Drinking Age?

[MoonOwl]

I should also say that due to my ummm... attributes, I was being served in bars when I was 16. Back then our drinking age was 18 so it wasn't much of a stretch and they weren't big on carding back then. As long as you didn't get that deer-in-the-headlights look when they asked you what you wanted you were in there.

 

[retro]

I wish the poll was public so we'd know who thinks that alcohol should be outlawed >.>

 

[HottyToddyChick]

I say 21+.

I started at 18, and my entire attitude toward alcohol changed somewhere around 21. I don't know if that's because I'd been drinking or if there's some magic switch that got flipped. Or if I'd just got so wasted off everything available that the smell of just about everything makes me nauseous now. But the older I get, the younger 18 seems, and the most immature I was at the age. Oh, and foolish!

 

[MoonOwl]

I wish the poll was public so we'd know who thinks that alcohol should be outlawed >.>

It is. Click on the Number.

Tho, he's probably kidding?

 

[HottyToddyChick]

It is. Click on the Number.

Tho, he's probably kidding?

That was my thought. Just to be the odd man out?

 

[retro]

It is. Click on the Number.

Tho, he's probably kidding?

:24:

the links being the same color as black text always throws me off -.-

 

[dkwrtw]

I only make public polls, too many people vote in polls but are too afraid to actually post their thoughts, this way they can't hide behind anonymity.

 

[Tuffdisc]

Personally would love to see my country's age limit to come down to 16. But can't see the point of that, since I can't turn back time to when I was 16 :24:

 

[edgray]

France is a good model for this. And Spain. In both countries, where they have far fewer alcohol related problems than say, the UK and US, it's not uncommon for children to enjoy a glass of wine with the parents, or a beer with food. People in these countries grow up with a very sensible attitude to alcohol, and enjoy it rather than abuse it.

So I think from birth for consumption. 18 I think is a good age to be able to purchase the stuff, once you're an adult.

 

[Peter Parka]

Think this question is a bit confusing. 2 different ages for actually drinking it at home with adult supervision and buying it. I believe the age limit for actually drinking it is 5 in this country though I see no reason why responsible parents cant give their even younger kids a tiny little bit every now and then. I voted from birth.

 

[Zorak]

France is a good model for this. And Spain. In both countries, where they have far fewer alcohol related problems than say, the UK and US, it's not uncommon for children to enjoy a glass of wine with the parents, or a beer with food. People in these countries grow up with a very sensible attitude to alcohol, and enjoy it rather than abuse it.

So I think from birth for consumption. 18 I think is a good age to be able to purchase the stuff, once you're an adult.

I don't think exposure to alcohol has that much to do with "binge culture"
In my opinion, I think it has more to do with the long and hard working week. It's a fact that Briton's work harder and longer than anyone else in Europe (I think we're the only European country that opted out of the 35-hour working week EU directive), so is it any surprise that come the weekend, people want to let off a little steam?

 

[Tuffdisc]

I don't think exposure to alcohol has that much to do with "binge culture"
In my opinion, I think it has more to do with the long and hard working week. It's a fact that Briton's work harder and longer than anyone else in Europe (I think we're the only European country that opted out of the 35-hour working week EU directive), so is it any surprise that come the weekend, people want to let off a little steam?

I can understand the longer working week if it was like 20 hours difference, but a pittance of 5 hours extra isn't much of an excuse. Some of the youths these days expect to get paid to do nothing, its no wonder why they binge drink, and this 'macho' image if they drink more than their mates scenario makes me sick.

I could understand a person who was self-employed making excuses about a long working week, then going to the pub to get slaughtered with drink, but I don't think they do

 

[Kyle B]

If the government expects you to risk your life for it at 18, then they should allow people to drink at 18, simple as that in my opinion.

 

[Thornless]

Here it's 18. Back home it 19... Both work.. If you are old enough to be considered an adult by law.. then you can make your own choices.

:homo:

 

[dkwrtw]

Think this question is a bit confusing. 2 different ages for actually drinking it at home with adult supervision and buying it. I believe the age limit for actually drinking it is 5 in this country though I see no reason why responsible parents cant give their even younger kids a tiny little bit every now and then. I voted from birth.

I think it's similar here in the US, you have to be 21 to buy it, but at home under the supervision of your parents you are allowed to consume alcohol at a much younger age, I'm not sure what that age is though.

 

[Thornless]

I think it's similar here in the US, you have to be 21 to buy it, but at home under the supervision of your parents you are allowed to consume alcohol at a much younger age, I'm not sure what that age is though.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 states that revenue will be withheld from states that allow the purchase of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21. Prior to the effective date of that Act, the drinking age varied from state to state. Some states do not allow those under the legal drinking age to be present in liquor stores or in bars (usually, the difference between a bar and a restaurant is whether food is being served). Contrary to popular belief, since the act went into law, few states specifically prohibit minors and young adults from consuming alcohol in private settings. As of January 1, 2007, 14 states and the District of Columbia ban underage consumption outright, 19 states do not specifically ban underage consumption, and an additional 17 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage consumption laws.

