Underage Thunder Player, James Harden

[OU Adonis]

MikeOKC - all I was trying to point out is that using the adult age for one activity should have no impact on the adult age for another activity. They are different activites. I might add that you have to be 25 to rent a car.

The 25 thing for car rental is a car rental rule, not a law (if I recall correctly).

As far as the age to be in the US senate ect, thats a completely different topic all together and as someone has already posted thats spelled out in the constitution.

As the law stands right now, your basically taking out the parents when it comes to educating young adults about being responsible with booze.

[Kerry]

Holy cow - are you guys not getting it?

Many people in this thread said you should be able to drink at 18 because you can join the military at 18. All I am saying is that the two have nothing to do with each other. I then gave some examples of other age restrictions to show how stupid trying compare the two standards is.

Harden shouldn't have been in a bar - he knows he isn't 21. He shouldn't be driving a rental car either because he isn't 25. When he goes to CiCi's Pizza he has to pay the adult price. He can see a rated R movie without his parents, however he can't see a rated X movie. He can't retire and collect Social Security yet and he is ineligible for Medicare. He can drive a car all by himself. He can't play on the climbing equipment at Chuck E Cheese.

[Jethrol]

Why the correlation between the drinking age and military service? You can be drafted at 18 but you can't run for Congress until you are 25. What is up with that?

Interesting point and good analogy. I'm assuming the age limit for running for Congress is in place because hopefully by 25 the person has gained some wisdom which will help them make more sound decisions than a 21 year old. Seems that this is what's behind the 21 drinking age also in that a 21 year old should be able to make a better decision about when and when not to drink. However, I'm not sure I agree because I've known plenty of really crazy 21 year olds. 21 compared to 18 in decision making capabilities really is specific to the individual and has little to do with age.

The reason I believe that if you're old enough to serve in the military you should be able to drink is because I think society places too great of an emphasis on the benefits of forced prohibition. Yes age limits are forced prohibition IMO. Prohibition doesn't work....it never has and never will. All it does is drive the price up for those people that want to drink but aren't allowed to due to the prohibition. The liquor is still available and people either have to pay more for it or be creative in how they get it.

When I was 18, I would pay a 21 yr old friend to get it for me. My older brothers sometimes would do this for me or bosses at fast food restaurants. If none of them were around, I'd go down to a poorer part of town to a convenience store with an asian and buy it there.....rarely did I ever get carded.....like it only happened once. If none of that worked, time to raid mom and dad's stash. If that didn't work, hang out at a convenience store and offer someone a $20 to pick some up for us.

My point is that it's available if someone wants to drink.

While I agree that the drinking age and military service don't have anything to do with each other, tying it to military service is easier to say than all that I typed above.

I mean I could make the argument that only military people can drink if they're under 21 and I honestly think this should be the case. Why? Because serving in the military benefits society and it carries the potential for HUGE risks. Military service provides other benefits for those that serve and I think think being able to drink is a good benefit and would help increase the number of active duty personnel.

[bombermwc]

It's crazy isn't it....now the rental car thing depends on the company....it's just insurance. 16-25 is the highest risk age....and I can't say I blame the companies that do that.

Mike - I'm not arguing the vailidity of the military age requirement....you're very correct on that front. I'm just saying that if a person is willing to put their life on the line to protect my freedom, then I feel they should be allowed to legally embibe a few cold ones without being hassled about it.

On a personal front, I'd probablly leave the congress thing at 25...as you say, there's a lot of growing up to do in that age. However, I would be hypocritical if I didn't say that the same change really should allow an 18 year old to be elected. If that person can convince voters to vote for him/her, why not let them in office? Perhaps that would put some younger lively and un-corrupted blood in the mix for a change. Enough with the 80 year old farts that have screwed things up for decades.

[OU Adonis]

I think texing while driving should be a bigger concern than kids driving drunk. Texting while driving is 23 more times likely to have an accident vs a person without any distractions.

Its good to see that more States are banning texting while driving.

[bombermwc]

Amen

[Richard at Remax]

Actually you can rent a car if you are under 25. I did it in san diego and in florida, but I had to pay a higher price

[Peach fuzz]

KILL THE SNITCH! for real though what an assclown. Harden def should have known better ( he does but being 20 myself I can tell you he doesnt care outside of personal image). Im just amazed at the attention starved person who thought it was their rightful duty to tell... Dunno why but makes my blood boil GRRRRRR

[mmonroe]

being an adult doesn't impair judgment, getting married (might argue against that, LOL), voting, or joining the military doesn't either.

Alcohol does.