Finally 21!

[HuggieBaby]

So yesterday was my 21st birthday! Tuesday night at midnight we went out to the bars, it was amazing as I had about 15-20 drinks and only payed for 2 haha. Then last night I got a special, PBR bottles for $1!!

My girlfriend also got me an elmo card that says "WOW you're 3!" lol I guess I finally upgraded from a 2 year old.

Then the best part, I bought myself a case of bambinos and am really excited to take advantage of those

HuggieBaby

[DL88]

Congrats and Happy belated Birthday!

[ppbenn]

Sweet time for some beer. I will have one because it's your 21st.

[storzech]

To really know how good it feels now you just have to buy a house and marry your girlfriend.

[BabyLex]

Congratulations! Happy 3yo Bday! I hope you're enjoying the traditional change from one kind of bottle to another and then back again. mmm.

Celebrate well!

--Lex

[toddmdl]

Fuck American laws that make you wait until you're 21 just to drink legally haha. Anyway happy belated birthday!

[DL88]

Fuck American laws that make you wait until you're 21 just to drink legally haha.

Ya but ask yourself honestly, if you were legally able to drink at 16 or 18 would you be alive right now lol? The laws are like that because we find it socially acceptable, most anyways, to drink and it would be out of control. In Germany, it isn't socially acceptable to get drunk and stuff like that therefore the kids are much more responsible and they are able to drink at 16. It is also part of the fabric of their culture.

[AutieAB]

Ya but ask yourself honestly, if you were legally able to drink at 16 or 18 would you be alive right now lol? The laws are like that because we find it socially acceptable, most anyways, to drink and it would be out of control. In Germany, it isn't socially acceptable to get drunk and stuff like that therefore the kids are much more responsible and they are able to drink at 16. It is also part of the fabric of their culture.

I had my first legal drink on my 18th birthday and I'm still here

One thing I've learned in my relatively short time in the USA is that alcohol is a thorny issue. Sunday sale bans, laws that state you cannot carry it out of a shop without a bag, requirements to show ID whether you're 21 or 121, etc, etc... I don't entirely understand why it's such an issue to be honest. Alcohol only causes problems for the tiny minority who abuse it but yet it's often treated almost with a level of shame/disgust, which I find odd, TBH...

The minimum age for legal possession of alcohol is 18 in most countries. That seems to me to be a reasonable compromise between appropriate restrictions to keep alcohol out of kid's hands and allowing adults to do what they choose. In the USA (most states, at least) 18 year-olds are considered adults and can vote, take out a mortgage, possess non-handgun firearms (!) and enjoy all the other perks of adulthood so why are they not considered responsible enough to enjoy an ice-cold beer on a hot, sunny day?

[hidden]

congrats! 45 days till my 21 bday.

[toddmdl]

Ya but ask yourself honestly, if you were legally able to drink at 16 or 18 would you be alive right now lol? The laws are like that because we find it socially acceptable, most anyways, to drink and it would be out of control. In Germany, it isn't socially acceptable to get drunk and stuff like that therefore the kids are much more responsible and they are able to drink at 16. It is also part of the fabric of their culture.

I would still be alive today because I'm alive right now. The laws make no sense, I've been drinking occasionally since I was 14 and all of my older siblings started around that time as well. None of us are alcoholics and I'd have to work very hard to be one lol. There are stores that sold and still sell to minors so that makes the law worthless and the simple fact that if you want it that badly you can just ask someone that's 21 to get it so I don't know how the law works very well anyway and I don't know why you'd have any law on the books that doesn't work.

[leafy kille]

hmm no rantings here, tho i am tempted!

happy belated birthday

[polyzoidb]

I had my first legal drink on my 18th birthday and I'm still here

One thing I've learned in my relatively short time in the USA is that alcohol is a thorny issue. Sunday sale bans, laws that state you cannot carry it out of a shop without a bag, requirements to show ID whether you're 21 or 121, etc, etc... I don't entirely understand why it's such an issue to be honest. Alcohol only causes problems for the tiny minority who abuse it but yet it's often treated almost with a level of shame/disgust, which I find odd, TBH...

The minimum age for legal possession of alcohol is 18 in most countries. That seems to me to be a reasonable compromise between appropriate restrictions to keep alcohol out of kid's hands and allowing adults to do what they choose. In the USA (most states, at least) 18 year-olds are considered adults and can vote, take out a mortgage, possess non-handgun firearms (!) and enjoy all the other perks of adulthood so why are they not considered responsible enough to enjoy an ice-cold beer on a hot, sunny day?

