The Federal Trade Commission proudly displays the motto “Protecting America’s Consumers” on its website. Of course, there are exceptions, such as adults aged 18 to 21 who want to enjoy a drink. The FTC not only won’t protect your right to consume — the agency’s “Bureau of Consumer Protection” runs an active campaign to explain why you are horrible, worthless individuals. For the past few years, the FTC has maintained a website — www.dontserveteens.gov — that offers a wide selection of unsubstantiated surveys, “research,” and other quasi-factual data in support of the states’ absolute ban on alcohol consumption before the age of 21. The website is downright comical:
Parents strongly support 21 as the legal drinking age.
* In one recent national survey, 79 percent of parents said the drinking age should stay the same or be raised.
* In another recent national survey, 84 percent gave this answer.
And just a few paragraphs later, the FTC claims, “…86 percent of parents support the legal drinking age.” Of course, there’s no attribution or sourcing for any of these alleged surveys. This website actually violates FTC rules for private companies, which require citation of “competent and reliable scientific evidence” in support of claims.
Of course, the state also forbids private companies from engaging in age discrimination. Yet the FTC explains why it’s okay in this instance:
Q. If kids can vote and join the military at 18, why do they have to wait until they’re 21 to drink legally?
A. It’s the law. In addition, ages of “initiation” vary. You can work at 14, vote at 18 and drink at 21, but you can’t run for Congress until you’re 25. Researchers who have evaluated the data say the minimum legal drinking age delays the onset of alcohol use. As a result, it reduces drinking-related injuries among teens and the risk of alcohol abuse and dependence later in life.
I wonder if the “researchers” have looked at whether raising the minimum age to join the military would delay the onset of, um, death in an illegal foreign war. Just asking…
And so there’s no confusion, the FTC isn’t just passively jumping on the anti-teen drinking bandwagon: The agency actively backs police state tactics:
Let local law enforcement know that you don’t oppose active policing of noisy teen parties. A noisy party may signal alcohol use; you will ask them to check it out.
{ 27 comments }
Fantastic post, Skip.
One would think that our government, with its seemingly limitless access to resources, would be able to get someone who has at least a slight grasp of statistics to put their propaganda site together.
I wonder if the “researchers” have looked at whether raising the minimum age to join the military would delay the onset of, um, death in an illegal foreign war. Just asking…
Perfect. You and Tom Woods are on fire today.
Austin:
Unfortunately for the state, if they put actual facts on their website, no one would believe them ;p
“I wonder if the “researchers” have looked at whether raising the minimum age to join the military would delay the onset of, um, death in an illegal foreign war.”
Hilarious.
Maybe its just cause I’m not American but does anyone actually abide no drinking until 21. the whole site is don’t serve teens… things like “kids can vote @”(I’d say adults can vote ext..) Mentions how many high school seniors drink. however no mention how many 20yo drink. Is this because it is widely believed to be ridiculous to control 20yo from drinking.
Translated from governmentese:
Q. If kids can vote and join the military at 18, why do they have to wait until they’re 21 to drink legally?
A. It’s the law. So turn off your brain now, and do what you’re told.
Brought to you by the Ministry of Love.
I’m 20 and I drink sometimes probably a few times a week. I always forget that it’s illegal for me to drink because no one I know who’s over 21 ever cares if I drink at their house/buys me the beer and liquor that I do drink. Probably the law that I hate the most is this law that prohibits me AN ADULT from consuming whichever beverage I so choose.
Matt,
I know so many people between 18 and 21 who drink regularly with absolutely no regard for the law, and the people I know who don’t drink only do it because they think it’s bad for them not because it’s illegal. I think anyone between 18 and 21 will continue to drink and it’s absurd for the government to think they can stop us.
I always thought it was strange that a person aged 18 could vote, enter into contracts and join the military to kill or be killed and not be able to buy or consume alcohol.
The real age when you stop being a child is when you take your first government job.
In civilized countries, the legal age is 15 or 16 (for most things; and younger with a parent’s permission)…it seems odd, if not laughable, from a non-American’s point of view, that Americans consider 18 year-olds “children”. In a couple of centuries, I expect 40 year-olds will be considered children, if we keep going the way we’re going…
Of course why doesn’t the author argue there shouldn’t be a minimum age for anything? Why can’t a ten year old get a job, buy grog and join an army?
On the other hand, it’s technically legal for Australian parents to give alcohol to their own children on their own premises, what of the U.S.A.?
So the law forbids 20-year-olds to drink because… It’s the law. Glad to see they’ve got some top-notch philosophical minds at the FTC.
