Not until you're 18!

[mondays suck]

In germany it is like this:
'Softer' Alcohol like beer at 16, 'harder' Alcohol at 18. Smoking at 18. Driving at 17 with a registered co-driver, at 18 without any restritions.

I think it's ok that way considering smoking (which i don't do anyway) and driving, but about the Alcohol... No one ever really cared about that rule, they could basically set it to 14 and 16, since at that age people start drinking, there's NO ONE who ever followed that rule

 

[BeachBoy]

My opinion, such restrictions seem don't matter? The higher it is, the more abuse by under-aged there is. The lower, we've got more drinking and driving and STDs (hell, teenagers are extremely dangerous sober) Either way, to me, it seems like a lose-lose. :/

 

[twocows]

It was 18 drinking age for a while here, but things got really out of hand in high schools. Kids would show up for class drunk, and people started complaining. That's when they raised it back up to 21 (it was 21 to begin with).

The problem, as I see it, is that we have arbitrary age limits when we should have some sort of character assessment. If someone's not responsible enough to handle alcohol, they shouldn't have access to it whether they're 18 or 81.

 

[BHwolfgang]

I can't drive until I'm 18, but I can wait that long. I can't go out with a girl until I'm 18, but I am already am. I can't get a computer of my own personal use until I'm 18, but I'm saving up for one right now. I can't get a job until I'm 18 so I can focus on my education, but 16 is more appealing to me.

... Huh.

 

[Rich Boy Rob]

I can't go out with a girl until I'm 18, but I am already am. I can't get a computer of my own personal use until I'm 18, but I'm saving up for one right now.

Wait. You have laws about when you can go out with people and have a computer? 0.o
How would they even police the first one?

 

[Idiot!]

This sucks a lot. The legal age to sign up as an organ donor here is 18. If you are under 18, you need your guardian's permission. Problem is, my parents think that losing body parts is bad, and they are always "too busy" to bother, and you guessed it, I am not 18 yet. If I would be "reborn with missing parts", please, oh please, don't let people join wars, don't allow murders to happen, don't let accidents happen and avoid amputation like the plague. Someone's gonna walk around in the afterlife with this missing, that gone and such, if he or she were ever involved in said happenings.

 

[Weatherman Kiyoshi]

Some age restrictions don't flow with others;

HEY! YOU'RE 18!
YOU CAN SMOKE, BUY A-RATED GAMES, SERVE ALCHOHALIC DRINKS, BUY PORNOGRAPHY, STAR IN PORNOGRAPHY, BUY COMMERCIAL IDEMS FROM TELEVISION, VOTE, GO INTO THE ARMY, GET MARRIED, OFFICIALLY SIGN LEGAL CONTRACTS, GET INTO SOME NEW ADULT CLUBS, GET TRIED AS AN ADULT IN COURT, GO TO ADULT JAIL, HAVE INDEPENDENT CAR INSURANCE, RENT A HOTEL ROOM, AND FULLY BE CONSITERED A LEGAL ADULT!

....But you can't consume alchoholic drinks.

@_@

I believe it's for making sure your liver can handle it, but seriously, at 18, you get EVERYTHING but the right to drink? >.>"

 

[angelsavoir]

I think that if your considered and adult at 18, then you should be able to make your own decisons and that includes decisons on smoking and drinking.
Im 18, and I live in Canada. Some provinces here 19 is the legal drinking age, but in Alberta where I live its 18. If I lived in the states and I had to wait till I was 21 to be allowed to drink, even though I am considered and adult at 18, I wouldnt be that happy, just because if I can make other decions and be held accountable why cant I make the choice to drink at 18 then?
Also I think that if your not allowed to drink or smoke you want to do it more. When your able to its not such a big deal. Atleast that how it went for me. I wanted to drink more before I turned 18, know that I am Ill go out and have one drink, and then get water..When I was younger around 14, a I would drink alot and go to parties. Now not so much lol Im to busy with university and with the responsiblites of being an adult to go party every weekend.

Also I choose not to smoke, it doesnt appeal to me.

 

[JP]

I can't say that they bother me much but they are a bit ridiculous, especially the drinking age here in the U.S. You can enter the military at 18 yet you cannot consume alcohol legally until you're 21. If you think about it, it's just ridiculous.

 

[Archer]

Some age restrictions don't flow with others;

HEY! YOU'RE 18!
YOU CAN SMOKE, BUY A-RATED GAMES, SERVE ALCHOHALIC DRINKS, BUY PORNOGRAPHY, STAR IN PORNOGRAPHY, BUY COMMERCIAL IDEMS FROM TELEVISION, VOTE, GO INTO THE ARMY, GET MARRIED, OFFICIALLY SIGN LEGAL CONTRACTS, GET INTO SOME NEW ADULT CLUBS, GET TRIED AS AN ADULT IN COURT, GO TO ADULT JAIL, HAVE INDEPENDENT CAR INSURANCE, RENT A HOTEL ROOM, AND FULLY BE CONSITERED A LEGAL ADULT!

....But you can't consume alchoholic drinks.

@_@

I believe it's for making sure your liver can handle it, but seriously, at 18, you get EVERYTHING but the right to drink? >.>"

lol. In Australia, it is and always has been 18. Driving differs from state to state, but NSW can get their Ls (drive with a supervisor) at 16 and Ps (drive solo) at 17.

 

[processr]

Age limits for the ~*~EXCITING~*~ stuff barely affect me. I can legally learn to drive, but I won't have enough money to buy, insure and run a car for many years. I will be legally allowed to buy alcohol and cigarettes in ~nine months time, but I've no intention on doing that. However, age of consent being sixteen? Awesome.

 

[Rogue planet]

Not being able to buy alcohol is a bit of a pain, I'm mature enough to enjoy it responsibly, imo, and I'm obviously not cool enough to have a ~FAKE ID~. But I'm not all that fussed really.
The only thing that really annoys me is when you have to be a certain age to go to a live music show, luckily most of the ones I want to go to are 16+ so it doesn't affect me too much now.