Much of Europe has a drinking at age or below 18, and they don't have anywhere near the problems that the US does. Age isn't the issue. I'm thinking it's a combination of poor parenting and our propensity for bad habits, but I can't promise.
How can you justify not having a right because someone might abuse it? That is the complete opposite of our judicial history. Fair use, anyone? Let the abusers rot in jail. It's not like they aren't going to find another avenue there anyway.
Even at that, the drinking age should be 18 for a much more important reason: the only reason that kids have no rights constitutionally is that they are not actually considered "people" until they turn 18. Beyond that, they should have the full benefit of the freedoms owed to them, so long as they are used responsibly. Any restrictions based on an age other than 18 are inherantly descriminatory, and should be struck down. "That all men are created equal" does not leave room for any form of descrimination, and I am confident that our legal system will <i>eventually</i> rid itself of this and other forms of bigotry. Sadly, look how long it took for women to earn the right to vote...
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How can you justify not having a right because someone might abuse it? That is the complete opposite of our judicial history. Fair use, anyone? Let the abusers rot in jail. It's not like they aren't going to find another avenue there anyway.
Even at that, the drinking age should be 18 for a much more important reason: the only reason that kids have no rights constitutionally is that they are not actually considered "people" until they turn 18. Beyond that, they should have the full benefit of the freedoms owed to them, so long as they are used responsibly. Any restrictions based on an age other than 18 are inherantly descriminatory, and should be struck down. "That all men are created equal" does not leave room for any form of descrimination, and I am confident that our legal system will <i>eventually</i> rid itself of this and other forms of bigotry. Sadly, look how long it took for women to earn the right to vote...