After Dark with Beth LaMontagne

January 13, 2006

Drink age debate again?

Okay, I thought we had settled this debate already. People who are 18, 19 and 20 are too irresponsible too drink. It has proven with studies and experience, so why is Portsmouth state Rep. Jim Splaine raising this issue again?

Well, it's the old too young to drink, but old enough to kill argument for military personnel. Splaine, who is sponsoring a bill that would allow those in the military over the age of 18 drinking rights, argues that not allowing soldier to drink after we have put them in harm's way is disrespectful. He also says that it's wromg to criminalize underage drinking for that age group because it leads to unsupervised, and more irresponsible, drinking.

Valid points, I have to say.

I just wonder if during this debate, people are asking how this will change the drinking and bar atmosphere in the state. Will New Hampshire become a military destination, a soldier's Cancun, if you will? I'm not quite sure how I feel about that.

I guess I've always found this pro-military drinking argument a bit silly. Yes, they are old enough to defend our country, by force if necessary, but they can't have a cold brewski after a long day of work? That's an understandable question, but you can start having kids at 12 and 13. Child rearing is a vast responsibility, so should we allow teens with kids to drink? I doubt that's a good idea.

I read a letter to the editor that suggested limiting military service to those over 21. Fine solution to this debate, but so unlikely I can't even fathom an analogy to put it into perspective.

Why don't we talk about why teens, and many adults, feel the need to drink five, six, seventeen drink in one night? Why is it so cool to get so wasted? That seems like the worthy debate, but I don't think "Life Free of Die" New Hampshire will bring that up for quite some time.

Posted by blamontagne at January 13, 2006 09:53 AM

Comments

Hey you stole my topic. :) Just kidding...but I do plan on bringing this up this weekend.

I think the drinking age should be 18 OR we need to raise the age of "adulthood". There needs to be consistancy.

Posted by: www.KellyHalldorson.com at January 13, 2006 10:47 AM

Well, if we were in Europe where youth know how to drink responsibly, this wouldn't be so much of an issue. But we're in the US where young people act like idiots, so 18 is too young. Heck, 30 is too young sometimes.

But here's a question for you---There's a hearing on Tuesday on a bill to ban smoking in all restuarants and night clubs in NH. Thoughts?

Posted by: RForrest at January 13, 2006 11:53 AM

As someone who is turning 21 in a few weeks, I know exactly what it's like to be around those who are underaged and drinking. The problem with the 18-24 drinking scene is that it has gone beyond the social aspect, and more of a binge-like side. Drinking just to drink. Whatever happened to savoring taste and such? I myself drink at home, only a glass or so, and usually if it goes with the meal. I've had wine and beer around presented positively in my home since I was young, either going to vineyards with my parents - or when my father brewed his own beer.
I can only wonder how many people in my generation will have to join AA or be treated for liver disease.

Posted by: Mallory Adamczyk at January 13, 2006 06:05 PM

I think our culture encourages that party, binge-drinking mentality. Just watch MTV's the Real World. Every night, they're doing shots and grinding with each other. Not to sound old, because I'm not, but that lifestyle grows old fast, or at least it did to me.

I guess what I'm saying is that adults, perhaps in some nostalgic effort to reclaim their youth, romanticize underage drinking, when they really should be discouraging it.

Now, I think it's perfectly fine for kids 18+ to drink. They do it now anyway. But until we can get out of this binge drinking culture (which is totally destructive, and unattractive) I feel like 18 and 19 are too young.

Posted by: afterdark at January 15, 2006 10:34 PM

Maybe resetting the age limit will do something toward getting out of the binge drinking culture. Once it's legal, and easy to obtain, for 18+, it won't be such a big deal.

I lived in Europe for a couple of years and there was no drinking age at all - "if you can reach the counter, you can buy it." Parents were the motive for limits.

There were not so many DWIs for anyone, either, regardless of age.

Kids regarded alcohol as just a part of life, I hung out with and dated local kids as a rule, and sure we imbibed but it was never a big deal for them. Most of them had a certain disdain for the American kids who had piggish attitudes (binge drinking) toward alcohol.

On a side note - if they raised the age limit for the military their enlistment rate would drop drastically - you might be left without a valid fighting force - most young people join at 18-19 years (some sign up as early as 16 - in the delayed enlistment program) because they don't have many options - military will pay for higher education and give them an excelleng job right out of high school.

Posted by: bullyforme at January 17, 2006 10:11 AM

umm, that would be "excellent" not "excelleng" job.. :)

Posted by: bullyforme at January 17, 2006 10:12 AM

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