Hey I've recently moved from France to Australia and what struck me was that Alcohol abuse by minors was quite a big thing down under (if you didn't know you must be 18 to drink in Australia), while in France the issue is much smaller, and it is totally acceptable for a 7 year old to take a sip of their parent's wine at dinnertime. Now my question to you is do you think there should be legislation making it illegal for minors to consume alcohol: why or why not? And do you think that the fact that Australians see Alcohol as a taboo for minors is one of the causes of teenagers getting drunk?
Absolutely. Raising a child to be comfortable around alcohol by being inclusive, open and honest about its use is a fundamental cause of this difference in behaviour further down the line. Protecting your children from everything that might do them harm just supports the development of unhealthy attitudes towards those things, and in extreme cases can lead to eating disorders, chronic binge drinking, lack of self worth within sexual relationships, etc etc. The bottom line is that responsible parenting recognises that children grow up, that they will begin to be exposed to the adult world and that responsibly providing them with knowledge, experience and a balanced attitude towards these issues has a massive impact on later development during their teenage years. I think it is appropriate for the consumption of alcohol by minors in their family home to be seen as acceptable. Legislation that impedes upon a person's private life always jars with me. At the same time however, it is worth reiterating that parents have a responsibility to ensure their child is safe. Obviously a parent has to be in control of the provision of alcohol by minors in a household, but they also have to be aware that to deny their child any experience of alcohol - within the safety of their own home - is to invite misuse of alcohol later in life, be that in a club, at a friends house or wherever. The point is that parents are able to set their children on the right track - missing that opportunity will inevitably lead to them having to find out on their own. It's important for a child to grow and develop as their own person without excessive interference, but a complete hands off approach does far more harm than good in the long term.
Definetly not, and here is my reasoning. In the United States the legal drinking age is 21, but the emancipation age is 18. When you reach 18, a whole world p[ens up around you. You are no longer a child, but a full fledged adult who can vote, sign contracts (without parental permission), and sign up for the army. If the government trusts us with these responsibilities, why do they think we are too immature or irresponsible to drink alcohol?
My sentiments exactly, if you old enough to die for the USA your old enough to have a beer, and honestly making the age to where your "supposedly matured in the brain" is ridiculous. Having it at 21 makes kids more likely to drink alcohol regardless of how they are brought up. I'm an 18 year old farm boy who was raised that drinking with family and friends is socially acceptable no matter what age. But iv seen kids that are from completely opposite backgrounds getting hammered drunk at parties. To me that is worse than how i was raised with alcohol.
Because you have only had two years of driving experience!!! 21 means you would have had an added 3 years of experience and added maturity. Not to say that most people don't start actually driving around the age of 18.
I have no clue, and btw i started driving at age 14 had my permit at 15 and license at 16 have had one ticket in my life, and have not ever drove home drunk. But as i was saying earlier, the reasoning is retarded, they say it stunts brain growth, but alot of **** does. I mean hell studies have shown that too much water can cause cancer's "depending on where its from" and people in Lubbock Tx have died from to much water "idiots".
I live in Australia, and 18 is the age restriction on when you can buy alcohol or drink it at a restaurant/ bar. Its perfectly legal to drink when you are on private property, no matter your age. The thing is, not many Australian have wine at dinner time, so there isn't an open discourse between family and child. I guess I can see how putting a "restriction" on alcohol or not talking about it makes it more appealing, but i'd hardly say forcing your kids to drink a six pack is going to stop them from from wanting to drink alcohol. The difference between drinking ages between here and America always amused me. Do people in America have less self-control? Does our government just want more people paying for alcohol earlier? Does it help with tourism? Or does our government think by lowering the age we will act more responsibly? In America a higher drinking age makes buying fake I.D's a viable option, whereas in Australia no-one I know and no-one I've ever heard of has had one or needed one, because parties with drinking start at about the same time as people you know start turning 18.
Really?! I didn't know that, but it may vary from state to state (I'm currently in Nsw) so that may be why. I never said anything about forcing someone to drink alcohol I'm just saying the parents should let them try it (in moderation) if they want to and talk about responsible usage etc... instead of just ignoring it. Yes I've never truly understood this as Americans can carry a gun when they reach 18 and yet they can't drink.
Because were violent hahaha, actually alot of American's don't own guns, all my buddies from England were like omfg wow you have guns it was funny. The drinking age in Europe attracts me, i go every summer and hang out in London and go to the pubs with my friends.
Hehe true XD. No but what I meant is how come Americans are allowed to have guns at 18 when it obviously involves way more responsibility than alcohol.
To legally purchase weapons you must have a license. However for your drinks you just need an ID showing you're old enough. They're not just going to sell you a handgun. Its not like going to the grocery store and picking up a gun. You have to be certified. I don't own a gun myself, as I'm not old enough, but I plan to. Most of my friend's families have lots of weapons, and we go out shooting every now and then. Oh and just so you know, 10 year olds can carry a gun. /sarcasm
Well there isn't a specific age its just like oh you went through the hunter course, got certified, you dad's with ya here ya go sonny here's a new 44 mag. I guess by yourself its 18 but i bought rifles when i was 16 here but idk i guess its just a little town thing.
I guess that it probably varies from state to state but I don't know much about the issue anyway except that you have to be 18 in most cases. Is there already a thread talking about gun laws?
I don't think so but were kinda getting off topic so to put us back. The U.S. drinking laws are a joke to me. I am attracted to other countries for the fact that i can drink, and well its fun going new places.