Why do Americans have a problem with young people drinking alcohol?

Because American kids are stupid, and take things to the extreme. They lose families, jobs, money, homes, and their lives over drinking alcohol. They make it a habit and let it ruin their lives. They aren't capable of social drinking. They drive drunk, killing innocent folks, as well as themselves, and tearing up all sorts of yards, trees, road signs, and stuff, in the name of fun. That is why the age limit is 21, and it is frowned up seriously here in the USA, and I am so glad.

Teens drink here long before they turn 21. As for seriously frowned upon.....it depends on the individual's family and values. You get in more trouble for driving under the influence of alcohol than merely drinking it. The ones who usually get a MIP (Minor in Possession) are the kids whose parents provided the alcohol to begin with and are able to buy their way out of the offense. Yes, it is illegal, but it's very easy to get access to alcohol. I think your parents have taken a very responsible stand. It's better to know what your kids are doing than to have to guess because they're slipping around on you, doing forbidden activities. My parents have a similar philosophy, but their main rule is that I will not drive when I have been drinking. I can respect that, because I have only been driving for about a year. (I'm currently 19...we always had p.o.s. cars and my parents didn't think they were safe for me to drive). I'm the responsible one, who makes sure someone else is in charge of driving if I plan to drink at all. Otherwise, I refrain. Driving is a privilege, and it shouldn't be confused with a right. That being said, I can take alcohol or leave it alone. I can have a good time without vomiting, fake laughs, and alcohol poisoning. There is nothing wrong with drinking responsibly or in celebration. I think parents should be more responsible about when they let their teens drive alone. Just because someone is 16 does not mean that they can capably drive. On the other hand, some 16-year-olds need to drive to employment or because their guardians cannot. One year ago today, my brother's ex-girlfriend (to whom he was still close) was killed in a car accident when her SUV hydroplaned in the rain. Her vehicle was in functioning order; she simply didn't know enough about the driving conditions. It's really pathetic how far our country has regressed since the 19th century. Back then, when you acted like an adult, not when you had reached a certain age,you were treated as such. For some people, this was 9 or 13. For others, they were in their mid-twenties and still acting like children. I have been treated as an equal by my parents since I was around 8 and am included in making major decisions. There was a program proposed a few years ago wherein teens could earn a license to drink at 18 if they could prove that they had stayed clean until that time.

I think that America pick the drinking age to be 21 because you have reponsiblities as you have learned what its like in the real world. I am 20 and i have drank alcohol when i was 17. I dont really know where they came up with that rule.

In america we can start driving at the age of 16. Again i dont know why they picked that age. Americans are just against young people drinking cause of the things that could happen to you. maybe there all just concerned.

I would say that drinking at a young age is more dangerous the driving at a young age.

I'm not America, I'm British like you. And I'm 16.

I think the Americans are right to frown upon kids drinking. I mean, I really can't talk, because I've been drinking since I was 14... But I know I'm one of the lucky ones (and so are you) because I've never had sex/hurt myself/whatever while I was drunk. But I know quite a few people who have. See my question about drinking:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aj...

And alcohol is bad for you anyway, no matter what age you are. I should know, my dad was an alcoholic and now he has liver problems. It's especially dangerous for young people. you don't want to end up having liver failure by the time you're 25.

So basically, I can understand the American's point of view. But at the same time they are a bit over the top. I would say 18 is about the right age to be able to legally drink. It's all about self regulation. Don't go over the top and you'll be fine!

Ps I wish my parents would buy me alcohol like yours! I don't think they're being irresponsible, not if they can trust you to be sensible with it

Actually, teenagers DO have the capacity to understand that drinking and driving is wrong. But out of irresponsibility and poor impulse, they go and do it anyway even when they're told not to just the day before and get someone killed(true story of a guy-he killed his friend in a crash and now has to go speak to schools about his mistakes).

Drinking alcohol in moderation is actually good for you and protects against heart disease. But yes, as said by someone above, people just take it to the extreme. I don't know, they probably think "if a little is good for you, then more is even better" or something. That's not the case and can increase the risk of obesity(with those calories, it's like an extra two meals) cancers and liver problems, and being a danger to yourself and others around you. It's not about age, people are just irresponsible as part of the culture to go partying when drunk and then drive drunk or get raped.

I don't think the whole 21 before you can start drinking is fair at all. First, alot of people under 21, in fact most drink or have drank. There's no use in denying it for some sense of assurance. People can have access to it either way. And secondly, if you can be considered an adult at 18, can vote, can smoke, can be tried as an adult in court, legally move out, can join the military and be given a rifle to kill, then why can't you drink? It's not like people over 21 are all very 100% responsible.

