Do you think the drinking age should be changed in the state of Virginia? With the current laws in place do you think kids that are first time offenders who are caught should be treated the same as long as they have never been in trouble before?

What is this? a High School Civics class debate?

So where did you get caught drinking underage and what punishment did you get that you think is out of line with the normal punishment for this type of offense?

Lea Wrote:
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> Do you think the drinking age should be changed in
> the state of Virginia? With the current laws in
> place do you think kids that are first time
> offenders who are caught should be treated the
> same as long as they have never been in trouble
> before?


Reading some into your question:

You want (presumably) a lower drinking age, because you are 18 and adult and should be trusted to make your own decisions.

But the second part of your question of talks about first offenders - hey you're just kid, 1st time you did something wrong, etc.

It's one or the other - you can't have it both ways. Either you are an adult with all the rights and privileges, or you are not.

Teenagers have a hard enough time with good decision making. Why throw alcohol into the mix? Plus, drinking is not just drinking - its the driving, sexual assault, and other collateral damage that goes with drinking.

I did not get caught drinking anywhere and I don’t have a problem with someone breaking a law getting punished.

Why do you think I must be 18 I'm much older and I find it interesting to think that a 18 year old can be pursued at school by military recruiters at 18 to make a decision to go to another country to kill and get killed but yet they are deemed to not responsible enough to make a decision to have a drink.

I'm with you there. I've never understood why you can die for your country at 18, yet cannot drink legally. It makes no sense.

Used to be 18 back in the day. But some prudes got together and muscled the federal government into telling the states to raise it to 21 and any state not doing so lost federal highway funds.
There are a few brave reps out there calling for lowering it to 18 but the rest are pussies too afraid to do it. They might lose their tough on crime images.

At 18 you can buy a car, a home, a gun (certain types) and enlist in the military. In court you are considered an adult so why not make 18 the legal age?

Lower the drinking age to 19, raise the driving age to 18.

I agree.

Lower the age back to 18 but you also can't get your drivers till your 18 too.

Seems fair.

Now who do we call?

sea urchin Wrote:
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> I'm with you there. I've never understood why you
> can die for your country at 18, yet cannot drink
> legally. It makes no sense.


Well, if you are serving in the military, the commander can allow 18 to 20 year olds to drink at certain times

I agree with most of the above posts. I do think it should be lowered to 18, Let's face besides all the obvious of being considered a Legal Adult, Being able to yes buy a house, work and pay taxes, join the military. It just seems hypocritical as well because you can buy Lottery Tickets which is gambling also in Virginia you can play Bingo at 16!! ...

" It's all Fun and Games till Someone gets Hurt "

Apparently there is no legal age at which you have to properly use the English language.