15 Reasons Why Drinking Age Should Be 18

There has been a lot of debate when it comes to the legal drinking age here in US. When it comes to law, there is always an opinion, some are for it and some are against. When it comes to the legal drinking age being 21 we are totally against it. Legal drinking age varies by country. Lets see some of the reasons as to why we think the legal drinking age in US should be 18 and not 21. We will start out with the one that almost everyone against the law seems to talk about.

1

An 18 year old in US has the right to vote, and serve in the military. If an 18 year old can make up their mind as to who the potential leader of the country should be and take a bullet for their country, they should have every right to purchase and drink alcohol.

2

It is usually said that an 18 year old has less tolerance as compared to a 21 year old. Although this might be true, in most cases you don’t really know how much you can handle as long as you try it out. Tolerance doesn’t come with age, tolerance come with realization of responsibility and there are people that are more responsible at 15 than some are at 50.

3

Anyone under 21 sees alcohol as a “forbidden fruit.” The curiosity leads to more people under the age of 21 drinking anyway. If drinking is made legal for the 18 and older, it will serve much better as the curiosity isn’t as high and the fruit isn’t forbidden anymore.

4

When in college most students under the age of 21 can get hold of drink through their seniors. They are not allowed to drink at events where others might be able to drink. This once again makes them want to be a rebel and try out what it is they are being kept away from. They will give it a shot. The fact that they don’t know when they will be able to drink again is the reason most college students tend to get overly drunk when they get a chance. As a result there are problems as serious as deaths.

5

Countries such as Italy, China, Greece are some of the countries where the legal drinking age is lower and they seem to have fewer alcohol related problems. Current law in terms of legal drinking age has caused more alcohol related deaths than there has ever been.

6

When drinking is made legal for anyone under the age of 21 and over 18, drinking takes place in public. It can then be supervised by police, security guards and health workers as well.

7

Colleges and Universities often argue that the legal drinking age should be 18 because outlawing alcohol consumption in colleges for those under 21 is making the problem worse. These colleges and universities say that allowing alcohol consumption legally might help cut down alcohol related deaths in colleges.

8

People under the age of 21 tend to drink more when they get hold of alcohol because of the uncertainty as to when they might be able to drink again.

9

Whether the legal drinking age is 21 or 18, there are going to be problems related to alcohol. And making 21 the legal age to drink doesn’t solve that problem. As a matter of fact, this is one of the reason why we see so many alcohol related deaths among teens. They get their hands on alcohol and get overly intoxicated as they are never sure if they will have access to this forbidden fruit ever again until they are 21.

10

An 18 year old is considered an adult and can be tried in court if he makes false judgement and commits a crime. So an 18 year old is capable of making every other decision as an adult but is incapable of making a decision whether or not they should drink? The 21 year old age limit for alcohol consumption sounds somewhat hypocritical.

11

If you are legal to get married at the age of 18 and end up getting married, you are not allowed to drink in your own wedding? That doesn’t sound right

12

According to a study, 22% of all students under 21 compared to 18% over 21 years of age are heavy drinkers. Among drinkers only, 32% of under age compared to 24% of legal ager are heavy drinkers.

13

If the legal drinking age were to be 18, colleges would be able to regulate alcohol use so students don’t get overly intoxicated. They can be monitored whereas when they are hiding and drinking you can’t really go sniffing their cups or making false accusations.

14

Drinking under the age of 21 is seen by most 18 years and older as a sign of adulthood. They are allowed to do everything else and call themselves an adult and they don’t want to be stopped from being an adult when it comes to drinking.

15

We have tried prohibition legislation twice for controlling irresponsible drinking problems in the past. Once in 1850s and again in the 1920s. These laws were repealed because they could not be enforced and the backlash caused other societal problems. The law didn’t work then and as we all know isn’t working now. It’s time for a change.

Let’s take a look at 4 scenarios. There are 3 people in a family. Dad, mom and son John Doe. Here is a conversation between them :

Scenario 1

Mom : John now that you are out of high school, what do you plan on doing? College?

John : Actually I am thinking of joining the military.

(John is old enough to make a decision and enlist in the army)

Scenario 2

Dad : Hey John, you are 19 years old. Don’t you think its time you get an apartment or something?

