The legal age of drinking

[marx_was_right]

In the UK you can get married at 18, but you can't have a drink at your wedding or vote in the elections. You can also be called up to the army to fight and die in the governments imperialist adventures thousands of miles away from home.

 In my opinion if the legal drinking age was lowered to 16 we would see much less street crime and vandalism, as many young people would have somewhere to go to drink and socialise with their friends. Instead many 16 and 17 year olds find themselves frustarted, standing in bus shelters, street corners etc with nothing to do and nowhere to go.

 The  Tories right wing idea of 'toughening up' on under aged drinking, and 'more police on the streets' has nothing to offer us, and will solve nothing. The more you frustarte and supress people the more determined they will be to find ways round it, and it will backfire and make the problem even worse.

[DrUSA]

Wel, this isn't a huge class issue, but if you think 18 is too old for a legal drinking age, try coming to the US - here it's 21!

[comrade_tom]

I think 18 is right, you cant have alchahol more easily available, in my town kids flock to the park in their black clothes and drink till they throw up, so often the neeed their stomachs pumped or something. The best idea would be to have something for the kids to do, an injection of activities to the area.

Remember that alchahol is a dangerous drug.

[marx_was_right]

Anything is dangerous when abused, what im saying is these guys would have to get slaughtered in the park when they could go to the pub, yes they could get slaughtered in the pub but its less likely. Yes more activities are needed, but let 16 and 17 year olds into the pubs and you will see a massive difference.

[T.K.A.-Denmark]

Here in Denmark the age is 15 for alcohol and 18 for pubs.
And well a lot of kids get wasted every weekend. Anyway I don't think it's the agelimit there's the problem.
Here in Denmark there's a big abuse of drugs and alcohol among young people. As other people have said it is activities that's needed. As it is now there's not enough intelligent things to do when you are broke.

[turnoviseous]

Here in Slovenia age limit for selling alcohol is 18, but noone bears that in mind, so everyone can get alcohol. On the other hand I have never heard that any owner of a pub would be punished for that here.

A lot of young people drink here, so the age limit is definitely not the problem. I also think that they have nothing smart to do, so they do unsmart things :).

[WindhamsonlyRed]

I don't know about where you guys are from but here (Windham, NH, USA) when minors (I'm 16) get together to drink it becomes hell.  Seriously, people being taken out in ambulances from too much alcohol, a lot of contests (who can out drink who), and of course tons of fights.
I feel that 21 is fine, 18 would be pushing it...Here in the US of course.  If it were 16 I think the BAC level for driving should be pretty low because I know where I am the teens are so irresponsible, that includes me.
The only people I know who support me in saying that 21 is a fine age are the people who don't drink alcohol.
I have to go, I know I left something out but I don't remember what it was but if I remember it I'll post it tomorrow when I get home.


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I only edited it to fix a type-o

[Paul Smith]

Personally I don't think the state has any right to get involved in such matters.  As with other such substances.

Certainly if we did have our revolution I would like it such laws scrapped altogether.  Certainly without the profit motive behind it, it will be pushed down our throats less.

However, personally I also consider alcohol and other similar drugs to be escapism, and believe that humanity will rise above such escapism in time.  

I never touch the stuff, see no point to it.

[marx_was_right]

I disagree, I enjoy a few pints with my pals. As long as things are not abused they are fine, its up to each person to decide when he's had enough

[Paul Smith]

Why do you enjoy it?  Because it relaxes the mind, so you can forget your "troubles".  That's the general feeling that most people would agree with.

Certainly alcohol consumption is linked heavily with those who suffer heavily under capitalism, not just among the proletariat, but even among the bourgeoisie.

So its effect can be attributed to that of religion, only much more short term.

Once these troubles go away, would you really need to consume it in order to enjoy yourself?  Certainly I can enjoy myself with no need for such things.

Of course I am not thinking that the generations brought up under capitalism can change so radically, but this is how I see humanity moving forward, three or four generations after the overthrow of the bourgeoisie.

[OUTOFTHENIGHT]

Paul... I respect your position.But for alot of people its not that simple ,as I am sure you recognise that alcoholism is an illness.
I drank heavily in my youth ,15 upwards, and it did become a problem after a while , something I now realise.
For me being a Marxist didnt sort out my drinking problem and I found it hard to get out of the culture that I was in. It wasnt until I settled down and had kids that I began to straighten out.Even now I enjoy a few drinks.
Capitalism has some sneaky ways of distracting the class from the struggle; alcohol and drugs are just two of them. A little bit of personnal discipline worked in my case even though it might be not as simple for the majority of people who are caught up in the drink /drugs rap. Remember even after the revolution we will still have to deal with these problems, so more power to you if you can lay off the booze now!!
Ian

[DanT]

I drink, occassionaly, and you're right, a lot of it does have to do with "forgetting my troubles."  But at the same time, I have troubles that have nothing to do with capitalism (primarily my damned knee).  Plus, it's just sometimes enjoyable to be relieved of the mental blocks built up by civilized society.  When else can you tell someone what you really think of them?

Drinking (without crossing into alcoholism) is great, except for the puking.  And the hangover.

[WindhamsonlyRed]

Paul, I have a question.  Why do you do it to take your mind off of your troubles when you know that they'll still be there in 24 hours?
I'm not being rude, I have always wondered that.

A lot of people drink to take away their problems not realizing that when it's all over the problems are still there.
I know that I would much rather be doing something to fix the problem.

And Paul, none of this is meant in a rude way I apologize if it sounds that way.

[Paul Smith]

Comrade perhaps you should read my posts again :)

"I never touch the stuff, see no point to it."

[Evan Roberts]

"Why do you enjoy it? Because it relaxes the mind, so you can forget your "troubles". That's the general feeling that most people would agree with."

But as you pointed out, alcohol is only short term. While one night one may get drunk in a party, the next day their is no good reason to sugest he will any more put up with being oppresed than anyone else.

If on the other hand you suggest that the man puts up with work because of the prospect of getting drunk later on, then alcohol can be seen no different from other forms of entertainment. The cinema can equally let people forget their troubles and enjoy themselves.

I only see a link with being an alcaholic on a drug addict with the adverse effects of the belief in an afterlife. The odd drink of alcahol though, I have nothing against. It is certainly not for me a requirement "in order to enjoy yourself", I do not "need alchohol" that said, I certainly find it quite usefull sometimes.