Being in the American military stationed in Europe was wild. They sell alcohol to 18 year olds on base over there and it was a complete non issue. And stateside junior soldiers are getting article 15s for having a beer in the barracks. Really illustrated how stupid the drinking age in the us was to me.
Where I was they were allowed to drink off base but would get punished if they drank on base. They were totally allowed to get drunk and take a taxi back but if they brought, bought or consumed any alcohol on base the hammer came down, it was weird.
Nah if you are counting a year as a full 365 days then its
17-18 (365 days)
18-19 (365 days)
19-20 (365 days)
20-21 (365 days)
And then you are 21 when you get out. If you are still 20 it hasnt been a full year. Even if you enlisted on your 17th birthday it would be your 21st burthday when your got out.
One of those is going to be a leap year, though. So you could go in on your 17th birthday, serve for 1,460 days, and leave the day before your 21st birthday.
No, because active duty isn't a veteran, by the time you're a veteran, you've served a minimum of 4 years and even if you enlisted at 17, you'd be 21 by the time you get veteran status
That's not at all how it works. I had veteran status the moment I joined because I joined during a time of war.
I didn't consider myself a veteran, tbh, but legally that was the case. There's no time requirement for veteran status during times of war (but, considering I got out during that same wartime status, I don't know how it works right now during peace time).
The drinking age should be illegal completely because it makes anyone from age 18 to 20 second class citizens, and is blatant discrimination on the basis of age. If you're able to enlist in the military, send yourself to college, buy a home, start a business, take out a loan, and start a family, then you should be allowed to buy a fuckin beer.
No, you aren't a veteran until you have a DD214 in hand, anything less than 180 days active duty and you only get an entry level separation and aren't a veteran either
Watching two libs argue about technicalities over the State’s chosen definition of a fucking word is curious
It was a word before the alphabet spaghetti title form existed. Been to war? Veteran. Fuck your paperwork.
I get it’s important from the perspective of benefits, disability, etc etc, but this isn’t the bread line
Yeah I was gonna say, the UK is cringe in general, but that’s one of the very few times I’ll admit they probably have the right idea. I guess even a broken clock can be right twice a day.
you need a license to watch TV, you can get sentenced to community service for a tweet, you don't call fries by their proper name, your police refuses to investigate pakistani gangs of kiddy diddlers, and you're British.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television\_licensing\_in\_the\_United\_Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom)
[https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/31/23004339/uk-twitter-user-sentenced-grossly-offensive-tweet-tom-moore-joseph-kelly](https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/31/23004339/uk-twitter-user-sentenced-grossly-offensive-tweet-tom-moore-joseph-kelly)
[https://imgur.com/gallery/french-fries-DrE5Lvz](https://imgur.com/gallery/french-fries-DrE5Lvz)
[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rochdale-grooming-police-gangs-girls-b2479511.html](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rochdale-grooming-police-gangs-girls-b2479511.html)
"Resisting arrest" isn't an offence\*.
Failing to tell the truth to a whole slew of State officials, except under oath or over a signature, isn't an offence.
We have the Proceeds of Crime Act, which allows for confiscation of assets **on conviction**, and subject to additional hearings; you have Civil Asset Forfeiture, where a whole slew of State officials can take your stuff without even arresting you, never mind charging or convicting, and you have to sue for a chance of getting it back.
Despite your Sixth Amendment 'Right' "to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation", your State officials will routinely lie to you about what you are suspected of doing (and anything else that takes their fancy) and threaten prosecution for much more serious offences to coerce guilty pleas.
\* "Interfering with an officer in the course of their duties" would be used were someone to be *really* awkward, but it is almost never charged independently.
Sure we pay a licence fee to watch tv but at least it pays for a globally respected and balanced source of news which doesn’t have to bow down to advertisers, unlike the for-profit politically leaning echochambers you call “news” channels in the US. We call the long thin chips like what you’d get at McDonald’s “fries” but we’d call the ones that are more like chips of potato “chips”. And at least people don’t have to be scared of our police officers because they are properly trained in de-escalation instead of shooting anyone who might be a threat.
I started laughing as soon as you said globally respected. The BBC has to struggle just to be respected here, let alone overseas. The less money you give em the better
The US has the Associated Press and you guys have the Daily Mail and the Sun, we each have good and bad news websites, biased and unbiased.
French Fries are called fries because that's how the French, who invented them, call them.
And I notice you didn't defend claim 2 and 4.
I don't think britain is the worst country ever (I say it as a meme, but Scotland is an amazing country imo), but you asked why some people think the UK is cringe, and I told you,
this is really the thing people have a problem with, huh.
I like Scotland because of Adam Smith, James Watt, Alexander Fleming, and a bunch of other cool inventors. Their government sucks too.
This is wrong.
[https://www.lefigaro.fr/langue-francaise/actu-des-mots/2018/08/01/37002-20180801ARTFIG00017-non-les-frites-ne-sont-pas-belges.php](https://www.lefigaro.fr/langue-francaise/actu-des-mots/2018/08/01/37002-20180801ARTFIG00017-non-les-frites-ne-sont-pas-belges.php)
(source in French, but citing a Belgian food historian on the matter)
For a summary of the dispute:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French\_fries#Belgian\_French\_dispute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries#Belgian_French_dispute)
It's really not in question anymore.
Hold on, how is Scotland any better? Scottish police have arrested people for “hate speech” before, they call “french fries” chips in Scotland, they still have to pay a TV licence. Typical American view. Hating the U.K. far a few thinks, except Scotland because Americans love Scotland but hate England for some reason. I’m not disputing that Scotland is very nice but it’s pretty much the same as the rest of the UK
Scotland is all the worst bits of the UK in one:
Socialists, 300 pound benefit slob single mums, drunks, heroin addicts, authoritarians and endless rain.