Federal law explicitly provides for religious, medical, employment and private club possession exceptions; as of 2005, 31 states have family member and/or location exceptions to their underage possession laws. However, non-alcoholic beer in many (but not all) states, such as Idaho, Texas, and Maryland, is considered legal for minors (those under the age of 21).[14]
By a judge's ruling, South Carolina appears to allow the possession and consumption of alcohol by those 18 to 20 years of age,[15] though a circuit court judge said otherwise.

Source.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age

Can't find which 17 states...

 

[Zorak]

I can understand the longer working week if it was like 20 hours difference, but a pittance of 5 hours extra isn't much of an excuse. Some of the youths these days expect to get paid to do nothing, its no wonder why they binge drink, and this 'macho' image if they drink more than their mates scenario makes me sick.

I could understand a person who was self-employed making excuses about a long working week, then going to the pub to get slaughtered with drink, but I don't think they do

You're mistaken if you think binge drinking is some new phenomenon, it's as old as the hills.
The difference is about 13 hours on average by the way.

 

[edgray]

I don't think exposure to alcohol has that much to do with "binge culture"
In my opinion, I think it has more to do with the long and hard working week. It's a fact that Briton's work harder and longer than anyone else in Europe (I think we're the only European country that opted out of the 35-hour working week EU directive), so is it any surprise that come the weekend, people want to let off a little steam?

That's not true at all, we work the same hours in Spain as you do in the UK. For far less money too. FAR FAR less money.

It's a complete myth that Britons all work harder and longer. France's productivity is higher for example, though they work less hours, maybe 1 less a day. They're just working smarter than Britons.

I've worked much harder and much longer with fewer paid holidays in Spain than the UK. The standard working day in Spain is 8 - 9 hours, just like the UK. We generally don't get paid overtime here either, even though it is expected of you, just as in the UK.

The working conditions are pretty comparable in most European countries. Britain comes out very average on various working hours and workload statistics.

The whole "we Britons work harder than everyone else" is more to do with the bizarrely masochistic outlook Briton's have about adult life. Being stressed in Britain is mostly considered a good thing, it shows you're working and busy and you're all grown up. In France, Spain and most other sensible countries being stressed is considered VERY bad.

So no, nothing to do with work, and everything to do with outlook.

In Britain, alcohol is a method of escape and a stress relief. In France and Spain, alcohol is a beverage to be enjoyed at any time. They drink here for the taste, not for the effect. Brandy in the morning anyone? Yes, that's a common breakfast drink amongst blue-collar adults in Spain. Wine at lunch? Definitely. Beer at work? No problem. Cramming 10 pints down in 3 hours of an evening because of ridiculous licensing hours? No, we'll leave that to the Brits, thank you very much.

Drink is stupidly cheap in Britain too. A pint in Spain is around 3 - 5€ (depending on the drinking hovel you're in) compared to what, 2GBP in Britain. That's probably a big difference too.

There are a lot of factors at play, but attitude towards alcohol is the main one, not working too hard.

 

[Zorak]

My research indicates you can't work more than 40 hours a week in spain. How will you be working 9 hour days? And you get 21 paid vacation days.
Here you can work 48 hours, with special dispensation to work anywhere up to 100-hour weeks.

Edit: Further investigation has led me to the average figure being 36-38 hours a week in Spain.

I guarentee you that changing the attitude to alcohol in this country wouldn't alter anything, people want to go out and get fucked because they've watched their parents and grandparents working like dogs, and now they're working like dogs.

You've said yourself how your area closes down at lunchtime for a Siesta... Yeah, sounds really horrible!

 

[edgray]

My research indicates you can't work more than 40 hours a week in spain. How will you be working 9 hour days? And you get 21 paid vacation days.
Here you can work 48 hours, with special dispensation to work anywhere up to 100-hour weeks.

Can't work more than 40 hours? Says who? Madrid? Brussels? :24: :24:

Dreamsville. In reality, 40 hours per week is the bare minimum here. It's rare to get full contracts here too, they are the cherished jobs, so the 21 days holiday seldom comes to pass.

My last job in the UK I worked 38 hours per week and got 6 weeks holiday a year. And I got paid for every minute of overtime.

My last job in Spain I worked around 50 hours per week and got 3 weeks holiday per year.

Admittedly my last job in Blighty was in 2002, but you get the idea. The point is, work is work and the conditions are almost identical across Europe bar a few lovely places like France.

The working week here in Spain, you have to remember, is 6 days per week too. None of this 5 days nonsense you get in the UK. People are under contract from monday to saturday. It just happens that most people cram the work into 5 days rather than 6. But, your holiday includes a Saturday, then that is a working day taken out of your vacation time.