When blogging about the topic of reducing the drinking age, you can’t help but to incorporate a few of your own personal experiences. No, I am not going to share stories of drunken nights a frat houses or New Year’s Eve 2008. I like to think we’re a little bit more intellectual of a bunch than that here at 18equalsadult. Instead, I’m going to talk about my experience with different cultures and their philosophies toward drinking.
My best friend in high school had a dad that was from Israel. In Israel the drinking age is 18, but isn’t necessarily enforced (like most other countries). My friend had the incredible benefit of growing up in a household where drinking wasn’t forbidden or frowned upon. This ended up exposing her to a more objective and open view on alcohol. The curiosity factor involved in most teen drinking disappeared for her because she could have wine with dinner or a cocktail on the porch with the family. Most importantly, this experience and acceptance taught her something that is vital in the underage world: alcohol responsibility. That is what it all boils down to, that is the source of the danger.
Another benefit gained from her parental acceptance was the openness and communication involved in their relationship. When this is a factor, the danger of overdrinking is significantly reduced. My friend was significantly less likely to hide drinking from them or try to find a way to get home or a place to stay the night without them finding out. We could always call her parents and that fear of getting punished for doing something illegal faded and kept us safe.
Now, if my friend could have that kind of beneficial experience just from her parents letting her drink, imagine if the big daddy, the government, let us drink. Personally I feel that this would reduce danger, much like it did with my best friend. Teens wouldn’t have to hide it, because when they do they end up getting themselves into more trouble by getting behind the wheel or running away from the cops.
Don’t know where to take your next vacay? Look at the drinking age in different countries around the world!
Culture is a good thing to consider on this topic. I also read that drinking in Puerto Rico is not seen as negative behavior. In fact, it is seen as being accepted into society. Men who refused to drink were seen as homosexual and weak. Drinking was a "manly" activity. Also, drinking was a reward after a hard day at work.
ReplyDelete[Credit goes to ANTH147 readings :)]
Exactly. It is important to recognize the role that drinking plays in every culture. In Puerto Rico and Israel, drinking doesn't have to have a negative connotation. Why does it have one in America?
ReplyDeleteI think you make a very good point here. I believe that if "Big Daddy" government would let us drink at a younger age then awareness and responsibility will be more apt to grow. Why was the age even started at 21? When the original law was laid, why did they chose 21?
ReplyDeleteThe drinking age was 18 prior to the passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984. This act was brought about by the number of deaths due to drunk driving. Drinking age is a number to be decided by each state, but this act said that if the age wasn't raised to 21 then they would stop providing all highway and road funds to the state. Subsequently, each state changed the age to 21 and I don't see any of them with enough money to be willing to sacrifice that highway funding.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think there's a particular history as to why the drinking age is 21 in the States. That's got quite a fair bit to do with the formation of the country. Some of the earliest settlers here were Puritans, were they not? Consequently, their strict, puritan lifestyle was translated into the societal norms and attitudes here. You can't really compare this unique history against other cultures like the Jewish culture. Wine is pretty commonplace there.
ReplyDeleteAs for what It'sAllOver asked: "why is it 21?" 21 is simply the age that many states voluntarily chose, but in the 1970s, when they lowered the enlistment age to 18, some states lowered their drinking ages to 18, which created certain problems that they attempted to rectify with the 1984 ruling. So it was really 21 that was the norm and 18 the usurper, if you want to look at it that way. (Actually, why only those 2 ages? Why not 19, or 20, or 19.5, or 17, or 16...?)