It was during the Vietnam War that the push to make alcohol legal for 18-year-olds most recently took hold. But in 1984, Congress mandated a 10 percent penalty on highway appropriations for any state with a drinking age below 21.

And that's why the chances of changing the drinking age are very, very, very small. The political popularity of federal highway money far outweighs the popularity of letting 18-year-olds drink.

I think it should be 14, that way they can start drinking before they get thier driver's license. by the time they get it, they will be over the days of binging and not knowing how to control thier intake.

Do drop it to 14 or raise it too 35, because they are a large number of people in that age bracket that are irresponsible drinkers. And by the time someone is 35, if they are an alcoholic they are more likely to be more responsible alcoholics.

18 to 21 doesnt make much difference, pretty much the same crowd doing the same type of drinking.

Also, after completing one semester of college or basic training in the military you should be allowed to drink!

Irresponsible people are irresponsible no matter what age. But the younger someone is the more likely they are to do something irresponsible.

i agree

Not to change the premise of this argument, but the reason to put the age limit back to 18, is not because it is safe or not. The reason we should put it back to 18 is because our nanny government has no business making those decisions for us in the first place.

there's no way I'm buying that rap of a law passing due to money!

and I'm sure I've said this before, but isn't it ironic that you have the name "pig" in your handle?

I think they should keep it at 21, but make an exception for active duty military.

Excuse me? That's the popular opinion among those in the know. And I ain't kosher.....I'd miss bacon waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.

I wonder how many of you here drank legally at 18 and had no problems. I think we are becoming hypocritical. Its really simple. If your considered an adult at 18, then you should get all the benefits/privileges as any other adult.

Man, I'm sorry but that comment offends me. Who are you to say that since I'm in college, I'm irresponsible, not respected, and here just to party? That's what you're insinuating so don't come back at me with "you didn't mean it like that." I'm pretty sure when we ALL turn 18, we send in our little card, and we're registered for the draft if need be. Just because I don't voluntarily jump up and enlist does not mean I WOULD NOT DIE FOR THIS COUNTRY! I'm in college for one thing; to get an education so that I may leave this world a better place when it's my time to leave. Aside from the drama (half of which is just BS to get a rise out of you guys), I'm a pretty well respected person and a very responsible person. Most of the friends I have that are in the military are there for one reason; they didn't have an out; it was either that or watch their lives swirl around the bowl and then down the drain. Yeah, our servicemen are doing GREAT things, and I have the utmost RESPECT and THANKFULLNESS for them, but to say that they're better than little old me the college student is just pure and total bs man.