(no subject)
and whos the most effed up country? maybe this is another problem we have.
Legal Drinking Ages Across the World
No Minimum
Age 14
Age 16
Age 18
Age 19
Age 20
Age 21
Armenia
Switzerland*
Antigua
Argentina
South
Korea
Japan
(UNITED
STATES)
Azerbaijan
Austria
Barbados
Iceland
China
Belgium
Bermuda
New
Zealand*
Nigeria
France
British
Virgin Islands
Poland*
Germany*
Chile
Portugal
Greece*
Czech
Republic
Soviet
Georgia
Italy
Estonia
Thailand
Netherlands*
Hong
Kong
Viet
Nam
Norway*
Indonesia
Poland
Jamaica
Spain*
Israel
Turkey*
Latvia
Luxembourg
(age 17 with an adult)
Mexico
Mongolia
Phillipines
Russia
Slovak
Republic
South
Africa
United
Kingdom (age 16 in restaurants)
Uruguay
Australia
Bahamas
Brazil
Canada
(age 19 in some provinces)
Columbia
Denmark
Finland*
Hungary
Ireland
Jamaica
Lithuania
Malaysia
Moldova
Peru
Puerto
Rico
St.
Maarten
Slovenia
Sweden*
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Venezuela
The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered
Interview with Dr. Ruth Engs
The minimum drinking age continues to stir controversy,
with recent proposals being made to reduce or qualify the minimum
legal age at which drinking may occur. One of the more influential
proponents of lowering the drinking age is Dr. Ruth Engs, Professor
of Applied Health Sciences at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Dr. Hanson--
Dr. Engs, could you explain your proposal to lower the drinking
age?
Dr. Engs--
I'd be glad to. I propose that the drinking age be lowered to
about 18 or 19 and permit those of legal age to consume in socially
controlled environment such as restaurants and official school
and university functions. Currently, we prohibit 20-year-olds
from sipping champagne at their own weddings! I also propose that
individuals of any age be permitted to consume alcohol under the
direct supervision of their parents in their own homes.
Dr. Hanson--
How would this be more effective than the 21 age laws?
Dr. Engs--
Although the legal purchase age is 21, a majority of young people
under this age consume alcohol, and too many of them do so in
an irresponsible manner. This is largely because drinking is seen
by these youth as an enticing "forbidden fruit," a "badge
of rebellion against authority," and a symbol of adulthood.
Our nation has twice tried prohibition, first at the state level
in the 1850's and at the national level beginning in 1920. These
efforts to prevent drinking were unenforceable and created serious
social problems such as widespread disrespect for law, the growth
of organized crime, and the development of immoderate consumption
patterns.
The flaunting of the current age-specific prohibition is readily
apparent among young people who, since the increase in the minimum
legal drinking age, have tended to drink in a more abuse manner
than do those of legal age. This, of course, is exactly what happened
in the general public during national Prohibition.
Dr. Hanson--
So raising the legal drinking age has made things worse?
Dr. Engs--
Yes. Like national Prohibition , it has been counter-productive.
Raising the drinking age was much worse than doing nothing.
Dr. Hanson--
But hasn't drinking been going down among young people?
Dr. Engs--
Yes, the proportion of the American population who drink (including
young people) has been going down since about 1980. That was long
before the states were required to raise the drinking age in 1987.
And of course legislation wouldn't have limited consumption among
those aged 21 or older.
On the other hand, while fewer young people are drinking and
their average consumption levels have been dropping (along with
that of the general population), more younger people tend to drink
abusively when they do consume. This change occurred after the
increase in the drinking age.
Dr. Hanson--
So, it's a little like what happened during national Prohibition?
Dr. Engs--
Exactly. Prohibition tended to destroy moderation and instead
promoted great excess and abusive drinking. People tended to gulp
alcohol in large quantities on those occasions when they could
obtain it. The notorious speakeasies didn't exist before prohibition,
when people could drink legally and leisurely. What we currently
have is age-specific prohibition and young people are forced to
create their own "speakeasies" in dorm rooms and other
secret locations where they, too, must gulp their alcohol in the
absence of moderating social control.
Dr. Hanson--
You're saying that simply lowering the drinking age would solve
the problem of drinking abuse among young people?
Dr. Engs--
Unfortunately, it wouldn't solve the problem. However, it would
be an important step in the right direction.
The experience of many societies and groups demonstrates that
drinking problems are reduced when young people learn at home
from their parents how to drink in a moderate and responsible
manner. As parents we need to be good role models in what we say
and do.
And lowering the drinking age would help send the important message
that drinking is, in itself, not evidence of maturity...... that
responsible consumption for those who choose to drink is evidence
of maturity.
We need to reinforce the norm of moderation by making it clear
that the abuse of alcohol is completely unacceptable by anyone.
This would help stress that it is not drinking that is the problem
but rather drinking abusively that is the problem.
Dr. Hanson--
These ideas may sound great, but would they really work?
Dr. Engs--
These proposals are not based on speculation but on the proven
example set by many societies and groups around the world that
have long used alcohol extensively with very few problems.
On the other hand, our current prohibition directed against the
consumption of alcohol by young people (who can marry, serve in
the military, vote, enter into legal contracts, and shoulder adult
responsibilities) is clearly not working. We need to abandon this
failed and demeaning folly and replace it with a proven, realistic,
and successful approach to reducing drinking problems.
Dr. Hanson--
Thank you, Dr. Engs, for sharing your expertise.
Dr. Engs--
You're welcome.
