I don't get it.

[xp_wallflower]

*ponders* Anyone want to explain the facination with drinking to me? Especially illegal drinking?

Comments

[x-plosive.livejournal.com]

As in doing it or watching it? Because either way? Keep your eyes open for those blasted sneaky plain clothes pigs police officers.

[x-skin.livejournal.com]

Illegal drinking? I saw no illegal drinking. And as a member of staff, I would never be involved in letting any eighteen-year-old Australians(or Americans) do any such illegal drinking.

[x-cypher.livejournal.com]

http://www.main.com/~anns/other/humor/sillylaws.html
http://www.commonplacebook.com/jokes/true_stories/silly_state_law.shtm

There are a lot of very inane laws on the books out there. Some are relics of bygone eras, some (like the first one on the first list) are examples of how lawmakers will try to restrict ANYTHING, including the Arkansas river.

[x-dominion.livejournal.com]

Rather than get into the whole mythos of drinking, which as a Canadian of British background, I'm legally mandated to do, it comes down to it being fun. Some people are fascinated by NASCAR, others watch wrestling, and some collect seashells. Every interest and enjoyment is different, like say, the fascination of some people in this school with ice cream.

As for the illegal part, the law is set by different countries and different states and regions within those countries based on what they feel is an acceptable age to handle it. Some people can handle it earlier, or some can't but try anyways. As long as you're willing to accept the consequences for getting caught, it's up to you to decide when you're ready to take that step, or whether or not you feel strongly enough about the law to restrict yourself to those guidelines. Because of the relatively subjective nature of the drinking age, especially in an internationally diverse body of people like you have at the school, it's often a point of contention, I'd guess.

For example, I wasn't much older than you my first summer bartending in Europe. So I was serving (and drinking) alcohol legally three years before I could do so legally in New York. Having that right in one place, and not having it in another often throws people, especially on a social law. In this case, it's hardly thrill seeking in terms of 'breaking the law'.

[x-wither.livejournal.com]

I stopped reading about halfway down in the comments honestly. I think it's silly to start arguing over illegal drinking because it's likely not going to change anyone's opinion. Also, I'd like to point out that I don't believe either the Australian or the American eighteen year olds were even half as drunk as our legal counterparts. That may be because certain Australians hold their liquor better (than say, Doug) or because certain Americans don't really like hangovers (like the three day one I got in Scotland when I turned 18, which put me two years over their legal age, thank you).

My point is, people break all sorts of laws. I'm sure you've broken laws you weren't even aware of. Something like dirnking is an integral part of American social interaction if we're all honest. Most people drink and I knew a lot of people who started when they were 13 or 14 back home so I don't think getting upset over 18 is really worth the trouble. The question is whether or not people are responsible and hurt themselves or others. As far as I recollect no one got hurt so where's the issue?

[x-roulette.livejournal.com]

Sweetie pie. It's not a facination with illegal drinking. It's a facination with drinking, period. Some countires chose to restrict the age limit on drinking (due to a puritanical mindset) while others are more liberal. The US is still horribly Puritan in that regard.

But seriously, there are worse laws to break. Like, say, oh, robbing a bank. Or going out and shooting someone.

Because if "underage drinking" is wrong, then I sure as hell don't want to be right.