiiiight. Totally ridiculous. The only way this is true a "controlled environment" is if possibly it is with your parents.

In Iowa if you are under 21 you may drink in the presence of parent or guardian on your private property. So ask your dad for a beer and see if he wants to get you lit up....

 

[Marc936]

i say allow 18 year olds to drink however, have much harsher punishments for idiot drunks

causing drunken fights? $1000 fine and on your record
your breaking ****? $500 fine + replacement cost of the **** you broke
your puking in the sidewalk passed out? $500 fine + on your record + alcohol abuse classes


also getting drunk while in high school (in class) and getting caught= expulsion


you can have fun, but dont be a ****in idiot ruining everyone elses good time, would teach people how to control their alcohol if they had to **** away loads of cash for one night

 

[erikbj]

I drank in H.S., but didn't do a lot of stupid stuff (some, but not a lot :wink. I am in the belief that age doesn't matter, its all about maturity. I am 31 now and see people my age or older act like they are dumb H.S. kids getting drunk for the first time. However I have seen people that are 20 drink and act like they are grown up and can act civilized.

 

[cycoOJfan89]

The concept of graduated adulthood is ridiculous. Once you're 18, you can go to jail, vote, die for your country, etc, but you can't drink? It's ludicrous, and the US is one of very few first rate nations to have a drinking age of 21.

I definitely think that kids who have drank in high school handle their booze a lot better in college. The kids that get out of control drunk their first weekend at college and end up getting their stomach pumped, always seem to be the kids who didn't drink in HS at all. My folks knew we'd drink in high school, and they didn't really have a problem with it as long as we didn't drive, and accepted the consequences of our actions (both my brother and I got MIPs in high school).

I might be the exception but I drank my fair share in my Jr and Sr years' of HS and never blacked out but now I black out about once every 3 or 4 times I drink. Which I have become very concerned with lately because it's not like I have been drinking more amounts per night than I used to... I pounded beers in HS and actually drank a LOT more liquor. I've also got my PAULA and Pub Intox while at ISU and did not get in any trouble in HS.

 

[Farnsworth]

Lets make it like getting a drivers license. take a test, pay some fees, get a little drunk and have someone monitor to see how you do, issue license.

 

[CloneIce]

I didn't know anybody that didn't drink in HS. Helps learn your limits so you aren't that ******* that pukes on the bar and pisses himself the first time they drink.

Very true. Almost everybody I knew who flunked out of college didn't drink much in high school and couldn't handle the party scene.

 

[cyhiphopp]

I only drank on two occasions in HS, but a ton more in college. Personally, I probably would have been better off drinking a bit more in HS so that I would know my limits better.

My boys are 3 and 1 right now, so I ahve a few years, but I have come to grips with the fact that they will probably drink in HS. I just don't want them to be idiots and hurt themselves or anyone else. If they drink and drive, they will be in a world of hurt.

My "advice" to them will be, "Be smart!"

My wifes little brother will be in high school next year and we will probably give him the same advice. Kids are growing up really fast these days.

 

[a fan]

An interesting topic. I, like a previous poster was a teacher in the '70s when the legal age was 18. It seemed like a good idea, if your old enough to fight for your country, then you are old enough to drink. However, those 18 year-olds were bringing the alcohol to the high school parties where high school kids of all ages were..... not just the kids that are 17-18 but the 14 and 15 year olds. There were many many problems with young teens drinking heavily when they were not mature enough to "be smart" about it. Today the age differentiations have blurred even more with a few junior high kids, ages 12, 13 and 14 attending the high school kids parties. These are supplied by those over 21 years of age, I cannot even imagine what will happen if an 18 year old can buy all the alcohol they want and supply the younger kids. Check out the attendance at high schools on Mondays, or ask about the performance levels on Mondays.

How many alcoholics started drinking at 21? or at 15? Wisdom or being smart does not happen at 15.

A controlled is environment is a bonfire campout? or someones basement with no parents at home? or a 23 year olds house with no parents even aware of where their kids are? Not a controlled environment to me.