Dr. Ruth Engs is the author of seven books,
dozens of chapters and articles, and scores of scientific papers
on alcohol. He is a leading, internationally-recognized authority
on drinking patterns and problems of college students, whose opinions
are sought by diverse groups and organizations. (www.indiana.edu/~engs)
Legal Drinking Ages Across the World
No Minimum
Age 14
Age 16
Age 18
Age 19
Age 20
Age 21
Armenia
Switzerland*
Antigua
Argentina
South
Korea
Japan
(UNITED
STATES)
Azerbaijan
Austria
Barbados
Iceland
China
Belgium
Bermuda
New
Zealand*
Nigeria
France
British
Virgin Islands
Poland*
Germany*
Chile
Portugal
Greece*
Czech
Republic
Soviet
Georgia
Italy
Estonia
Thailand
Netherlands*
Hong
Kong
Viet
Nam
Norway*
Indonesia
Poland
Jamaica
Spain*
Israel
Turkey*
Latvia
Luxembourg
(age 17 with an adult)
Mexico
Mongolia
Phillipines
Russia
Slovak
Republic
South
Africa
United
Kingdom (age 16 in restaurants)
Uruguay
Australia
Bahamas
Brazil
Canada
(age 19 in some provinces)
Columbia
Denmark
Finland*
Hungary
Ireland
Jamaica
Lithuania
Malaysia
Moldova
Peru
Puerto
Rico
St.
Maarten
Slovenia
Sweden*
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Venezuela
The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered
Interview with Dr. Ruth Engs
The minimum drinking age continues to stir controversy,
with recent proposals being made to reduce or qualify the minimum
legal age at which drinking may occur. One of the more influential
proponents of lowering the drinking age is Dr. Ruth Engs, Professor
of Applied Health Sciences at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Dr. Hanson--
Dr. Engs, could you explain your proposal to lower the drinking
age?
Dr. Engs--
I'd be glad to. I propose that the drinking age be lowered to
about 18 or 19 and permit those of legal age to consume in socially
controlled environment such as restaurants and official school
and university functions. Currently, we prohibit 20-year-olds
from sipping champagne at their own weddings! I also propose that
individuals of any age be permitted to consume alcohol under the
direct supervision of their parents in their own homes.
Dr. Hanson--
How would this be more effective than the 21 age laws?
Dr. Engs--
Although the legal purchase age is 21, a majority of young people
under this age consume alcohol, and too many of them do so in
an irresponsible manner. This is largely because drinking is seen
by these youth as an enticing "forbidden fruit," a "badge
of rebellion against authority," and a symbol of adulthood.
Our nation has twice tried prohibition, first at the state level
in the 1850's and at the national level beginning in 1920. These
efforts to prevent drinking were unenforceable and created serious
social problems such as widespread disrespect for law, the growth
of organized crime, and the development of immoderate consumption
patterns.
The flaunting of the current age-specific prohibition is readily
apparent among young people who, since the increase in the minimum
legal drinking age, have tended to drink in a more abuse manner
than do those of legal age. This, of course, is exactly what happened
in the general public during national Prohibition.
Dr. Hanson--
So raising the legal drinking age has made things worse?
Dr. Engs--
Yes. Like national Prohibition , it has been counter-productive.
Raising the drinking age was much worse than doing nothing.
Dr. Hanson--
But hasn't drinking been going down among young people?
Dr. Engs--
Yes, the proportion of the American population who drink (including
young people) has been going down since about 1980. That was long
before the states were required to raise the drinking age in 1987.
And of course legislation wouldn't have limited consumption among
those aged 21 or older.
On the other hand, while fewer young people are drinking and
their average consumption levels have been dropping (along with
that of the general population), more younger people tend to drink
abusively when they do consume. This change occurred after the
increase in the drinking age.
Dr. Hanson--
So, it's a little like what happened during national Prohibition?
Dr. Engs--
Exactly. Prohibition tended to destroy moderation and instead
promoted great excess and abusive drinking. People tended to gulp
alcohol in large quantities on those occasions when they could
obtain it. The notorious speakeasies didn't exist before prohibition,
when people could drink legally and leisurely. What we currently
have is age-specific prohibition and young people are forced to
create their own "speakeasies" in dorm rooms and other
secret locations where they, too, must gulp their alcohol in the
absence of moderating social control.
Dr. Hanson--
You're saying that simply lowering the drinking age would solve
the problem of drinking abuse among young people?
Dr. Engs--
Unfortunately, it wouldn't solve the problem. However, it would
be an important step in the right direction.
The experience of many societies and groups demonstrates that
drinking problems are reduced when young people learn at home
from their parents how to drink in a moderate and responsible
manner. As parents we need to be good role models in what we say
and do.
And lowering the drinking age would help send the important message
that drinking is, in itself, not evidence of maturity...... that
responsible consumption for those who choose to drink is evidence
of maturity.
We need to reinforce the norm of moderation by making it clear
that the abuse of alcohol is completely unacceptable by anyone.
This would help stress that it is not drinking that is the problem
but rather drinking abusively that is the problem.
Dr. Hanson--
These ideas may sound great, but would they really work?
Dr. Engs--
These proposals are not based on speculation but on the proven
example set by many societies and groups around the world that
have long used alcohol extensively with very few problems.
On the other hand, our current prohibition directed against the
consumption of alcohol by young people (who can marry, serve in
the military, vote, enter into legal contracts, and shoulder adult
responsibilities) is clearly not working. We need to abandon this
failed and demeaning folly and replace it with a proven, realistic,
and successful approach to reducing drinking problems.
Dr. Hanson--
Thank you, Dr. Engs, for sharing your expertise.
Dr. Engs--
You're welcome.
Dr. Ruth Engs is the author of seven books,
dozens of chapters and articles, and scores of scientific papers
on alcohol. He is a leading, internationally-recognized authority
on drinking patterns and problems of college students, whose opinions
are sought by diverse groups and organizations. (www.indiana.edu/~engs)