Amethyst Initiative (USA)

Whatever the legal drinking age is, people will try to drink before that. Only way to stop this would be making drinking legal for everyone, but I don't think that's a good idea xD

Actually, done correctly, that's the best idea. Parents should be teaching their children to be responsible. Controlled, monitored, moderate consumption of alcohol in a child's youth can be an effective way for them to learn how to drink without going overboard.

It is legal in some states for parents to let their children have alcohol, but that's not enough. It should be legal in all states and it should be encouraged (encouraged, not just for parents to give their kids alcohol, but to handle it RESPONSIBLY).

the brain's development will be hindered a bit by alcohol...

Excessive drug use of any kind at any age can damage a person's brain. However, alcohol (as well as some other drugs) when used safely in moderation has no ill effects whatsoever.

Your age doesn't matter if you can handle it any better.

This is the same argument that people use to say it should be lowered. Age doesn't make you any more capable to be responsible, so why is it that you must be 21 to drink rather than 18?

There are some really really stupid people out there that just shouldn't be drinking.

I agree, however, I would say that it's better for these people to learn their limits while they're still living at home with their parents at 18 than when they're 21 and out living on their own.

Then they cross the border back into Michigan and are driving drunk at 19.

And they wouldn't be driving drunk across the border if they could try alcohol safely in their own home.

But at least with the age being 21, there wouldn't be high school kids going to liquor stores to buy booze. I understand people buy for them but at least at 21 you wouldn't have to worry as much. I know in Michigan, our Drivers Licenses have a bar on the back like credit cards and when I go to buy liquor, they swipe it to see if it's fake or not.

Wow, I didn't know stores could use that pumpernickel. I only ever knew police could scan that. If they didn't have legal grounds to check ID, I'd almost say that sounds like invasion of privacy.

Anyway, "there wouldn't be high school kids going to liquor stores to buy booze"? High school students buy porn, tobacco, firearms, but you don't think an 18 year old could be responsible enough to walk to the store, purchase a bottle of alcohol, walk home, then consume the alcohol moderately at home? Not all people want to drive to the store, down a liter of rum, then go out for a drive on the Interstate.