Camille Paglia: end the drinking age

[Nye Bevan]

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act, passed by Congress 30 years ago this July, is a gross violation of civil liberties and must be repealed. It is absurd and unjust that young Americans can vote, marry, enter contracts, and serve in the military at 18 but cannot buy an alcoholic drink in a bar or restaurant. The age 21 rule sets the United States apart from all advanced Western nations and lumps it with small or repressive countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

Congress was stampeded into this puritanical law by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), who with all good intentions were wrongly intruding into an area of personal choice exactly as did the hymn-singing 19th-century Temperance crusaders, typified by Carrie Nation smashing beer barrels with her hatchet. Temperance fanaticism eventually triumphed and gave us 14 years of Prohibition. That in turn spawned the crime syndicates for booze smuggling, laying the groundwork for today’s global drug trade. Now that marijuana regulations have been liberalized in Colorado, it’s time to strike down this dictatorial national law. Government is not our nanny. The decrease in drunk-driving deaths in recent decades is at least partly attributable to more uniform seat-belt use and a strengthening of DWI penalties. Today, furthermore, there are many other causes of traffic accidents, such as the careless use of cell phones or prescription drugs like Ambien – implicated in the recent trial and acquittal of Kerry Kennedy for driving while impaired.

.......

What this cruel 1984 law did is deprive young people of safe spaces where they could happily drink cheap beer, socialize, chat, and flirt in a free but controlled public environment. Hence in the 1980s we immediately got the scourge of crude binge drinking at campus fraternity keg parties, cut off from the adult world. Women in that boorish free-for-all were suddenly fighting off date rape. Club drugs — Ecstasy, methamphetamine, ketamine (a veterinary tranquilizer) — surged at raves for teenagers and on the gay male circuit scene.

Alcohol relaxes, facilitates interaction, inspires ideas, and promotes humor and hilarity. Used in moderation, it is quickly flushed from the system, with excess punished by a hangover. But deadening pills, such as today’s massively overprescribed anti-depressants, linger in body and brain and may have unrecognized long-term side effects. Those toxic chemicals, often manufactured by shadowy firms abroad, have been worrisomely present in a recent uptick of unexplained suicides and massacres. Half of the urban professional class in the U.S. seems doped on meds these days.

http://time.com/72546/drinking-age-alcohol-repeal/

I agree with this 100%.

[LittleBlue]

1. Agreed, the law is silly. It's 18 in the UK

and 16 if they order wine or beer with a meal.

Is their society falling apart? No.

[Kelvin Mace]

2. I go way further

Lower the "age of consent" (drinking, smoking, driving, sex, marriage, contracts, etc) to the same age that a child can be tried as an adult. If you can go to adult prison, then you can do adult things.

One exception: The minimum age for military service should be raised to 35. By that age, you have a better BS detector and possibly a family, so you are less inclined to vote for warmongering politicians.

Oh yeah, and then bring back the draft.

[msanthrope]

5. Great....the age of consent is 12? That's just nasty. nt

[nomorenomore08]

8. Of course not. But we shouldn't be charging 12-year-olds as adults either. n/t

[msanthrope]

28. We generally do not. The vast majority of cases involving 12 year olds being charged as an adult

tend to be the most serious of crimes--like murder. The justice system is pretty much at a loss for what to do with those types of defendants.

[BainsBane]

30. Lowering the age of consent isn't for the benefit of children

It is for adults who want to have sex with children. Minors can still have sex with other minors. Being tried as an adult is a travesty of our justice system, but don't buy into this libertine bullshit aimed that gives sexual predators access to younger and younger prey.

[nomorenomore08]

34. I thought I just said they were both terrible ideas. n/t

[stevenleser]

23. I wouldn't be in favor of 12 either. But there is something to be said for a consistent

age at which we recognize a person's complete agency. 12 is definitely not it, and 18 is probably too old. I am guessing most people would agree at 16 or 17.

[msanthrope]

35. We have an age for complete agency--21 if you include drinking. 18 for pretty much everything else.

I'd be uncomfortable with a 16 year old making a contract with Visa.

[stevenleser]

37. Except if you commit a serious crime, then boom, instant 12-13-14-15 year old adult.

I just think that if you are assumed not to be bright enough to vote, drink, etc., how can you be assumed to have enough agency to completely understand the ramifications of the commission of a serious crime?

The age is going to be somewhere in the 16-21 range, I'm less concerned with where it falls in there than having it consistently applied.

Under that age, whatever it is, you cannot consent to sex, you cannot be charged with a crime as an adult, and you cannot drink or join the military, etc.

[msanthrope]

46. It's not as easy as that....the waiver process is not "instant" and you do get a hearing

that does determine your agency based on several factors. Just because a prosecutor wishes to charge you as an adult, it doesn't mean he can. And in states where the nature of the crime calls for an adult charge, you have the option of transfer.

I get what you are saying. But I also reject the notion that all rights and privileges are equal. Voting is a more fundamental right than drinking--thus the lower age.

