Now that I think about it, I don't know a single person who actually waited until they were 21 to drink. Really says something about that law.
Different Cultures!
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You including yourself in there?
Personally, I think every country should do like Italy or Greece (there's no real limit there, right??)–Legal from birth!
.....Well, maybe not THAT far.
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Yup. It's basically required to drink some sort of alcoholic beverage at Italian weddings. I don't like it very much though.
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@Silent:
Yeah, I'm from there too, and you know what? I don't drink, I don't smoke and I don't give a damn.
I don't know what part of the country you're from, but those drugs en coffeeshops you're naming so proudly are near impossible to find outside of the big cities unless you actually know where to look really well…
It's really nothing to be jealous about. The only thing worth mentioning is that this country is boring as fuck.
Yeah, you're partially right. I live in Groningen, and we have a bunch of weed-selling stores here.
But Holland boring as fuck? Nah, depends on where you live, I think….
@ Arei: Hahaha, complete nonsense. If I'm correctly, the infrastructure and food/drinking-standards are the highest of the world here in Europe.
I think the alcohol-laws are indeed like this because of the century old traditions. I mean, some of the (still existing!) Dutch beer-companies were founded around 1350!
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Drinking age here in Canada is 19 unless you live in Quebec where it's mostly french speaking people then it's 18.
Never really knew why one Province was different from the rest.
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Because Quebec wants to be different.
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It used to be a state thing too, until they just made it national. Which is a shame because it used to be 18 in New York.
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The legality doesn't really seem that relevant. Here, it's illegal to smoke weed and yet everyone I know has at least tried it once. The ground floor (or first floor, if you're American) of my flat smells of weed all the time because of the girl that lives down there. You can drink from 18 onwards and yet I have honestly never met anyone that actually waited until they were 18 to drink; ditto for getting into clubs.
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I don't think there would be much difference in the death rate contributed by alcohol if they lowered the drinking age back to 18. I'm mostly behind it because I agree with the notion if you're old enough to die for your country (and you are in the service definitely) you should be allowed to drink.
Most 18 year olds know someone 21 or older that will buy drinks for them no problem and are already getting them. A lot of people drink because it's "breaking the rules" which has always been a hip thing to do. Though that would also make it harder for some colleges to ban alcohol on campus (which is not always a bad idea).
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@ZeArmyOfHalen:
Everybody who drinks drinks even when they know it's illegal, and they usually start a few years before 16.
Pretty much. Just like how lots of kids screw before the legal fifteen:ninja:
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My brother's in the Army and he's currently around 22 years old but when he joined he was 17 and they let him drink on his military base.
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My brother once helped a cop bust a place for selling him beer without checking his Id.:ninja:
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@Super-Franky:
You including yourself in there?
Personally, I think every country should do like Italy or Greece (there's no real limit there, right??)–Legal from birth!
.....Well, maybe not THAT far.
lol.. in italy cant drink under 16 years(now only in Milan and few other cities but soon in all Italy).and often in many cities people cant even walk with bottles or cans
i had my licence confiscated for 6 months( not arrested in italy for that) for 0.8
now,if i know there is the chance i can drink,i let my car at home -
I approve of this thread as a cultural studies student, thumbs up to the person who created it. Now I'm quite a broadminded guy and I am convinced everywhere in the world has culture that can be shared with everyone else.
Although I plan on living on Japan, partly because I am not satisfied with the way Engand is going in some regards, I really want to experience whatever the world has to offer me from wherever I find it.
I never got how in many countries you can go and die for your country before you can drink. Now I'm not really a drinker. I just find it odd how here in Britain for example you have to be 18 legally to buy alcohol, so that is you are considered an adult at that age being able to do that. When it comes to do something for the governement (join the army) they will gladly consider you an adult earlier then.
Speaking of Britain and drink, I find it odd how we are part of Europe, yet we are something else at the same time. I have heard but would like confirmed by people of mainland Europe, I have heard that there can be a strong sense of unity of European identity. I was sayng about drink also.