John Doe : Yeah, I am looking.

(John is an adult and families have a conceived notion that once kids are over 18, they should move on with their own lives and get on their foot)

Scenario 3

John : Hey mom, dad. I have been seeing this girl for 4 years and I think I want to marry her.

Mom : You can’t marry now. You are only 19!

John Doe : I would hate to go against your wish but I am an adult and I have the right to marry if I want. Besides she is pregnant.

(John is an adult and yes he does have the right to marry and make that decision)

Scenario 4

Mom : John, I don’t appreciate you drinking before you are 21.

(Drunk) John Doe : Whatever mom. I am an adult and I am going to do whatever I want.

(John is a rebel and feels his adulthood is in stake by not having the opportunity to make his own decision on whether or not he should drink. Result : family tension, underground drinking, drinking problems. This leads to one problem after another and in worst case alcohol related death)

Well, that’s a great law! He is an adult enough to move out, marry against his parents will and yes enlist in the army. But he isn’t old enough to drink? You decide.

Share your thoughts as to what the legal drinking age should be and why…

Feel free to discuss this topic on our forum as well

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note : We have been getting a lot of request on using this for research for school papers. Feel free to do so and please credit cognac.com

Related posts:

1. Legal Drinking Age In Different Countries
2. Drinking Alcohol (in moderation) Is Good For You, Here’s Why
3. 5 Reasons To Try Cognac
4. Beginner’s Guide To Drinking Cognac
5. Words Every Cognac Drinking Person Should Know

193 Responses to “15 Reasons Why Drinking Age Should Be 18”

1. Kieran says:

   December 31, 2009 at 3:56 pm

   I’m 18 and I’m from jolly old England. Here the drinking age is 18 and like you said above “it will stop many underage drinkers” well not really. Here there are kids out drinking at 13-15 then at 16 looking old enough to go clubbing and down town.

   But besides that, it would just make me want it more if the drinking age was another 3 years away….

   One thing I don’t get is… in America, alot of States have quite young driving limit. While here we have to wait while we are 17…..
2. John says:

   December 31, 2009 at 9:24 pm

   You people with friends are pissing the fuck out of me! I rarely went to any parties to binge drink! I hope all you mother piece of shits with friends suck! Yuo faggots!
3. Tom Alciere says:

   January 2, 2010 at 4:43 pm

   State Legislators’ Message To Underage Drinkers:

   1.) To prevent blood borders, the drinking age in every State has to be 21, because that’s the only integer that is equal to itself.

   2.) Drinking alcohol during pregnancy harms the baby, so we impose Prohibition on men under 21 and not on pregnant women 21 and older.

   3.) A tipsy rape victim will be arrested for internal possession if she calls the police, who are there to protect and serve.

   4.) We jail parents who are home supervising your drinking sessions in order to prevent you from holding such sessions.

   5.) A new scientific study published in the New England Journal of Medicine conclusively establishes that the politicians you voted against have a right to impose this law on you.

   6.) Statistical analysis of historical crash data proves that the United States of America ought not to be a free country, with liberty and justice for all, where the citizen decides what to drink, where parents govern their child who still lives in their house, where the punishment for drunk driving is meted out to the drunk drivers.

   7.) Freeways are more important than freedom, — especially when it’s your freedom, not ours — so we sold your freedom to get more highway construction money from Congress, (like a mother selling her daughter for cocaine money,) and we still expect you to respect this law.

   8.) The drinking age saves lives. Of course, we could save a lot more lives, maybe yours, by doing what it takes to eliminate drunk driving, but we’d have to give up driving drunk ourselves, and that’s not fair because we can drive better drunk than teenagers can sober.

   9.) A combination of driving inexperience and alcohol make you a greater danger on the road, whether you drive or not, and that gives us the right to punish you when you drink alcohol, whether you drive or not.

   10.) Don’t drive drunk? We can list some other crimes you never commit, as an excuse to deny liberty to you: murder, rape, assault…

   11.) Everybody who drinks under age is immature and irresponsible because they’re doing something that is illegal, as well it should be, because they’re so immature and irresponsible.

   12.) Liquor corporations have the nerve to advertise their products to you, and we have more respect for their First Amendment right to free speech than we have for your God-given right to drink the beverage of your choice.