[stevenleser]

47. I hear you. It would be interesting to see the stats on how many requests to try as adult were ok'd

versus those rejected. For some reason, every instance I can remember was approved. It seems like the difficulty of indicting someone, i.e. the old joke you can indict a ham sandwich it's so easy.

I'm more than willing to be proven incorrect on that if someone has the data.

[msanthrope]

48. I wonder if the FBI kept stats. I ran about 50/50 when I did juvie justice. nt

[Kelvin Mace]

29. In some states, yes

but that is my point. We should not be trying children as "adults". To me, an adults is a person who has gained all rights and responsibilities. Can't vote? You are not an adult. Can't drink, you are not an adult. Can't join the army? Then you are not an adult.

If you are not an adult, then you should not be sent to adult prison just to assuage the vindictive temperament of a prosecutor.

[stevenleser]

41. You and I are on the same page here. nt

[BainsBane]

31. Abolishing the age of consent only benefits

pedophiles and rapists. Minors can still have sex with other minors. I don't believe you thought that point through carefully. (At least I hope you haven't).

[Kelvin Mace]

39. Missing the point

which was using absurdity that we try children as adults and put them in adult jails. We have had children facing the death penalty in times past.

Also, where did I say "abolish" the age of consent? I advocated lowering it to the same age that society has stipulated a child can be tried as an adult. If you can be tried as an adult, then you are an adult. If you cannot be tried as an adult, you are a child.

I am advocating for logic here.

[BainsBane]

49. You are not using logic

You imagine the age of consent to be some sort of "right" for children. How can you possibly believe this? It's a right for adults to have legal access to children. You might as well say lower the age at which child labor laws apply. It only increases exploitation.

Children should not be prosecuted as adults, but I object to your throwing everything else in there. It already is exceedingly difficult to bring child rapists to justice. To propose measures that would make that even more difficult is irresponsible.

[Kelvin Mace]

56. The age of consent is a legal demarcation

arbitrarily set for archaic reasons.

You do understand that I am not actually advocating this as law, I am using absurdity to make a point.

[bigwillq]

3. I think the legal age should be 18 (nt)

[nomorenomore08]

9. Either lower the drinking age to 18, or increase the age of military enlistment to 21.

Just do one or the other, to be consistent.

[bigwillq]

10. I think both drinking age and age of military enlistment

should be 18. But I agree with your point.

[immoderate]

4. This is congruent with the Libertarian policies on "substances."

Jus' sayin'

--imm

[nomorenomore08]

11. And that's one of the few things I totally agree with them on. n/t

[CBGLuthier]

6. I remember when it was 18 for women and 21 for men in Oklahoma

That sure encouraged some inappropriate behavior. When it was pointed out how blatantly unconstitutional this was they raised it to 21.

[Aerows]

13. If you can enlist

and put your life on the line for the US, you should be able to damn well have a beer after a hard day in Afghanistan.

[Squinch]

7. I disagree with this. Higher drinking ages save lives:

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/02/24/study-the-debate-is-over-higher-drinking-age-saves-lives

Those 18-21 year old's frontal lobes just aren't very well developed yet, and they don't have good judgment.

[Aerows]

12. If you can vote

and join the Armed Services (thereby putting your life on the line), I'd say your frontal lobe is developed enough to be allowed an alcoholic beverage.

It's either or.

[Squinch]

14. I agree that it should be either or, but I think the older age should be used. What 18 year old

actually understands what he or she is doing when they enlist?

[Aerows]

20. I understand where you are coming from

and I agree with you in that respect, but it doesn't change the fact that you can elect to die in a foreign land without ever tasting a good wine or a good beer.

[Squinch]

22. Yes. And we should be consistent. But for me, that would optimally be raising the age of the draft

rather than lowering the drinking age.

[Aerows]

25. No arguments from me. n/t

[DURHAM D]

26. What draft?

[qazplm]

15. well to be honest then

I think it wiser to raise everything to 21 than lower everything to 18.

[Aerows]

19. Again, if you can lay your life on the line

I don't see why you can't enjoy a beer or two before you die.

[The Straight Story]

16. I chalk it up to choice. Your body, your choice

Or should we step in and regulate choices people make?

The way it is now also adds to the court system, jails, police time and effort, etc and yet pretty much anyone over the 18 can get alcohol anytime they want it anyway.

[B2G]

17. It doesn't stop them from drinking

It just criminalizes it.

[Squinch]

18. But statistically, it does keep more people alive, even though it is true it doesn't stop them.

[Nye Bevan]

59. How does it "keep people alive" if it doesn't stop them drinking? (nt)

[Squinch]

60. See my link above. Or google "higher drinking age saves lives."

[Nye Bevan]

62. If we lower the drinking age to 18, but keep the allowed BAC at zero for 18 to 20 year old drivers,

it seems that the problem of increased traffic deaths from lowering the drinking age would be eliminated or greatly reduced.

[Squinch]

63. That is another way to do it. But I still don't think kids should be able to enlist at 18.

[tritsofme]

24. So Prohibition must have saved countless lives!

[Squinch]

58. This is more about the maturity of the drinker than the evils of alcohol.

You wouldn't argue for making the drinking age 15, right? I am just extending that concept to an age where, statistically, it is a little safer for people to drink.