I get the impression that people of mainland Europe have a much better handle on drinking issues (such as binge drinking) than Britain. Is this true? I am not making any assumptions, I would rather hear from actual people on the forum than hear reports from the media, I am very distrustful of the media because quite often it talks out of its arse and often for profit driven motives.
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Yeah. I'm so addicted to tea and you're right, it is a nationwide problem.
[hide]On a more serious note, my dad says that different countries have different definitions of "Drunk", as people who sway a little and giggle here are mercilessly brandished as drunk, whilst the Russians don't say that someone is drunk unless they're in the middle of the motorway making love to the tarmac.[/hide]
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I understand the tea thing it is basically one of the things I am surviving on at the minute.
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We were always told things like the drinking age in Europe is so low because some places have bad water but that can't be true >_>
that's true actually.
If we're talking about the 17th century that is.
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@ Friend of Luffy and Gon: Here in The Netherlands it's the opposite. You have to be 16 to legally drink alcohol (and use drugs [most of them]), but you can only join the army if you're 17 or older.
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In America, the drinking age is 21 (someone has probably already said this, but hey). I don't know why. I've never had alcohol since I'm under the legal age (and it smells awful), but around school, you hear about kids getting drunk all the time. A few drinks at a celebration or a glass of champenge on New Years is all right, but here it's really unattractive if you get so stoned, you're about to be sick.
The Army and Marines and the Air Force all start looking to recruit kids right out of high school (about 17 years of age). Sometimes I'll go out during lunch and a tent will be set up outside the cafeteria, advertising them. They'll send you stuff in the mail, too. There's even a program called ROTC you can take if you want to go into the military. -
@Usopp:
We were always told things like the drinking age in Europe is so low because some places have bad water but that can't be true >_>
that's true actually.
If we're talking about the 17th century that is.
It was a pretty redneck teacher telling us this stuff, I'm sure they refer to that one "America's view of the world" map for their conclusions on other places :P
I've tried some drinks (not 21), and honestly I REALLY THINK underage folks drink because it feels either "dangerous", "bad", or of course to fit in. Very very very few things are tasty, and at parties where teens can get alcohol you're most likely finding just beer and maybe some vodka. Unless you know how to mix drinks right or can go to a bar, this stuff is shit. I wonder if they ever lowered the drinking age down if it would have the effects of lowering the drinking, if everyone could get it legally it wouldn't be as cool. Smoking looses its cool once you turn 18 too.
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@Usopp:
We were always told things like the drinking age in Europe is so low because some places have bad water but that can't be true >_>
It was a pretty redneck teacher telling us this stuff, I'm sure they refer to that one "America's view of the world" map for their conclusions on other places :P
I've tried some drinks (not 21), and honestly I REALLY THINK underage folks drink because it feels either "dangerous", "bad", or of course to fit in. Very very very few things are tasty, and at parties where teens can get alcohol you're most likely finding just beer and maybe some vodka. Unless you know how to mix drinks right or can go to a bar, this stuff is shit. I wonder if they ever lowered the drinking age down if it would have the effects of lowering the drinking, if everyone could get it legally it wouldn't be as cool. Smoking looses its cool once you turn 18 too.
I agree… the only kind of alcohol I'll probably ever drink is wine, a like a "glass at dinner is good for the heart" type thing. And I've forever made a pledge not to ever smoke anything. I wouldn't be able to afford that stuff, anyways. Coca-Cola and One Piece keeps me happy.
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Oh, and smoking is fully legal here too. No limitations.
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Wow Renda you are from Holland? I love Dutch people! My favourite 2 bands are Dutch, Within Temptation and Epica! squee ^_^
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Yes I am! Truly the laws are great here. Legally drink alcohol from your 16th birthday, smoking has none limitations. Also, most drugs are legal!
And it's nice to see that there really are Dutch bands known outside our country itself!
