Do you know how bizarre it is that you can legally drive 5 years before you can legally drink alcohol?
Posted by Fefe_1234@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 33 comments
Americans can drive at 16 but can only drink at 21. In most countries, both happen at the same age (usually 18). Drinking is allowed immediately, while driving is just the beginning of the licensing process. In other words, the permission to drink usually comes well before the permission to drive.
I’m not judging which system is right, honestly, I don’t even have a firm opinion on the matter. I just want to make you reflect on how different these rules are.
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
Traffic deaths went down after the drinking age went up. The facts here are more important than what's done elsewhere. Our driving culture is very different than other countries'.
nogueydude@reddit
Iirc the federal gov was going to withhold funds from states that didn't raise the drinking age back in the day. Not every state moved to 21 at the same time.
djninjacat11649@reddit
It’s still technically the agreement in place, the interstate highways are federally funded, and so the federal government threatened that funding to get states to comply, if they wanted to states could very easily change the drinking age within their borders, they would just lose that funding
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
It was a strongarm tactic, but the results have been positive.
Particular-Move-3860@reddit
Why do you link the activity of driving with the activity of drinking? Are you assuming that the two are logically related? Perhaps drivers education courses should include a component for training students on how to drive a car while they are intoxicated? After all, it's a normal expectation to follow one activity with the other one, right?
The minimum age for obtaining a drivers license is set at an age that allows older teens to get to jobs in order to earn money for themselves or their families.
The last time I checked, being legally allowed to drink as a teen is not a standard requirement for obtaining employment.
Suppafly@reddit
Not really, learning to drive before you get to drink is probably a good thing. I do think it's dumb that the drinking age is so high, because I think if we have a cut off for adulthood, it should include all of adulthood, voting/drinking/smoking/fucking/military service/etc. The drinking age is so high mostly due to neo-prohibitionist groups like MADD that push for increasing it because they know they can't outright campaign for prohibition.
IHaveALittleNeck@reddit
We can’t drive at 16 everywhere. 17 where I live.
Fefe_1234@reddit (OP)
Ok, ,auge the word, bezarre is a little rude, as I said, I don’t wanna judge what law is the better, just asking if you have the notion how the rest of the world is different on this topic
tsukiii@reddit
I’ve seen obnoxious drunk teens in Europe, and I’m honestly glad that’s not the norm here.
nogueydude@reddit
It also might interest you that the exams and classes that you have to take to get a driver's licence are not federal, so that means each state has its own qualifications and exams, yet the licenses are recognized throughout the country.
MackSeaMcgee@reddit
16 is old enough to drive, but not old enough to make good decisions.
TheOwlMarble@reddit
Much of the US is spread out to the point that mass transit isn't effective. Thus, driving isn't just a luxury or convenience; it's a requirement if you want to work.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is a recreational drug. In moderation, sure, it's not a huge deal, but by delaying when kids can buy it, we've drastically reduced drunk driving accidents.
So is it unusual? Sure, but if we want 16 year olds to be able to work while not dying in droves, this is what we have to do here.
tsukiii@reddit
No, that’s by design. Young people cause a lot of car accidents after making poor choices when alcohol is consumed. Reduce the alcohol drunk by teens, reduce deaths on the road.
Particular-Move-3860@reddit
What if there was some sort of license for legal drinking, just as there is now for legal driving, with the catch being that a person could possess one or the other, but could not legally hold both?
If you want to buy or consume alcohol, you cannot have a license to operate a motor vehicle.
If you want to drive a motor vehicle on public roads, you cannot have a license to buy or consume alcohol.
Just a little thought experiment.
Streb-ski@reddit
also… do you really think it’s not a bad idea to let someone drive a car AND start drinking at the exact same time?
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
OP is probably a teenager. People generally stop trying to rationalize a younger drinking age the very second they turn 32.
maritimo400@reddit
Drinking and then driving is stupid and illegal.
Current_Poster@reddit
An organization meant to curtail drunk driving was responsible for 21 being the age, so that's a feature, not a bug. Most of us don't consider it "bizarre", however.
Particular-Move-3860@reddit
The advocacy organization that was most responsible for pushing for this change was Mothers Against Drunk Driving, aka MADD.
Hoosier_Jedi@reddit
Why would we care?
In Japan you’re an adult at 18, but can’t buy alcohol or cigarettes until you’re 20.
Otherwise-OhWell@reddit
Do you know how bizarre it is for anyone older than that to care? I've met 19 year olds; in fact, I was one myself once. Fuck 'em.
Financial_Month_3475@reddit
Both of these are regulated by state law, so the individual states could change this if they chose.
CODMAN627@reddit
I think this is also a massive cultural difference as well. I don’t know your country of origin however I’m going to assume you live in an area that believes in public transportation. (New York City not withstanding)
The privilege of driving is way more of a social and practical necessity than being able to consume alcohol. Driving is seen as a mark of being an independent citizen and no longer relying on their parents for transportation. It’s just way more ingrained into the American culture.
eyetracker@reddit
Most states have no legal drinking age or provide exceptions, you're talking about purchase.
_Smedette_@reddit
The drinking age was raised (nationally) to 21 in 1988, and there was a 47% reduction in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the years that followed.
Driving culture is much different in the US, and fewer dead people from driving drunk is a good thing.
chicagotim1@reddit
Given how much more spread out and car centric we are it makes sense to allow people to drive at 16, especially when many people start working (part-time) at that age. The accident rate is going to spike at whatever age you allow people to start driving.
Most people would agree with you that making 21 the legal drinking age is excessive, but setting the legal driving age a couple years before the drinking age seems prudent
Soundwave-1976@reddit
It's because of drinking and driving and so many people living in rural areas where driving at a younger age is the norm.
Spongedog5@reddit
Is it actually bizarre, or is it only bizarre for you because it is different?
People don't need alcohol, but they do need to drive. Alcohol is dangerous to the irresponsible and by pushing back the age you lower the number of irresponsible ones with access to it, which makes the country less dangerous for themselves and others.
Zaidswith@reddit
Different priorities. You need to drive to be able to function in most of the country.
We have graduated steps to adulthood when you think about it.
bl1ndvision@reddit
Driving here is basically necessary in most of the US to do much of anything.
Alcohol is a recreational drug, so..
Salty_Dog2917@reddit
Yeah I don’t view those two as the same thing.
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
It’s not bizarre at all to us because that’s the norm here. It’s bizarre to you because it’s different than where you’re from. Different countries operate differently.
Streb-ski@reddit
vital method of transportation vs mind altering substance, no. not really. maybe 18 for drinking would be acceptable, but 16 for driving is completely fine