Morality of underage Social Drinking

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Allen537 said:
One of the problems that I have with the age limit of 21 is that it says to people “you are not responsible enough to drink until you are 21”. But at the same time we say “well, at 18 you are responsible enough to shape this country and its direction by electing public officials, even the leader of the free world, you’re responsible enough to pay taxes to the government, and most importantly, you are responsible enough to be sent to war and die for this country. But you are not responsible enough to have a beer.”.

IMHO, this just doesn’t sit well with me.

In Carmel,

Br. Allen
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Most of the younger guys I know aren’t even responsible enough to do their homework.
 
This is one of those things that begs of ‘why’!

Look at why you want to have a beer.

Because one can! Where does that come from?
Because he’s a friend! Is this peer pressure?
Because it will help loosen one up! Why is one tight?
Because everyone is doing it! Does this make it right? (For you)

Why does (spiritual) misery love company… While (spiritual) Joy simply shines like the sun?

Consider the ‘why’… you will have to live with yourself tomorrow too!
 
That_one_guy said:
Most of the younger guys I know aren’t even responsible enough to do their homework.
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haha, thats so true. Drinking, voting, and fighting are not on a level paying field. I think that the voting age should be raised because of the lack of maturity in my generation.
 
dr23flavors said:
haha, thats so true. Drinking, voting, and fighting are not on a level paying field. I think that the voting age should be raised because of the lack of maturity in my generation.
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By the by…I’m 45.and I was in the Navy.I remember what it was like to be an 18 year old recruit.I drank alot, too.So, in a way, I really shouldn’t throw stones.However,as cliche as it sounds, I wish I knew then what I know now.(Although, I knew EVERYTHING back then.)
 
That_one_guy said:
By the by…I’m 45.and I was in the Navy.I remember what it was like to be an 18 year old recruit.I drank alot, too.So, in a way, I really shouldn’t throw stones.However,as cliche as it sounds, I wish I knew then what I know now.(Although, I knew EVERYTHING back then.)
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I know everything now.
 
That_one_guy said:
As a kid I lived in Germany.My little brother could buy alcohol.No age limit.
There is no skid-row in Germany.I’m sure there are alcoholics.I believe that there are less alcohol related car accidents in ratio to the USA, though.
I’m not an expert.But,I believe the attitude towards drinking is different than over here.It has been a part of the culture for so long that it is just no big deal.I seem to recall it was more of a thing to go out for coffee or a ‘spezi’ than for a drink.They even have breakfast beers.
I’m not saying we should change the laws.But, I do think that if it wasn’t considered so ‘bad’ that a good portion of the reasons teens drink would be eliminated.That is,…I’m talking about good old fashioned rebellion.
However, I stand by my belief that if you are breaking the law and you know it,…you are committing a sin.No offense my young fellow Americans,…but, trying to compare underage drinking with civil disobedience after the fashion of the Saints and such just isn’t gonna fly with me.
Obeying the laws also falls under the category of honoring ones Father and Mother.
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so am i supposed to go to confession every time i go over the speed limit on the highway?
 
tenntom said:
so am i supposed to go to confession every time i go over the speed limit on the highway?
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It depend, how fast are you going? 5 or even 10 is not a sin in my mind but when you get to the point where you endanger people’s lives by your speed i think its a sin.
 
tenntom said:
so am i supposed to go to confession every time i go over the speed limit on the highway?
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If this is a serious question then I suppose it depends on how guilty it causes you to feel.I think guilt is one of the tools the Holy Spirit uses to bring us to contrition.
 
That_one_guy said:
However, I stand by my belief that if you are breaking the law and you know it,…you are committing a sin.
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That_one_guy said:
If this is a serious question then I suppose it depends on how guilty it causes you to feel.I think guilt is one of the tools the Holy Spirit uses to bring us to contrition.
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Why is breaking the law in case automatically a sin, but in another you say it depends on how guilty it causes you to feel?

Your logic fails, because it’s contradictory. Either it is or it isn’t.
 
AHapka said:
Why is breaking the law in case automatically a sin, but in another you say it depends on how guilty it causes you to feel?

Your logic fails, because it’s contradictory. Either it is or it isn’t.
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:blackeye: ouch!
I have actually heard chuckles at some of my confessions.Some seem so trivial or venial.I laugh myself, sometimes.
I wasn’t sure if the question about surpassing the speed limit was in jest or not.It seems so trivial.
I’m not a priest.I’m not going to tell anyone what they should confess or keep to themselves.I only know what I feel.I would confess the matter.I confess everything.Sometimes I don’t remember it, or recall it afterwords.I write it down and try to remember it next time.I would refer you to
Philippians 2:12-13
It’s the best answer I can give you.
Thank you for your humbling questions.
 
I registered for this site simply that I might opine on this topic, but now I realize that no one will read this post since the last thread was posted almost a year and a half ago. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to write my belief.

As firm believer in Christ, I can only say that it is evident to me that the laws of Heaven are not those of earth. Many laws are corrupt, such has been mentioned below (e.g. abortion, etc.). The notion that the authority of the state has divine sanction reckons back to the abominable ancien regime of Europe and the so-called “divine right of kings.”
The reality of underage-drinking laws is an example of concerned “soccer-moms” who transfer their parental authority to the state because they are unable to protect their children from their own decisions. Although the intent is good, the result is ultimately the annhilation of liberty and the aggrandizement of the state and its powers over familes and individuals.
One cannot legislate Catholic social teaching, no matter how much one might wish to do so. Let young responsible people exercise their free will as past generations have.
 
If this is a sin, what isn’t anymore? I mean, come on. I am a responsible 18 year old, I had a few drinks at a party, and after that, when I was offered more, I said, “No thanks, I have had enough.”

Seriously, this is getting a bit inane.
 
breaking the law doesn’t automatically equate to a sin

remember, whats legal isn’t always moral, and vice versa

in China its against the law to go to a Catholic Church. so if you attend the mass there in the underground Church does it mean you are sinning?
 
Old thread, I know. But I wanted to contribute anyway.

I liked the response earlier when the Gospel was referenced: “render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s”. I have been taught that Catholics should obey civil laws that are either moral or don’t carry much moral weight. In other words, obey the good laws and ignore the bad ones.

In the case of underage social drinking, it is my belief that it is sinful because the law is in place in our best interests. To break it would be sinful because the law is a good law in the first place. In my opinion, anyway. Like Christ said about Ceasar- render him what is his. I see no problem with obeying this law, but I guess some people do. 🤷
 
Whatever is decided about the morality of underage drinking, I think it could be an occasion of sin and also a profoundly foolish thing to do. College kids and alcohol are usually a risky misk and quite often results in real sin.

There’s a big difference between sitting down to a glass of wine with your bishop or (hopefully responsible) parents and “socially drinking” with a group of young people whose intentions are hardly clean.

I’m 27 and I choose not to drink. I don’t think that the whole world should do the same, but who doubts that the world would be in better shape with more people choosing not to drink? Frankly, if you’re a college student, you have no business touching alcohol outside of strictly limited and monitored circumstances, because the consequences of failing to do can range from the death of your soul to death of your physical body. I’ve seen so many lives ruined by alcohol, and it makes me wonder why so many people drink when so few are morally equipped to do so.
 
coolduude said:
To break it would be sinful because the law is a good law in the first place.
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Well, that is the subject of reasonable debate.

When you consider that if an 18 year old kills someone, we hold them to accountable to the adult justice system because we say “they are old enough to know right from wrong,” but don’t think they know how to drink…yeah, that’s a contradiction.
 
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