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Smoking cigarettes and cigars and things are fine here, but weed and crack and meth are illegal. Exept in like Massachusetts, you can smoke weed there. That's it so far.
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Well Renda I have only been to Amsterdam and I know a capital city might not represent the country as a whole but I loved all 4 times visiting there! Well I happen to be a massive symphonic metal fan. I also ike Delain just not as much as WT and Epica.
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Ah, I see. I don't mind some Symphonic/Power Metal myself either.
But yeah, I think Amsterdam represents our country pretty well though =p
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Ah good because London doesn't represent England lol. I have a lot of northern pride though. Dutch people match my own relaxed temprament on the whole, I really loved going to Amsterdam, good memories from my early teenhood ahhh
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We have those Army and Marine booths in the cafeteria here too. The Army one is boring, all they do is sit there, but the Marines bring a pull-up bar and give out free stuff if you can do enough pull-ups . One of them even did pull-ups where he would throw himself into the air with each one and clap .
As for drinking, I'd like to try some but I don't think I'd ever want to get flat-out drunk. Smoking I will never do though.
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@Friend:
Ah good because London doesn't represent England lol. I have a lot of northern pride though. Dutch people match my own relaxed temprament on the whole, I really loved going to Amsterdam, good memories from my early teenhood ahhh
Bristol is awesome
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I have never been, I do love Edinburgh and York though. I know I stated England before but the interesting thing is I'm English and British, a curious thing being in the UK is you can have 2 country identities lol.
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@Friend:
I have never been, I do love Edinburgh and York though. I know I stated England before but the interesting thing is I'm English and British, a curious thing being in the UK is you can have 2 country identities lol.
Being English and British doesn't make sense. It's like being an American Texan. Great Britain is England, Wales and Scotland all together.
A better example would be the fact that I'm English, but have an Irish (NOT Northern) passport.
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But it does make sense, I am a British citizen and yet I can call myself English. The Texan American thing would work and it's the same principle. Sure Texans are Americans but I get the impression because I know laws can alter from state to state and there is an overarching law of America it can seem like countries within a country.
If any American could comment on this very point I would appreciate it, since I'm not American I can only reasonably have a guess rather than actually know from experience.
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@Friend:
But it does make sense, I am a British citizen and yet I can call myself English. The Texan American thing would work and it's the same principle. Sure Texans are Americans but I get the impression because I know laws can alter from state to state and there is an overarching law of America it can seem like countries within a country.
If any American could comment on this very point I would appreciate it, since I'm not American I can only reasonably have a guess rather than actually know from experience.
I'm American, but I'm also Floridian. If I'm talking to a person from another country or about American traits/qualities/culture, I'm American. If I'm talking to an American who's not from Florida or about Floridian traits/qualities/culture, I'm Floridian. (well, actually I was born in Texas, but I live in Florida so hey).
As far as law goes, we have Federal law, State law and Local law. Federal deals with military, money, foreign affairs, mail, etc. The big stuff.
State laws are laws that only apply to a single state, things like weed and gay marriage. That's why you can smoke weed in Massachusetts and not in Georgia, and why you can get gay married in New Jersey and not in New Hampshire. These laws can change every time it's time to vote.
Local law I'm pretty sure is things like tax percentage. In my county, you pay 7% tax, but all the surrounding counties pay 6%. This affects school stuff, too. It's confusing.
(please somebody correct me if I'm wrong because I probably am)
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Yeah that makes sense, I'm not good with law as it is. Obviously I know the law as it is, you know avoiding the shit that will arrest me lol. But I'm not good with stuff like constitutional matters, and so on.
Speaking of which do Americans on the whole know their contstitution failry well? Media gives me the impression they do, in that in a lot of American films people go on about specific amendments and stuff. We in Britain don't have a written constitution. Again though I would rather hear from a citizen of a place than a bunch of possibly out of touch media and/polticain type people!
