Obviously in Denmark they do..

Same on the 21, thing. 18 to "party" (like at adult clubs), and 21 to drink. Sadly though I disagree on the strict thing. Some parents willingly give their kids liquor as young as twelve--I know one lady in particular had 3 kids, relatively close and age and she told me whenever they got on her nerves or said they had headaches, she "tossed 'em a bud[weisser'" and within moments they were passed out on the floor..,When she told me this, her youngest kid was 5.

As if that wasn't horrible enough you'd be suprised how often and suprising not that difficult highschool age and definitely college kids get alcohol. I assume it would be easier for the college kids to get it--because mostly all of them are adults anyway, and I'm sure the ones 18-20 have friends 21 and up that give it to them. But some colleges have kids ranging from 12-22 at their campus--so the temptation is raised. Typically small liberal arts schools have this program called PEG (Program for the Exceptionally Gifted)-where minor middle and highschool students leave school and come to college early. I know I came at 17 and knew who to talk to and where to go to get it. But I don't drink.

All I'm saying is, though we appear to be strict, because we don't have access to other options to tweens and young adults, they're going to continue to be rebellious and innovate new ways to circumvent the system and get alcohol. Some people theorize that if you introduce it to them early, they have less of a temptation to get it because they know what it's about. A strong portion of the 12-18 age group that has had alchol in this time friend didn't neccessarily get b/c they enjpoyed but they got a high, a thrill if you will on the suspense and ambiguity of it not be allowed to them.

Some feel the same way about sex education. If we remove our selves from conservative abstinence-only programs and introduce to our kids alternatives such as contraception and birth control, it will decline the trend of unwanted pregnancy and diseases b/c the thought of sex is no longer talked around like a forbidden fruit--they understand what it is and recognize methods to prevent unwanted things from happening. When you remove that promiscuity--that thrill-that curiousity, it takes away the strong urge to want to do it and so often.

You have to be 18 here in the UK, most shops operate a system where if you dont look at least 21 then you need to produce ID (some have raised that to 25) in order to buy alcohol.

Pretty sure its legal to drink in your own home at any age under parental supervision though.

All the dodgy independant off licences will sell booze to the under age, so its available to those who want it easy enough.

The US is a little too hard on under aged drinking. The law here is 21, period. With or without parental supervision. Of course, we have a draft, and I'm one of those who think it's ridiculous to be able to be forced to chance your life for your country and not be allowed to drink. Talk about driving someone to it. (For those of you unaware of our laws, the US can forcibly instate you into the military in time of need at the age of 18, which is why a lot of people crossed to Canada during the Vietnam war, because they have no draft and would not turn people over to a foreign government for a violation of a law that they do not have)

Kids will be kids. While I don't exactly condone 12 year olds getting wasted, I had my first taste of beer at 6, and got toasted for the first time when I was 14. I didn't get drunk again until I was 16 and then I started drinking regularly at 18. I see nothing wrong with this. Beer is a fine drink, and it shouldn't be demonized by parents and schools to young children. Like sex ed, parents and teachers should preach responsibility and caution but also explore the good side of the beverage. Americas outlook on alcohol causes more damage for the most part than alcohol ever could itself.

I will agree with Flayed on the point that if you are old enough to fight for your country...you should be able to have a beer. When I was growing up the drinking age WAS 18....they changed it about 5 years after I turned 18 [ suckers ]. But I really think that under the age of 18 is just too young.

edited

call me paranoid

I agree with both of you. I think that it's absolutely ludicrous that the drinking age is the arbitrary age of 21 when you can buy tobacco and porn, vote, and be drafted into the military at 18.

You edit your posts SO much! :D

I actually did not think that the US had that sort of military. I always assumed you were "untouchable", as long as you did not sign up for it.

Here, we have cumpolsory military service. All boys at the age of 18 must go to the military stations to go through testing and get a number. Some will have to serve in the army, some won't. It's all random depending on what number you get.

It's all crap, since Danish military is a joke anyway.

I'm going in 2 days. Have to get up at 4:30 to be there in time. :/