In the past, we would chronicle countless examples of drinkers OVER 21 behaving badly, as "Things Underage Drinkers Didn't Do". But we have clearly been slacking lately. Time to do it again:
In just the past few weeks or so in America:
An underage drinker did NOT get so incredibly wasted that she crashed her car into multiple barricades and then abandoned her six month old twin babies. (Let me guess, she "misplaced" them.)
An underage drinker did NOT get another unrelated DUI just a few short months after a drunken (and cowardly) hit-and-run crash.
An underage drinker did NOT drunkenly crash her car into a utility pole and kill her 17 year old passenger despite being largely unscathed herself.
An underage drinker did NOT drunkenly crash his truck into and kill a beloved music teacher who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
An underage drinker did NOT drunkenly run over and kill an innocent 13 year old girl walking down the grass shoulder of the street, and then speed away and casually keep on driving to Taco Bell as if nothing had happened. (Another cowardly hit-and-run.)
An underage drinker did NOT pound five shots of tequila in a row at a Las Vegas casino, get behind the wheel, and then drunkenly crash into an innocent family's car, tragically killing the father and seriously maiming his 3 year old son. (Also a hit-and-run.)
An underage drinker did NOT have the chutzpah to drive himself to court drunk (!) to fight charges for his third DUI. Literally the definition of chutzpah!
Nor did an underage drinker have the chutzpah to drunkenly drive his SUV to the car dealership with a missing tire, obvious damage, and smoke to try to SELL the very same vehicle that he had just drunkenly crashed into the median several times after downing four Four Loko cans (aka "blackout in a can") and chasing that with a can of White Claw. His baseball star father must be so proud of him! NOT.
The recent epidemic of unruly airplane passengers, most of whom are over 21, has been greatly fueled by alcohol. (Fortunately it seems to be declining now, since nearly two-thirds of the misbehavior was linked to the federal in-flight mask mandate that is no longer in effect now, and also thanks to the new FAA zero tolerance policy for misbehavior while flying.)
Alcohol-related deaths spiked during the pandemic, mainly among people OVER 21. America was already drowning in the bottom of a bottle, and the pandemic and lockdowns were like gasoline on the fire.
And finally, it was just recently revealed that Rudy Giuliani, 78, the questionable advisor to Trump who advised him to prematurely and falsely declare victory over Biden in the 2020 election, and thereby promulgating the Big Lie that incited the Capitol insurrection riot on January 6, 2021, was most likely drunk when he dispensed his questionable advice.
And that, my friends, is just the tip of the iceberg....
Dishonorable mentions outside the USA:
There was a 35 year old man in India who had meant to ritually sacrifice a goat, apparently got so wasted that he ended up inadvertently doing a HUMAN sacrifice of the person holding the goat. Oops!
UPDATE: But wait, there's more!
An underage drinker did NOT get in such a rage from being "mad at his girl" that he broke into the Dallas Museum of Art and wantonly destroyed $5 million worth of ancient art. Just because, grrrr, he was pissed off! (No alcohol was mentioned in this case, but come on--when what the last time you heard of anyone of any age doing something like this sober?)
Some historical information. I know I mentioned this in the last thread. But for those who didn't see it:
ReplyDeleteThe old Voting Age of 21 was a purely practical provision to do with Compulsory Military Service for young men aged 18-20. Men obviously couldn't vote while in the military and women couldn't vote until the 1930s.
The only other historical age requirement of 21 was the point at which a squire became a knight. Otherwise it's a completely arbitrary age.
And speaking of the military, I believe the drinking age, and obviously also the gun age, should be 18 for the military. The US Federal Government does not have the authority to dictate age limits for the states, but it does control the military.
Well, the age at which one became a knight somehow made its way into common law. Adulthood starting at 21 years is based off British common law. Not saying 18 shouldn't be the start, but historically speaking, 18 being the age of adulthood is still relatively new (50 years or so). As for military service, the United States did not (at least not to my knowledge) had a law stating that men under age 21 could vote if they weren't drafted/active-duty. There was a time where only land-owning and tax paying males 21 or older could vote. The United States only lowered the draft age to 18 in 1942 when the demand for able-bodied men was high because World War II was at its peak. The age of adulthood was still 21 and that included voting. You couldn't drink nor marry without parental consent until 21. That's why young men protested for the right to vote with the slogan "old enough to fight, old enough to vote" hence the passage of the 26th Amendment "The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age."
DeleteI am interested in that particular provision though, so if I find it, I stand corrected but as far I know, those under 21 were legal "infants" that is until they needed infantrymen.
To me, if you're old enough to join the military and be old enough for combat, you should be considered an adult and I definitely think it's a shame and tragic that you had young men who died before experiencing adult life. Wasn't old enough for a beer or a ballot but could be cannon fodder.
DeleteToday though it seems as if people are taking longer and I don't think that's because of any perceived immaturity (per se) but the changing economic climate and the encouragement to pursue education past age 18. People are staying home well into their 20s because it takes longer to find stability to move out. Despite this, I still think adulthood should stay at 18, because raising it is not going to help those ready to venture on their own but I can see why there is such a strong push to change the status quo and why some would question whether 18 is the right age.
Raising minimum ages or the age of majority beyond 18 is an impediment to a person's natural liberty and to a person's socioeconomic growth. People may be taking longer to get established in life but they need their rights to get established to begin with.