I started drinking beer with my father around the age of 17 or so. Consequently, on the day I turned 21 and could legally drink as much as I wished, booze was not some forbidden fruit I wanted to rush out and gorge myself on. Nor did I spend my adolescence clandestinely guzzling cheap vodka in my friend’s attic or trying to distill the alcohol from mouthwash. I was taught a responsible attitude towards alcohol by experiencing it in a safe environment, with my family’s guidance.
This is like Jim Crow. Sooner or later, some 18-20 year olds are going to have to do a sit-in.
I buy beer for my 19 yr old and serve it to him in restaurants. No problem!
Andy Von,
“I know so many people between 18 and 21 who drink regularly with absolutely no regard for the law”
The more I learn about the law, the more I realize that the law has no regard for justice. The law displays total contempt for justice.
Another thing which is ridiculously hypocritical about the ruling class in the Land of the “Free” and the Home of the “Brave,” is the way they “tax without representation” people between the ages of 14 and 17 (of course, politicians don’t “represent” anybody except themselves, as people who read this site regularly already know).
Although we constantly hear from our left-liberal friends about how the government “protects us from discrimination,” it is truly ironic that the government enforces Jim Crow laws against people under some arbitrary age. Although the fascism which people between 18 and 20 are subjected to is bad, persons under 18 are subjected to far worse.
One question which our overlords apparently failed to even ask is: Why should “parents” have the “right” to prevent their offspring from asserting their own right to self-ownership when they are ready to do so?
I personally don’t understand the appeal of alcohol, but civilized people respect the right of others to choose to do whatever they wish, provided it doesn’t violate the genuine rights of others. People who try to interfere with the autonomy of another people (or condone another person doing so) deserve the contempt of every decent person.
I’m from Central Europe and I started drinking (mostly beer) when I was 15 (legal age here is 18), which may sound crazy for someone, but it’s kind of normal here. I rarely had any troubles buying booze. I spent one summer in the US when I was 20 and also never had a problem getting any alcohol.
Kids in my class (and yes, we really were kids at that age) started smoking around 12, most of the quitted sooner or later. The same thing with marijuana or any other illegal stuff. The taste of any forbidden fruit is just too sweet to resist (And yet beer was really bitter for me back then
)
Now I’m 22 yo and drink couple times a month but nothing big. On the other hand ppl in Northern Europe, where getting booze at any age is really complicated, are totally wasted every single time they drink. They can’t resist just like we couldn’t.
My point?
1) Family, friends and own experience are way better teacher then government can ever be.
2)Ppl don’t care about stupid laws as long as they make money.
The police state tactics are worse in Boston. If a liquor store sells a keg of beer to someone, they are bound by law to inform the police “immediately” of the person’s name and address, and the police may — at their discretion — come by and visit the purchaser to ‘check on things.’ The elected official who put the law through said `There’s no privacy when alcohol is concerned because it is a highly regulated commodity.’ Sweet, eh? Let me say that again: “There’s no privacy where alcohol is concerned.” Or drugs. Or sex. Or guns. Or candy. Or books.
hmm
What happens if eg a 20y old man or woman trinks alcohol in his own flat or house? Do the police arrest him or her? Does he or she get a fine?
Please explain!
I once went to a “party store” here in Michigan to buy beer. An underage girl outside the door asked me to buy beer for her. I declined, and went into the store. They wouldn’t sell me anything, just because the proprietor saw me talking to the girl, and was afraid he would get in trouble if any of the alcohol went to her.
Visit Windsor, Ontario on any given weekend and the bars are filled to a large extent with 19 & 20 year olds from Detroit.
What’s the difference between marijuana ban and ban on alcohol for teens?
Both are state enforced measures to provide for the health of the american people!
“Maybe its just cause I’m not American but does anyone actually abide no drinking until 21.”
Lord, I’ve been drinking whenever I wanted since I was fourteen.
“What happens if eg a 20y old man or woman trinks alcohol in his own flat or house? Do the police arrest him or her? Does he or she get a fine?”
In the places I have lived, a 20yo will not get arrested, but they will receive a ticket that usually leads to a fine and or community service. Many 20 year olds do drink in their houses, with little fear of getting caught.
Reply to Ban Government Now,
Then it’s safe to assume that Psychiatrists and Police Officers are not civilized people and that most people are not decent people because they do not display contempt for psychiatrists nor cops.
“but civilized people respect the right of others to choose to do whatever they wish, provided it doesn’t violate the genuine rights of others. People who try to interfere with the autonomy of another people (or condone another person doing so) deserve the contempt of every decent person.”
“Then it’s safe to assume that Psychiatrists and Police Officers are not civilized people and that most people are not decent people because they do not display contempt for psychiatrists nor cops.”
Sad but true.
Comments on this entry are closed.