   13.) We can’t stop older drunks from freely exercising their right to practice alcoholism, because they hold too much political power, but some of them started as teenagers and never had a chance to quit since then, so we punish you instead.

   14.) You shouldn’t destroy your brain while it is only 95 percent developed. You should wait until it is completely developed and then destroy it, like we did.

   15.) Even though this law is imposed on you by morons who cannot see the obvious flaws in these absurd arguments, it is embellished with a fancy seal, and a Governor years ago scribbled his autograph on it, so you have a sacred duty to obey it.

   Translated by Tom Alciere
   Webmaster, Underage Drinkers Against Drunk Driving
4. Steve says:

   January 3, 2010 at 12:40 am

   John, you’re out of control. You’re making fun of people that have friends. Think about that for a minute. Get off your computer and go make some friends. Or at least try to.
5. Gracie says:

   January 5, 2010 at 10:53 pm

   Reagan “blackmailed” the States way back when. He did this to ensure that if every state does not raise their legal drinking age to 21, then they won’t receive their federal funding for roads and transportation. Utter bullshit. And to those that are saying that lowering the legal drinking age to 18 would only cause even younger kids to want it, you obviously haven’t been in a high school recently. There are freshmen to seniors, all goin’ out and getting shitfaced. This is not about dumbass kids, it’s about adults who want the right to go out and have a beer at a bar in celebration of a promotion, joining the army, a marriage, or having a kid. Oh, and the driving ages are relatively lower the more rural you get, ‘cuz out in the boonies (believe it or not) people still farm, and they depend on their kids to help out. I used to have to drive the family tractor 30 minutes to get to the grandparents’ farm.
6. Ani says:

   January 8, 2010 at 12:24 am

   okay i’m 16 and i don’t think the age should be lowered. yes you cant fight in a war or vote at 18 but if you die in a war thats a good cause, if you die in because of drinking that just stupidity.
7. james says:

   January 8, 2010 at 11:11 am

   drinking should be aloud i get drunk whenever i can but it doesn’t make a shit of difference to my body. i am no dumber than i used to be and i am still growing what is the big problem our parents did it and we do it too
8. Luke says:

   January 8, 2010 at 2:35 pm

   Steve, I agree with you!
   But I am 16 and i don’t have a problem with it being lowered to 18. I don’t even drink but im sure, you know all of those kids that are 18, 19, 20 that do drink and try to do it Sneakily and they do get hurt?? The only reason they get hurt is because they try to sneak around drinking and they try not to get caught and they consume as much alcohol as they can in one night or at one party! So if it was lowered then im sure there would be less teen deaths/injuries of sneaking around with that stuff.
   That’s my take on this.

   Sincerely,

   Luke
9. K Man says:

   January 8, 2010 at 2:39 pm

   John your an idiot
10. bejf says:

    January 10, 2010 at 9:30 am

    in australia the drinking age is 18. but because kids want to be adults faster, they drink sooner. we now have 12/13 year olds drinking. it DOES create health problem. your brain keeps growing until you are in your mid twenties, and drinking alcohol has been proven to shrink your cortex, affect memory loss, etc etc. scientists are also beginning to prove that drinking alcohol regularly can lead to dementia and Alzheimers, or earlier onset of both of these. is drinking to “have fun” really worth that? if you lower the drinking age, kids younger then what you have now will start drinking. do you want to endanger your younger friends too?

    it is also proven that as a kid/teenager alcohol is absorbed into your body a lot faster, but you feel the affects slower. so its harder for younger people to judge when they have had enough.

    so even though i live in australia, i support keeping the age at 21. if i could, i would raise the age here too
11. Curtis says:

    January 12, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    I’m about to turn 18 in 4 months, i do think the drinking age should be lowered, me and my friends drink all the time, and we are responsible enough to cut ourselfs off, our government is used to the oldschool ways where you had to do every little thing your parents asked, this isn’t the 1920’s the young men and women these days are more responsible then their parents were when they were our age.
12. Jerry says:

    January 15, 2010 at 12:49 am

    Well i am already 18 and i am enlisting in the service and have the impression that i should be allowed to go out with buddies to a bar and tip back a few. but this is just my thoughts….. by the way John get a life and some friends because obvisoly you don’t know how to have a good time.
13. Kevin says:

    January 19, 2010 at 2:12 am

    I got a friend that is enlisted right now and whenever he wants to go get some drinks he just shows his military card when they ask for ID. He says he’s only 19, but since he shows the card they let him get drinks. But anyway I’m 17 right now and every party I go to there is drinking. Everybody where I live at either starts in junior high or in high school so the drinking laws are a stupid. Cops don’t even say anything to us. They come to break up a party and they just say to go drink somewhere else. They don’t arrest anybody so they aren’t even upholding the law. These laws don’t mean shit to me anyway cause as long as I got friends with fake ID’s then I’m good. And college is going to be fun as hell cause I’m going to make my experience just like the American Pie movies. So go ahead government, tell us your laws. Nobody gives a shit about them anyway. Like I always say, “It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught.”
14. Iol says:

    January 19, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    Alot of stupid brits drink at like 10-12
15. Mica. says:

    January 22, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    I’m only fifteen years old. And in my english class we are doing debates. Well my debate happens to be, the drinking age. And I’m on the side where drinking should be lowered to the age of eighteen. And I stumbled upon here. I noticed you repeated a lot of things, but I do think that the age requirement should be lowered. I don’t drink, nor do I ever plan on trying it. But! Once you are eighteen, you are legally an adult. You should be able to live like other adults, which should include drinking. I think that you should be allowed to make your own decisions. And it’s your fault, if you decide to drink stupidly. I don’t really know. That is just my input.
16. Eric says:

    January 26, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    Ok so basically here is my take on the situation. When a 16-18 year old high school kid makes the decision to drink, he or she usually has the resources to acquire alcohol regardless of the law. The law only prohibits them from drinking in public (say at a bar). I think the government is out of line and needs to realize that it is not their responsibility to monitor the exact age at which kids start drinking. That responsibility should fall on the parents, and subsequently the kids when they are no longer subject to their parent’s authority (A.K.A. when they turn 18). I also find it ironic that an alcohol company made this site… oh and John is not an idiot he just needs a life
17. Marky Ice says:

    February 3, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    it sould be lowered to 18
    you are saying that kids in countries with the drinking age of 18 start younger at 12 and 13 well here in massachusetts i kno kids that started that early and some even earlier you will never stop underage drinking so why dont you just lower the age to 18 so you can lower all of the binge drinking that is going on. in reality it will lower the alcohol related deaths because it wont be as “cool” to get completely wasted.
18. Emily says:

    February 4, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    I totally agree.

    I am also doing a debate class.

    the issue of 13/10 year olds drinking when the drinking age is lower is a problem, but i think with the right amount of drinking education, this will never be a problem.

    the “Just say no” thing is useless, we just need to be told the pros and cons and be allowed to choose for ourselfs.
19. mjono says:

    February 4, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    i think there shouldn’t be any alcohol so we can all drink chocolate!!!!!! yayayayayay candy.
20. Courtney says:

    February 5, 2010 at 9:47 am

    I think it should be lowered to 13… In Germany (I know this is the United States….) it’s ok for them to drink at 13 (they probaly dont get trashed everyday of their life…) and they have less alcoholics and alcohol related accidents. By the time they ARE 21 or 18, they alredy know how to controll it and by then its old news for them…

    I also think the drinking age should be lowered, I’d be fine with 18…
21. ona says:

    February 5, 2010 at 4:28 pm

    I believe drinkingage should be lowered to 18. at 18 you can go to jail for something illegal, you can take a bullet for this country. the least this country could do is lower the age limit. kids are gonna get alcohol no matter what the law is. and if the law is higher more an more ppl will get caught which will cost the government more money to fine them or put them in jail. honestly this country is amazing but its messed up as well! im doing a speech on why it should be legal at 18… so if you wanna help give some arguments??? thanx guys!!!
22. Paul (Colorado, U.S.) says:

    February 10, 2010 at 7:10 am

    I agree 100%! In the United States (land of the free), you should be able to have a beer when your 18. I just turned 18 and I think that it is pointless. I can join the military, I can vote for these people in office, I can be drafted, I can buy cigarettes, but I can’t go sit down in a bar and have a beer with my dad. I think that it should be lower to 18, but only if we can have someone watching over the teens getting smashed. There are some teen out there who get completely retarded when they get smashed. I’ve been to high school parties though, no matter how much they limit the age we can still get access to alcohol. Alot of us have older brothers and sisters, boyfriends/Girlfriends, older friends and parents who are willing to provide alcohol for us. I say change it to 18
23. A dangerous drinking age « The Buzz: College Drinking says:

    February 12, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    [...] who are not of age often ‘pre-game’ before going out. When doing this, students consume as much alcohol as they can in order to store it in their [...]
24. Luis A says:

    February 16, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    Hey i’m 16. I’m from North Carolina. And I drink at every party I go to. So it would be easier for me to buy alcohol legally, when I turn 18.
25. will says:

    February 17, 2010 at 6:10 am

    How is it right to tell an 18 year old that they are now adults and old enough to have the same responsibilities as adults and will be treated and prosecuted by the law as adults, live in there own home and pay there own bills, but are not old enough to make there own decisions, and decide to drink and enjoy the same rights and privileges as an adult?

    How is it right for a parent to have the right to kick an 18 year old out of there own home, but still have the right to tell them that they cant make there own decisions. For an 18 year old to be an independant adult, support themselves, but not have the right to make their own choice, not have the same rights as other adults?

    and in regards to:

    john – this isn’t about whether you have friends or not (and the type of message you left on here is probably one of the many reasons you don’t have any) its about the legal drinking age

    Bejf – it is proven that kids in the US not only drink heavier but start drinking younger than the kids in Australia and our drinking age is lower – what does that tell you?

    There will always be stupid children who are 12/13 drinking and it will be that way wherever you go, irregardless of the legal drinking age.

    All of those side effects of “underage drinking” are all the exact same side effects of drinking when your over 21, and is increased even more so once you are over 50 – so applying your logic, should we ban people who are over 50 from drinking even though it is there choice to do so, just to protect them from themselves?

    In France, children are raised at a very early age with the choice of drinking alcohol with their family (such as wine at dinner or a casual drink) and are told they are allowed to drink from a younger age (but taught to drink responsibly) without the same taboo – yet France has one of the lowest rates of alcohol related violence, death and illness in young people.
26. Danielle says:

    February 17, 2010 at 9:30 am

    Hello,
    I am seventeen, and my birthday is in March. Although it would be easier to obtain alcohol if the drinking age was lowered, I think that students should go through a class to obtain a drinking permit. That way students could learn how to drink responsibly, instead of “getting shit-faced.” Most teens at my school drink just to get drunk. My parents have taught me that responsible drinking is a much better way to go through life without alcoholism, and other problems. I do understand the arguments for both sides but I think a permit would be a fantastic compromise.
    Sincerely,
    D.N.W.
27. D-time says:

    February 21, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    I am 19 in college and play football so im around alcohol all the time. the real question should the drinking age be lower? i say yes because no matter what age you have it at 18, 21 or even 50. 16 17 or even younger will try and drink. but the reason why i think it should be lower is because im allowd to do everything else in the world but drink it makes no sense to me being able to go to the army, get married, sign a contract, etc but when my friends in college go to the bar i cant go because im under 21 but i do the same thing they everyday. but if you lower it we wont have to have house parties where ppl can get hurt i can just chill at a bar and relax
28. Sara says:

    February 21, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    i dont honestly think what any of you are saying is completely suitable for a debate. Actually to be honest i’m completely against the 21 drinking age, im 18, and yeah it is gay. When reading the list i realised that 1. Some of the above stated were mentioned repeatedly. But the one thing i noticed that was never mentioned was in fact that the ones prohibiting us from drinking are the ones who were able to legally obtain alcohol at 18. I have had discussing over discussing about this and it’s true a lot of people agree, if you were able to drink it..then why can’t i?