Aye, that is my thought exactly. I just turned 21, living here in the US, but I've been drinking for a few years because as long as I don't abuse it, I personally found it fine to drink, sure I'll get drunk, but I make sure I'm around those that don't abuse alcohol as well and just have a good time. If one is legally allowed to smoke tobacco in the US, vote, etc(the list goes on and on) when you turn 18, just let the damn kid drink as well. I'm more scared of terrible drivers than a kid 2 years underage drinking.

Happy berf day btw.

[DL88]

I'm with Square Duck on this one, I believe the driving age needs to be raised to eighter 18 or 21 as well. Looking back seriously, I really was no where near mature enough to be driving, though I was which scares the crap out of me. If you look back and can say that you were mature and bla bla at 16, you need a reality check.

I must be honest I have a friend who has a cousin; this kid was 15, his mom bought him a brand new Ford F250, and let him drive as much as he wanted at 15 when he only had his permit and no prior driving experience. This scares the crap out of me because the kid has a mentality of an 8 year old, is hot tempered, and he is driving this thing on the streets with that big ass truck. He is 16 now but about 8 months ago he wanted to fight me over a game of tennis (playing with my friend Pete, his cousin); I'm a 20 year old (almost 21), I've grown up in South Florida, I weighed 280, and practice martial arts. The weekend before he hit his head on a pole ( ) and had a concussion. I told him to piss off and let his parent's know about the way he was acting

There is no way to possibly defend this kid and it seems like almost all the kids are like this now.

That's just my view about the driving age.

[Guest Pizaz]

Congrats! Happy birthday.

[gweg]

I'm with Square Duck on this one, I believe the driving age needs to be raised to eighter 18 or 21 as well. Looking back seriously, I really was no where near mature enough to be driving, though I was which scares the crap out of me. If you look back and can say that you were mature and bla bla at 16, you need a reality check.

the problem with this feeling is that it has no bearing in the real world. In the west we have kids needing to go to school, and/or seminary before school, work evenings and afternoons also. Most of these kids are long distances from their schools and jobs and are very capable drivers when taught by a responsible person. They are driving at 14 here with supervision and doing well in their learning process. By the time they drive out on the freeways they actually drive better than most east coast drivers because they learn to respect the other drivers on the road and not demand to "own" the thing.

Most major accidents out here are caused by drivers falling asleep (drunk or sober) or inattentive drivers at to high a speed.

If you teach your kids respect for others... then when and how to drive won't be an age issue.

Also maturity is not an age issue as maturity comes from individual learning and comprehending.

it is sad that our society has all this bogus age issues for anything.

Responsibility is the real issue and not age!

[guitar_a_goo_goo_ga]

While I love alcohol consumption I do not wish to get into a debate at the moment about the US drinking age. Personally I think it should be lowered to 18 or 19 because at that age (and younger) half the fun of drinking was because it was illegal. In my late teens my friends and I would commence "Operation Take a Few" at parties our parents would sometimes throw. The mission was to take beers from the cooler and sneak it to a hiding spot for later consumption between the few of us. Now that it's legal for me to drink I still do so, hell I write this with a beer by my side, however the fun young novelty wore off. A higher drinking age romanticises the act of drinking, the same goes for Cuban cigars. They are no better than Puerto Rician cigars or Jamaican cigars but the mere fact that they are illegal makes them that much better. As with all drugs (anything for that matter, cars, jobs, kids) there are those who are irresponsible and cannot handle liquor properly. That is not a reason to keep it's legality out of reach for a few more years.

[SoCalAB]

Congrats!!! I remember it took forever for me to turn 21

Now in my fifties I can relate to the words of a Pink Floyd song.

You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today

And then one day you find ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

Live Long and Stay Pampered

SoCalAB

So yesterday was my 21st birthday! Tuesday night at midnight we went out to the bars, it was amazing as I had about 15-20 drinks and only payed for 2 haha. Then last night I got a special, PBR bottles for $1!!

My girlfriend also got me an elmo card that says "WOW you're 3!" lol I guess I finally upgraded from a 2 year old.