These kind of policies don't work, and it's unfair to some people because there are people below that age limit who came from a family that brought them up well and can be very responsible on their own. They know not to drink, if they do drink, have someone to look out for them and don't drive or get into anyone's car whose driver have drank.

The same goes for the driving age. Are some people bad drivers or irresponsible, yes. But there are many more who are responsible safe drivers and can be trusted. In this country, to do anything you need to drive. It's just part of growing up and independence. It's entirely biased to easily blame teenagers. Whenever someone is killed, the teenager is automatically blamed(and he should if it was his fault, I'm not saying he shouldn't be). But look at all the adults who drive irresponsibly and become a danger to themselves and others. These "mature" and "responsible" adults go in the wrong lane, jump lanes, run stops and red lights, tailgate, cut people off, and go 90-100 on the freeways...And some drive drunk or when they're not supposed to. Just because they're adults they think they have this special "adult license" to do whatever they please and blame those under scrutiny. Oh, and it's not fair to conclude "brain development" when teenagers of any age group have the sharpest motor functions, wit, and reflexes...

I don't understand why anyone would think that a 13 year old drinking is a good thing. I don't care where you are, drinking at 13 is plain out stupid.

In America, it's illegal for kids to drink and if a parent gives them acholol it's illegal and could go to jail for a long time. Just not worth it to me.

In America we are against young people drinking because it's deadly. Yes, deadly. Just the other day three 17 year olds drank and wrapped their car around a tree. The front end was touching the back end. Yeah, real fun. Three families ruined forever over drinking. How could anyone think that's ok?

It happens all the time. Kids drink too much and they die from it, they drink and drive or they drink and have unprotective sex which all can be dead and is certaintly dangerous.

If my child came home drunk underage there'd be a LOT of trouble. They would regret it.

Because here in America they feel you are no responsible enough to handle the effect that drinking can cause. You are not considered an adult until you are 18 that's when you can buy tobacco products but you can't drink until you are 21. With being able to get your license at a young age they don't want you drink too because they know what can happened. There are so many drunk driving accident and they have been by young kids under 21. I think the drinking age use to be 18 but they raised some few years ago! But drink impairs you judgment and they want you to be old enough to handle that! To me drinking is really ridiculous anyways. A few drinks here and there are fine but to get drunk is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo stupid. It just show how much you really can't handle things and it gives people the opportunity to take advantage of you! How stupid is that! Think about it! Its really not fun because you can't remember what happened half the time. I myself have never been drunk I just have been to alot of parties where my friends get drunk and I end up taking care of them in the end. It makes you look truly pathetic! But anyways that is why it is so frowned upon here in America they feel you are not mature enough until you are 21 to handle it! I hope that answered your question. But have fun and enjoy life.

So many teens go to parties just to get drunk. Pretty irresponsible, huh? You can show teens every video out there that shows people who've suffered from drunk drivers and yet they have this attitude that 'it won't happen to me.' The next thing you know they've killed a family on their way to church because they were driving drunk. And even though the drinking age is 21 here, you still have tons of people who are irresponsible while drinking and driving. You see police officers getting arrested for it. And here in the US, if a parent gives a minor alcohol, they can be arrested, unlike where you live. Not long after my son finished school, a classmate of his died from alcohol poisoning. They just don't know when to stop. It's sad and scary.

well pretty much it comes down to American teens are stupid...they don't understand the fact that you don't drink and drive at all (my cousin 6 year old cousin was killed by a 17 year old that was drinking and driving) or you don't drink til you pass out and get alcohol poisoning...some parents are OK w/ their kids drinking at home and only at home or maybe just at home w/ a friends close friends

when my dad was younger you used to be able to buy beer that had maybe 2% alcohol content at the age of 18...but yet some one messed that up for everyone

my family was OK w/ drinking as long as i was being responsible and not driving, or leaving my friends house or the party or was w/ them but they would never ever buy it for me or my friends but w/ my brother and this friends they aren't cuz he is as responsible

as for driving i think that is a problem too getting to many teens in a car all under 18 ....going by car is about the only way to get around the USA unless you live in a big city other wise you can't go any where

Drinking is stupid, no matter what age you are and what country you're from.

People of all ages drink and drive. People of all ages have done something stupid, or said something that they shouldnt have because they were drinking. I despise drinking. It took the life of a friend of mine and landed another friend in prison. Both were "of age" to drink.

If anyone feels the need to drink and alter their mood in someway, you have something missing in your life. Social drinking? What is that? To have a few drinks with friends to loosen up and have a good time? OH guess what? That's altering your mood using alcohol. No one drinks for the hell of it, just because they like the taste. They are drinking for some reason, and really its stupid.

Remember, you don't have to be "drunk" by falling down and acting a fool. Anything that alters your mind is considered drunk.