    The end result is the ones older than us claim “do i say not as i do” well thats plain bullshit to be honest. It’s like your parent going on a really fun rollercoaster that everyone is allowed to go on, and they claim it was too scary…so instead of allowing you to have a chance and make up your own assumptions, they drag you by the arm and say “come on lets go…i went on that ride and i dont think you should even try it” inwhich you cant do anything as you are powerless by the parent taking you away.
29. Eddie says:

    February 22, 2010 at 6:48 am

    i strongly agree with this opinions..why would people say that once you turn 18 your an adult….from what i see adults have the right to make there own choices..which means they can say no or yes to drinking..yes drinking isn’t a good way to go..but that depends on the person, i myself drink and im 18…but i drink with family, why? because i know i’ll be safe. One thing that i always keep in mind that my uncle once told me” don’t let the drinking control you, you control the drinking”
30. Caroline says:

    February 22, 2010 at 8:43 am

    The drinking age should not be lowered. 18 year olds who are given responcibilities like the ability to fight for their country, and to vote, should be prous to serve their country. Drinking alcohol does not generate benefits like these, so it should not be seen as holding 18 year olds back from being adults.
31. Luke M. says:

    February 22, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    I just turned 18 and i never have nor will i ever drink. You can say all you want about how “it’s their descision” but the fact is it kills. It gives you blood problems, liver problems, destroys brain cells that don’t come back, and if your not carefull makes you do dumb stuff. Although I am against it, theres nothing you can really do to stop it. Prohibition didn’t work before. Its because man is evil natured. Outlawing it will only make people want it more. And it’s not a gay law. What if you died in a car wreck because you where drunk, or maybe someone else was drunk?–that would be gay.
32. Shannah says:

    February 23, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    I fully understand both arguments presented on lowering the legal drinking age to 18, and personaly, i agree with it. If people can get shot up and jump out of planes ina war, why cant they go have a beer with a friend or parent? You say that dying 4 the country should be an honor, and drinking kills,which are both very good opposing veiws, but reeally the only question is, Which does our society value more, Freedom, or safety?
33. Rjay says:

    February 24, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Im responding to the comment from Ami. You think people dying for our country is an honor but dying because of drinking is stupid, well, do you think people like dying in wars? Theres a military draft of 18, meaning unless youre in colledge you going. Dont you think people telling them what they cant drink but ordering them into fatal situations, dont u think that pisses them off a little? No matter what people do everyone has rights and the freedom to choose, people are going to drink regardless of the law or circumstance, so they might as well do it when tey turn into an ADULT.
34. Amanda says:

    February 24, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    Hey John ill be youre freind, u just have to stop leaving comments like this.
35. Georgette says:

    February 25, 2010 at 8:21 am

    John’s obviously just a troll.

    Just lowering the drinking age isn’t enough. There also needs to be a cultural shift towards not demonizing the substance. If it were to be considered an activity part of life, included at family events and with children in moderation, the desire to drink to rebel or even claim adulthood would diminish.
36. sinjin says:

    February 26, 2010 at 8:30 am

    First off i just turned 18 in november and i am starting to realize how hard life can be. I grew up with alcoholic hicks all my life. So i know what binge drinking can do.

    John- shut the fuck up. You are a cum guzzling faggot!!! You would have more friends if you got off your lazy ass, got away from that computer and got a life.

    The legal age should be 18 because i would love to tip a few back wth MY good friend Marisol.
37. David says:

    February 27, 2010 at 8:22 pm

    Yes, you can take a bullet for your country at 18. If you want to drink at the age of 18 then join the military and you will be able to legally drink. So if your argument is that you can take a bullet for your country at 18 if you join the service then you should be able to drink at 18, then just join the service and then you can drink all that you want. So quit complaining and do some research before you start to complain about something you know nothing about. People like you just goes to prove that stupidity is live and well in the world.
38. sunshine says:

    March 1, 2010 at 8:21 am

    i agree with the chocolate drinking. i have no friends either jon.
39. jesus says:

    March 1, 2010 at 8:25 am

    drinking is great
40. Ryan W says:

    March 1, 2010 at 11:43 am

    i feel the drinking age should be lowered i am 16 don’t drink often but ii would still like the age to be lowered to 18 or lower
41. Suanne Kapper says:

    March 7, 2010 at 1:30 am

    Great posting
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43. courtney says:

    March 10, 2010 at 7:29 am

    i think it should be lowered to 18. if you are responsible enough to drive and be on your own…. you can drink!!!i do it anyway and im 15.