Then the best part, I bought myself a case of bambinos and am really excited to take advantage of those

HuggieBaby

[guitar_a_goo_goo_ga]

if you 2 are of that age then it 18 was the age of legal drinking for you 2.

21? wtf? 21!

1984 was the year the age was raised to 21

[Dubious]

age to buy wine: 18

age to buy strong alcohols (18+% or so): 20

age to buy the strongest rifle u can find: 16 (no real reqs)

age to buy a simple pistol: 21 and u need to be a active member of a pistol club for 6 months

age to drive anything: 18

[guitar_a_goo_goo_ga]

locally for me:

15: drivers permit

18: drivers licence, tobacco products, lottery tickets, porno, shotguns, rifles, join the army

21: booze, hand guns, carry conceal weapons permit.

25: cheeper drivers insurance

40: over the hill jokes

[DL88]

By the time they drive out on the freeways they actually drive better than most east coast drivers because they learn to respect the other drivers on the road and not demand to "own" the thing.

Oh no you di-en't...EAST SIIEED!

Most major accidents out here are caused by drivers falling asleep (drunk or sober) or inattentive drivers at to high a speed.

Responsibility is the real issue and not age!

Keyword is inattentive and most kids are very easily distracted. Responsibility and maturity go hand in hand and 16 year olds don't have a lot of it especially now.

People die ever year! Now on a serious note, millions of teens die every year in accidents that could have easily been avoided by at least 2 more years driving under adult supervision.

[wetvinyl]

On the 21-legal-drinking age: I was a teen in stone-age Indiana, where the drinking age has always been 21 since forever. It didn't stop us from getting alcohol then, and the age-limit still isn't much of a block to a motivated kid today. Hell, I was getting served in liquor stores since I was 19. (Personal story: One place I always got served at finally carded me-- the day before my 21st birthday, when I went in to buy my keg. The guy's expression was a mix of shock, embarrassment and apology-- the cops were cracking down, he couldn't serve me. So, screw it... I drove 20 minutes to the Illinois border. No problem).

Anyway-- I find it ironic that we're willing to ship our 18-years-olds off to war, to catch a bullet in some 3rd-world country halfway around the world... we let them vote... we give them credit cards... we let them marry and raise families... but we don't think they're mature enough to buy a goddam drink. WTF

On raising the driving age to 21: Another great idea trumpeted by people who are already comfortably above 21. Um... lots of kids are working when they're 16-- definitely when they're 18. How about if/when they go off to college? And let's not even consider the simple social/dating/friends reality of having your own car.

Any parents who support raising the driving age to 21 had better have some serious flex-time at their jobs, because they're gonna be out driving their 20-year-old kids everywhere. Jesus-- let's get real, people. (And lemme tell ya-- I drove a cab for many many years, and that fare-bill will get VERY expensive every week, when it's your only way to get around.)

On tying both these issues together: Let's not forget that the reason most states raised their drinking age to 21 was thanks to our dear 40th President, who (at the urging of MADD) basically blackmailed states to raise their drinking-age limits, or they'd lose their federal highway funding.

And, hey... a kid who starts driving at 16 or 17 is gonna be a much better driver in a couple years... but a lot of 70-year-old drivers WON'T be. Now THAT'S some scary-looking shit out there on the highways! Ooooh look-- a farmer's market.

To HuggieBaby: Happy birthday, cat... NOW the grown-up fun starts

wv

[Three Rivers]

Happy Birthday man.

[SoCalAB]

50: Prostate examinations, PSA tests and biopsys!

locally for me:

15: drivers permit

18: drivers licence, tobacco products, lottery tickets, porno, shotguns, rifles, join the army

21: booze, hand guns, carry conceal weapons permit.

25: cheeper drivers insurance

40: over the hill jokes

[gweg]

Oh no you di-en't...EAST SIIEED!

Keyword is inattentive and most kids are very easily distracted. Responsibility and maturity go hand in hand and 16 year olds don't have a lot of it especially now.

People die ever year! Now on a serious note, millions of teens die every year in accidents that could have easily been avoided by at least 2 more years driving under adult supervision.

Well out here 16 yr olds are already driving 10 wheelers and semi's from the farm to market with agricultural products in them.

And on a serious(er) note out east of here millions of 20 yr olds could of been saved from accidents if they had learned to drive responsibly under quality supervision.

sorry LOL but apparently our 16 yr old farm kids are trumPn those florida gator runners... LOL