Twenty one

Every morning when i go to the gym, the only way to make me less bored is watching videos on my iPod. Generally, the videos are one tree hill episodes ive downloaded from itunes. 


Today, I watched an episode from the 4th season where Brooke is sitting at the bar in Tric talking to bartender Owen and he says to her "what are you 22? this should all (legally) be new to you" (thats not an exact quote, but close enough). He was referring to drinking. 


As everyone in the United States knows, the drinking age here is 21. It a long awaited birthday for most--some even have personal countdowns until the day is reached. 


Personally, I dont know one person that has waited until 21 to drink. Not one. Including myself. 


Why does the United States continue to uphold a law that no one follows? College students are going to drink, some high schoolers too, and according to my neighbor, a few kids in middle school have followed suit. 


I am for the "movement" (not really a movement, only an opinion) that the drinking age should be moved to 18. That is the age of legal adulthood. You can legally marry, be tried as an adult, go to war, buy cigarettes,lottery tickets and pornographic things. 


Really, the only two things an 18 year old cant do are drink and gamble (oh and a third--establish credit badom ching!)


To me, buying lottery tickets counts as gambling (because it technically is) so I dont understand that law. 


Drinking on the other hand, does not conflict with any other laws but doesnt make sense to me. Why are you an adult, can do adult things, GO TO WAR but cannot consume alcohol?


I am not saying that drinking is so necessarily important that people under 21 need to be able to do it, I am saying that people do it anyway. Its not new when 21 comes. Not even close. 


I feel that at 21, you should have already gone through a drinking phase. By time you are 21, it is almost time to have a job, and "go out into the real world". It is not the time to experiment with drinking, go to parties all the time or go to clubs every weekend. Its time to invite someone out for a cocktail or walk into a bar with a friend, calmly talking over beers. 


College also starts when someone is 17 or 18. No matter how dry a campus is, alcohol will be there or around there. It is easily accessible and no one is telling you not to drink it. 


If someone ever asked me if I drink, I would say yes. Does that mean I drink everyday? Absolutely not. Does it mean I go out and have a drink on a Saturday night or drink some wine with friends? yes. Do I get drunk? Again yes. Am I throwing up and passing out? Absolutely not.


This is the problem with underage drinking--some people are too immature to handle the responsibility of making it home and keeping their dinner down. To not make incredibly stupid mistakes or hurt themselves or someone else. 


My question is, does being 21 mean the immaturity with drinking goes away? What do you think the drinking age should be?  I think you know my opinion, but I would like to hear yours.