In American society, underage drinking is looked down upon and against the law. You must be 21 years of age to legally drink, purchase, or possess alcohol. However, America deals with an underage drinking problem. Legal drinking ages vary from zero to 21 across the world, the United States being one of the few with a drinking age of 21. Like most countries in Europe, Italy has no drinking age. I quickly learned that while recently traveling to Rome, Italy when bottles of wine were placed before me at dinner. It was a completely different experience. Having a glass of wine at dinner is part of the Italian culture, whether you are 12 or 21.
For reasons not important to this blog, I was not allowed to drink alcohol in Italy. When our Italian tour guide saw that the bottle of wine at my table had not been touched one night at dinner, he was offended. My friends and I had offended someone because we were not drinking the wine provided for us, something that is a big part of their culture and everyday lives. This is a scenario that I would have never come upon in America. A major difference in Italy having no drinking age and a drinking age of 21 in America is that in Italy, it is not as abused as it is here in America. In Italy, drinking is normal and education about alcohol is taught in the homes and at an early age, which prevents alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse in America is a significant problem and I think one of the reasons is due to the drinking age of 21. Alcohol has become a “forbidden fruit.” The more you tell people they cannot have something, the more they will want it. Alcohol is not forbidden in Italy which generally does not create a problem.
Should America not have a drinking age? The answer to this question will definitely vary, as there are many different opinions on this subject. Drinking alcohol is a part of many societies, including America. It is unrealistic to pretend that the youth in America will grow up in a world of abstinence. If America was to suddenly change the minimal drinking age law to no drinking age, things would start out badly. Alcohol would be abused and many deaths would result, so during my generation, I do not think this would be a good idea because it would be a culture change. Does a person under the age of 21 not being able to drink alcohol have an affect on our society? I think so, and I experienced that first hand while being in a country with no drinking age. I think it is wise to “drink as the Romans do.” Having a glass of wine at dinner would be different to us Americans under the age of 21, but it could be something beneficial and new to our culture, especially if we go about it in the way people do in Italy.
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I believe that if it is custom, you should be allowed to drink in a foreign country. If it is illegal in a country, it is advised you don't do it, at least in public or as a danger to others.
ReplyDeleteDrinking in moderation has always been a good thing. It's when people have no self control and abuse the substance when things go awry. Maybe if all people could be trusted there wouldn't be a problem, but sadly of course, there is one.
ReplyDeleteI think that people overdo things like drinking when there are stricter rules. It is human nature to test rules and having an unreasonable drinking age only makes it harder to defend.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Oates. The more people say we can't, the more we want to.
ReplyDeleteI think that even if drinking was legal in the United States teens would still abuse alcohol.
ReplyDeleteShahid Ali...you are oblivious to the world. Alcohol abusers are not commonly teens they are adults who can legally drink! If alcohol was present at meals throughout life it wouldnt be a big deal at all. But no instead we are guarded from it. Which creates problems come college when we are exposed to it and so on...
ReplyDeletei think our country needs to let kids drink at younger ages. this way we can teach them how to become acustomed to a regular drinking amount in proper proportions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Oates and Rand. We should be allowed to drink in a foreign country if it is custom, but if there are laws against drinking, then we must obey it. Good post.
ReplyDeleteon the flip side, most countries with liberal drinking ages have higher driving ages... id personally rather have my car that wine at every meal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Crane, I would rather drive than drink, but at the same time i think it would be smart to get rid of the drinking age. In the long run it would be for the better, people may actually learn to control their drinking and not be stupid to car surf or even drive drunk at all!
ReplyDeleteI think we should at least lower the drinking age to 18...and if in Rome we should be able to drink so our tour guide coughVictoriocough doesn't get fussy about it.
ReplyDeleteDrinking in moderation is of course fine, but everyone thinks that drinking is so bad.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hejinian and Crane. I would prefer be able to drive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this post. Had American established a younger drinking age from the beginning, we would not have nearly as many alcohol related deaths or accidents.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! I think we should drink as the Romans do and have our drinking and driving laws more strict.
ReplyDeletegood post! the laws on drinking are crazy different all over these great nations! what's that all about?
ReplyDeleteOur laws as they are are almost too far gone to change them now. There would be (Literally) chaos in the streets if you lowered the drinking age. School truancy rates would raise, and most likely many would get sick just because they could finally drink legally.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Longfellow. I mean yes it would be really nice to have that drinking age lowered, but it is FAR to into the world to change it now.
ReplyDeleteI think having no drinking age would be better.
ReplyDeleteIts too late to change the drinking age now. Too many people would abuse it.
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