And it's not only the 18 year olds who die more frequently when the drinking age is 18. It's the people they plow their cars into as well.

[dilby]

44. You can probably find charts that shows Prohibition saved lives too.

If those frontal lobes are developed enough to be used as cannon fodder, vote, get married, go to prison, get a life sentence, get sentenced to death then they are developed enough to have a beer.

Also the UK seems to be doing just fine with their drinking age at 18.

[tritsofme]

21. If we trust them to fight and die for their country, they must

be able to enjoy a cold beer. I haven't heard an argument saying otherwise that wasn't sanctimonious BS.

[LittleBlue]

27. Obviously little Billy can fully appreciate dying in battle and life imprisonment

but not godless drinking.

[BainsBane]

32. Firstly, there was a time when people would have been ashamed to site a RWer like Camile Paglia

Secondly, there may not be enough deaths from underage drinking and driving to suit you, but I think we've got that covered.

Libertarianism is not liberalism. In fact it is the opposite of it.

Minors don't need alcohol to promote humor and hilarity. Paglia is projecting her own lack of humor on to the nation's children.

[msanthrope]

40. I raise an eye at a college professor who wants to lower the drinking age. I'm serious.....

and her transphobia's pretty gross.

[noiretextatique]

54. she is gross period

Horrid woman.

[sendero]

36. Paglia...

.. reminds me of no one so much as Newt Gingrich. The kind of person who has all kinds of frankly wack ideas but imagines themselves (and have managed to convince a number of dolts) that they are big thinkers ahead of everyone else.

Just my opinion.

[msanthrope]

42. She blamed Bill Clinton for 9/11. Great thinker, indeed. nt

[Tom Ripley]

50. I think your opinion is spot on.

[Drunken Irishman]

38. Drop it to 18 at least.

[bpj62]

43. Vietnam War

The voting age was 21 until the 26th amendment was passed in the 60s. There is no national law regarding the lawful age to drink. Congress merely beat the States over the head with the loss of Federal Highway Funds if they did not raise the drinking age back up to 21. As a young adult during that time I was fortunate that I turned both 18 and 21 before all of the changes occurred. As the father of 3 children I am deeply concerned over the fact that most of these children go off to college without any idea about both the responsibilities of drinking as well as the danger signs to look for. I have told my daughter about alcohol and I have said that once she turns 18 she can drink in my house because I feel that she is an adult at that point. I was once told that I would be committing child abuse by letting my daughter drink in my home once she turned 18. MADD started out with good intentions but it quickly morphed into this organization that help create laws and guidelines that punitively punished teenagers for experimenting with alcohol. Expulsion from school, kicked off of sports teams or other organizations. We have created a whole generation of children that binge drank their way through high school and college and in some cases still drink that way. Alcohol is a responsibility and should be treated that way. No one listens to the valid argument about serving your country or about being executed for a crime once you are 18.

[joeybee12]

45. It should be repealed, but she is so full of sh*t is nauseating...

Ecstasy came about because of the law? Nice way to pull shit out of your a** to prove a point...there's no way you can tie the two, she just decided in her tiny little mind that there's a correlation, when there isn't...it's idiots like her why a repeal will never be taken seriously...oh, and promotes ideas? You get make a case for drugs doing that, but not alcohol...she's a prime example of an idiot who gets too much airtime.

[dhill926]

52. pretty much how I read it too….

[joeybee12]

53. I really can't stand her...

Her and Andrew Sullivan should just go away!

I mean, with friends like that, who needs enemies!

[Paladin]

51. If Paglia's peddling it, I'm going to have a hard time buying it..... (nt)

[MADem]

55. You could always go the OTHER way...raise the enlistment, contracts, and marriage age to 21~!

They say a child's brain isn't fully formed until they're 26 or so...so why not? Keep 'em kids for just a bit longer...Ye Olde Extended Adolescence!

It's the truth, anyway--as we live longer, this "teen years" moment in time is getting longer. A century ago, there were no "teen years." You finished fourth grade and went to the factory if you were poor. You finished sixth or eighth grade and went to the factory if you were working class.

Tangential question:

Is this writer, once famous for more avante garde topics, being paid to write this by alcoholic beverage lobbyists?

[WinkyDink]

57. Misleading title (by her). She means "Lower the drinking age."

[struggle4progress]

64. An alternative might be to raise the driving age: a significant fraction of fatal crashes

involve an alcohol-impaired individual aged 24 or younger

... Among drivers with BAC levels of 0.08 % or higher involved in fatal crashes in 2010, more than one out of every 3 were between 21 and 24 years of age ...
Impaired Driving: Get the Facts

... 10 percent of licensed drivers are under 21, yet they are responsible for 17 percent of fatal alcohol-related crashes ...
Binge drinking and no seat belts: Underage drinkers are a major road hazard

[Nye Bevan]

65. If the drinking age was lowered to 18, I would keep the allowed BAC at zero for under-21 drivers.

And anyone under 21 found driving with any measurable alcohol in their system would lose their license until age 21.