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@Friend:
But it does make sense, I am a British citizen and yet I can call myself English. The Texan American thing would work and it's the same principle. Sure Texans are Americans but I get the impression because I know laws can alter from state to state and there is an overarching law of America it can seem like countries within a country.
What?
Would you tell someone "Well, I'm British BUT I'm ALSO English!"
That's what I'm seeing in your posts.
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Oh I see what you mean, it's a grammatical thing. Then I am English but also British. Or do you disagree hat there are countries within countries?
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Hmm. I memorized the Preamble to the Constitution in middle school, lets see how much I remember:
"We the people of the United States of America, in order to for a more perfect Union, establish Justice, something Tranquility, I think I'm skipping something promote the General Welfare and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Yeah, no. Not many Americans have the Constitution memorized, but you can bet we know our rights. Like hell, we know our rights. And we're very defensive of them.
Here's a good site for the Constitution: -
What?
Would you tell someone "Well, I'm British BUT I'm ALSO English!"
That's what I'm seeing in your posts.
English as in from England. British as in United Kingdom. Citizen of both the United Kingdom and England. (Right? That's how I read it.) Like an American is a citizen of America. A Texan lives in Texas. A citizen of both the U.S. and the State of Texas.
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I'm pleased I have a place to discuss other cultures than my native one. I can sometimes come cross as anti-American but I am not really, there are just things about America like everywhere else (yes including Japan- the country I wish to move to) that annoy me. I have enough gripes about my own nation that I plan on moving away in less than a year.
Yes chicken you get my point exactly!
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@Friend:
Oh I see what you mean, it's a grammatical thing. Then I am English but also British. Or do you disagree hat there are countries within countries?
I don't disagree, It just seems a pointless thing to mention.
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Ah but isn't cultural identity important? Maybe I have my cultural studies hat on, it is possible. I just find these kind of things fascinating. Particulrly national identities and national pride.
I mean you wouldn't see anyone dare to tell an American they couldn't put a flag in their garden, yet in England there have been cases where councils have demanded permission be gained for that sort of thng.
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This is like my dream. If we can get along just in this thread, shouldn't we be able to on a global scale? Things like this make me happy.
Hell, there are things about America that annoy me, too (Americans don't have a problem dissing their own country, either). And I completely understand if America can come across as annoying or haughty or what have you.
I may rag on my country for being culturally challenged or just difficult, but I love my country because even though we have States and counties and things, we're still really united. Especially in a time of crisis; we're really good at pulling together when things get rough.
And, believe it or not, on my 'If I Could Live Anywhere Else' list, Britain is second only to Italy. I'm very attracted to Britain's architecture and history.
On the flag: Americans are extremely patriotic. If you told an American, "You can't stick a flag in your yard," there would be fist-fights and it would be on the front page of the paper.
(good, I'm glad I got that) -
Eh, we have our fist-fights at the pub, Fridays, Saturday, Sunday, give or take.
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Great Britain =/= United Kingdom.
Great Britain = Wales/Scotland/England
United Kingdom = Wales/Scotland/England/Northern Ireland
At least, that's how I learned it at school.
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Great Britain =/= United Kingdom.
Great Britain = Wales/Scotland/England
United Kingdom = Wales/Scotland/England/Northern Ireland
At least, that's how I learned it at school.
Ah, I see, just the island. Okay, thanks for the correction.
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I always use England and Britain interchangeably.
And yeah, most Americans don't have the Constitution memorized but they know the big stuff like the First Amendment, freedom of speech; press; religion; etc and Second, the right to bear arms.
I don't know many people who say Ohioan, Floridian, Californian, and the like. Rather they say they're from that specific state.
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@Friend:
Yes including Japan- the country I wish to move to) that annoy me.
Those Chinks are awfuly racist tho, and as a young white man i dont much fancy the thought of being looked down upon:ninja:
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I wouldn't know that much about China in that way since I don't intend to live there.
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I'd like to visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Some of the cuisine looks fun to try, too.