drinking age

[citizen_142002]

The market CAN handle the restrictions, but as long as the state regulates the industry, the law will place the restrictions. I think we had the same basic posts on the pot thread. We're both headed for the same place, Ian, I just think the scenic route would be best.

[d_goddard]

There's a children's book my parents used to read to me, that now I read to my child: "The Bear Scouts".
In it, the bumbling Papa bear tries to show his bear scouts how to survive while camping, and winds up serving as a negative example in contrast to the Bear Scout Guidebook.

There's one section where the guidebook shows a map of the trail, marked 'Long Way'.
Papa Bear poo-poohs this and takes a "shortcut".
He ends up getting his arse torn by alligators, while the Scouts take in a nice scenic hike.

Yupper doodle!

[KBCraig]

Good article on MSNBC about lowering the drinking age.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249460/

[J’raxis 270145]

Good article on MSNBC about lowering the drinking age.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249460/

How difficult would it be for New Hampshire to simply forgo that 10% of federal highway funding?

[Spencer]

Good article on MSNBC about lowering the drinking age.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249460/

How difficult would it be for New Hampshire to simply forgo that 10% of federal highway funding?

Not very.  NH already gives up 5% per year because it doesn't want to boss adults around as to whether to wear motorcycle helmets and seatbelts (2.5% is lost for each).  The increased revenue from 18 year olds being able to purchase alcohol would make up for some of the shortfall.

[burnthebeautiful]

Good article on MSNBC about lowering the drinking age.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249460/

Interesting article, especially the clickable map that shows the under-21 alcohol laws in different states. I had no idea so many states allowed under 21's consume alcohol. I also didn't know that Louisiana had an 18 age limit way up until 1995. I knew they were the last state to change over, but I thought they only switched over to 21+ a year or two after the rest. Being the lone hold-out state for 7 years is pretty impressive. I heard that Louisiana figured they could pay for the loss in funds by the increase in alcohol sales and a boost in tourism from 18-20 year olds in general. I don't know if that didn't work out or if they just gave up fighting against the federal government.

[dalebert]

Having a drinking age will inevitably lead to the abuse of alcohol. If alcohol is introduced at a young age I think that most people would get it out of their system under parental supervision. When I first started drinking I was an irresponsible drunk, but over the years I've become a "responsible" drunk . If I was introduced to alcohol at a younger age I don't think I would have had some of the drunken experiences I first had when I started drinking. 

When I was a kid, my uncle gave me a single puff from his cigarette after I expressed some curiosity about it. I coughed and hacked and hated it and woke up the next morning with vomit all over my bed. Now I'm 39 and remain a non-smoker. Surprise, surprise.

[Raineyrocks]

Having a drinking age will inevitably lead to the abuse of alcohol. If alcohol is introduced at a young age I think that most people would get it out of their system under parental supervision. When I first started drinking I was an irresponsible drunk, but over the years I've become a "responsible" drunk . If I was introduced to alcohol at a younger age I don't think I would have had some of the drunken experiences I first had when I started drinking. 

When I was a kid, my uncle gave me a single puff from his cigarette after I expressed some curiosity about it. I coughed and hacked and hated it and woke up the next morning with vomit all over my bed. Now I'm 39 and remain a non-smoker. Surprise, surprise.

When my mom caught my brother smoking, I think he was 15 at the time, she made him smoke a whole pack of Tijuana Smalls and he liked it and continued to smoke until he was about 34.  

My grandparents gave me permission to smoke in the house when I was almost 15 and moved back up to Connecticut with them.  I remember they held a family conference talk about it and told me they'd only buy me 2 cartons of cigarettes a month.  I was so happy I never expected them to buy me cigarettes and let me smoke in their house.

[dalebert]

I think he was 15 at the time

They waited too long. I was about 4.