DeleteOh, I agree, especially where it pertains to the ability to sign contracts. If it were still 21, there would be no renting an apartment, no loans or credit (or maybe not without a cosigner), no business agreements, etc. below 21. I know that would have impacted me trying to get off-campus housing with roommates when I was in school.
DeleteAnd the right to vote. I agree with that being 18 too, as young adults should have a say in the policies that will impact their present and future selves. I think where the debate is still being had is over vices. Proposals of having to be 21 to smoke are not limited to the US, there have been proposals here in Canada but the push is not as strong. There were also discussions about restricting high potency THC products to people under age 21 when marijuana was first being legalized.
DeleteInterestingly, the 21 age of majority in British common law, based on the age when one can become a knight, was originally 15 until the 13th century when it was raised to 21. The Roman's apparently also set it at 15 for most practical purposes, but 25 for a few things like inheriting property. So the official age of adulthood has always been a moving target throughout history.
DeleteThat's interesting. You're right and it even differs by culture or religion. Jewish tradition is 13 for boys, and 12 for girls. I think the one thing that is consistent though is that these ages are decided by societal needs. In times when life expectancy was low, you had to grow up pretty fast and some societies just decided completion of puberty was that line.
DeleteBrain science can give insight but I don't believe that should be the whole picture nor should it be the final say. You do mature a lot in your 20s, but I really don't think there is a magic age for everyone where responsibility just clicks. You have to draw a line somewhere still. The years between 18 and 21 are treated as a gradual transition it seems where you can partake in more pro-social activities (voting, jury duty, civil service, and military, contracts) but denies other vices/or seemingly "harmful" activities like guns, smoking, drinking, gambling until one is supposedly more mature. In the grand scheme of things, we're confused and just need to decide.
I agree that adulthood is gradual and that certain privileges should not all be granted on one birthday. For example, it is unwise to allow someone to learn to drive and allow them to purchase impairing substances at the same age. (in AB 14 is a driver's permit and 18 is drinking) all these age requirements for certain activities have to be debated on their own rationale. However, it's odd to say "Yes you're an adult, but you cannot do these things". I think whatever age picked should be the age where most restrictions end. If that is 18, then that's when you have all your rights, 21 same principle.
DeleteIndeed. To be fair, there are several countries that set the drinking age and driving age both at 18, and they don't really seem to be any worse in terms of traffic deaths as a result. Regardless, in nearly every country but the USA and a handful of others, whatever age they pick as the age of majority, is the age where all practically all restrictions end. As it should be.
DeleteAjax, in your experience, how seriously does American society actually take the 21 Drinking Age? I heard from one American work colleague now living in the UK that most American parents are okay if their kids drink when they're 18 and in college. Her own parents, despite being liberal had a strict "not a drop till you're 21" mentality when it came to alcohol. How common is this mindset among American parents? From what my colleague told me, this mentality was regarded as weird even by other college students. Is this your experience?
ReplyDeleteAmong young people, the 21 drinking age is NOT taken seriously in most circles over here. But among older adults and parents, many unfortunately do take it quite seriously, though clearly not all do. College students indeed consider it weird.
DeleteMy dad hasn't been outside the country since the 1960s and he thinks it's 21 all over the world. He doesn't believe me when I tell him otherwise.
DeleteHe's in a for surprise to say the least.
DeleteFunny when 21 is actually the outlier.
DeleteHa, young adults in the US criticize 21 and in some parts of Canada 19, but in some territories in India drinking is banned until you turn 25. Halfway through your 20s.
DeleteIndia is a country not known for values associated with a liberal democracy.
DeleteI'm currently in the Philippines. He doesn't think they can afford cars here.
Delete@yycmat Yet, those under 25 can vote.
ReplyDeleteThey can, but often don't. That's the common trend in many countries where voting is 18. If adults under 25 voted in elections at the same rate as those 35+ there would be more consideration for the policies that affect them. Otherwise, that's how you get laws that allow you to join the army and die for your country for rich politicians, but not buy cigarettes, a beer, a joint, or go to a casino to bet your own money.
DeleteExactly, a person who is 18 years old is old enough and responsible enough to allowed legal adult rights, privileges and responisibilites. The side which agrees with raising minimum ages likes to move the goal post as to speak for determining the start of adulthood. In reality, a person who is 18 years old has started adulthood and should be recognized as such. There should no rush to judgment in this regard.
Delete@Edwin, agreed 100 %
Delete@YYCMatt, I also agree that young people should vote. I know you're not suggesting this, but in a free country, having the freedom to vote should mean having the freedom not to. While complacency and voter apathy remains an issue among registered young adult voters, the answer to that shouldn't be to disenfranchise them in other areas. I always found it ironic that politicians can say with a straight face "You're old enough to vote for me, but not old enough to do X, Y, Z,). In fact, that may be the reason why some 18, 19, and 20-year-olds don't vote. They're viewed as expendable and are only considered adults for purposes that benefit older adults but children when they are no longer of use. If society treats you as a child, you may see no reason to have a seat at the table.
That does seem like a reason for low voter turnout among young adults but that might change in the future.
DeleteIt may play a small role. There are also issues such as young voters not feeling listened to at all. Specifically, around issues of student debt, job availability, college affordability, economy, guns, climate, etc. Politicians say what we want to hear, and we vote for them, (particularly in the 2018 and 2020 elections) nothing really changes. You get cynical and complacent pretty quickly.
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