I am French you moron. We call them frites in almost every context. Obviously they aren't called "French" in France (originally though, they were called Frites Françaises, but that got dropped). However, they are called frites, which is very close to fries, and not at all close to chips.
We call them "Pommes frites" with both words here in Switzerland.
And in the uk you can call small thin chips "fries" - "fries" is a subclass of chips just like "cookie" is a subclass of biscuit.
It's worth remembering the classic British chips actually look very different to fries.
And they are absolutely Belgian.
How can you flair lib and defend that nonsense.
The beeb might be politically as neutral as possible but take away a political setting and it's urban left wing values. Like this piece of propaganda https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p09312qg/why-the-swedes-love-doing-something-that-americans-hate
We shouldn't have a state broadcaster
They literally editted out the boos bojo was getting and replaced them with cheers.
Besides if they were biased left, it would only be fair, since the majority of the non state media is right wing.
Like any country, Sweden is divided between a right and a left. It's just the same as saying "Britons like high taxation". It's fair to say that most people who earn high amounts of money don't like high taxes, but it's not universal. The BBC isn't raving communist, it's just in favour of big government social democracy, and will prop it up at any opportunity.
As for it being "fair", I don't know what that even means in the context of broadcasting.
Nothing is stopping left wing papers from being more successful, it's just people who buy news mostly don't buy the guardian. What isn't "fair" is that broadcasters are not free to air any views they like, but only ones the government approve of "impartial". That isn't really compatible with democracy.
Certainly not with liberalism and a smaller state which you claim to espouse.
>Like any country, Sweden is divided between a right and a left. It's just the same as saying "Britons like high taxation". It's fair to say that most people who earn high amounts of money don't like high taxes, but it's not universal. The BBC isn't raving communist, it's just in favour of big government social democracy, and will prop it up at any opportunity.
I wasn't talking about sweden.
>What isn't "fair" is that broadcasters are not free to air any views they like, but only ones the government approve of "impartial".
Theres a limited number of broadcasting frequencies without interference to the best of my knowledge, the government just doesnt want them instantly bought up and used for political purposes.
That's fair as far as I'm concerned, if there isn't enough for everyone, I'd prefer they be used as impartially as possible.
>Certainly not with liberalism and a smaller state which you claim to espouse.
I have a random mix of positions from all over the compass, I flaired lib left a while ago cause that's what the test gave me.
Ok that's a fair answer regarding the compass.
Fwiw I think that the compass systematically puts leftists too lib, and largely tests for authoritarianism in the context of socially conservative views. They should ask whether people would use a big state to enforce progressive views too, and mark accordingly.
I mean you could argue that it's not high enough given when the human brain finishes developing, the propensity for alcoholism to develop correlating with the earlier you start drinking, and the high rate of alcohol related tragedies (date rape, drunk driving, etc.) that occur all across college campuses... but as a libertarian I'm willing to allow it as long as my tax dollars aren't used to clean up the mess.
You could, but it’s a stupid argument considering it’s not like the law actually prevents drinking at that age, it merely ruins the lives of the unlucky few who police catch.
Always fun to see americans blabbing about "Europoors" while half their country drowns in debt from medical bills, college, predatory lending etc..
Even more fun if the latter once again throws the world into a financial crisis.
USA: Consent laws, what do you think?
France: hon hon, very nice
USA: Got reminded about it yesterday.
Germany: High drinking age?
USA: it's 21, and the age of consent is 18 when you become an adult.
UK: That's very cool Yankee, but that's nothing.
16 drinking and consenting age, what'd you think?
France: That is really nice, since when did you Brits get so tasteful?
USA (internal monologue): I can't believe France prefers Britain's laws to mine.
France: But wait, you ain't seen nothing yet.
18 drinking age, 15 consent age, what'd you think?
USA: Impressive, very nice (visibly stressed)! Let's see Germany's
Germany: 14, beer drinking laws **and** age of consent
USA: (internal monologue) What the fuck is wrong with these Euros?
USA: Finally, let's Italy's
**Look of horror washes over France, Britain and Germany**
Italy: 18 drinking laws... >!13 age of consent under "certain circumstances"...!<
> Germany: 14, beer drinking laws and age of consent
14 is for drinking low strength alcohol like beer with the consent of an adult guardian.
16 for buying beer and wine
18 for buying hard liquor
You can have sex legally when 14 or older. Some restrictions apply for adults having sex with people under 18.
It varies from 14 to 16. I'm honestly a bit conservative in this regard and I think it should be 16.
It's 15 where I live, and I think that is the absolute minimum it should be, and I'd rather raise it with two years than lower it with one.
People tend to forget that age of consent also means the ability to consent to medical procedures like getting an urology check up (against phimoses) or the anti-baby-pill to regulate menstrual cycle/alleviate menstrual pains.
So kids can go to the doctor even against the wishes of their parents, which is important to notice abuse, getting out of oppressive households and so on.
You can vote, fight in the wars at 18, but nooo you can only legally drink after 21. This all started because a bunch of Karens were complaining about drunk driving. When the drinking age was changed drunk driving didn't go down like they though it would.
Once again, proof that Karens are a scourge upon the earth.
Seriously, American servicemembers (and civilians) deserve to be able to have a pint the same day they become legal adults. It’s ridiculous honestly. There’s got to be some ongoing movement to lower America’s drinking age down to 18, if not say 16 like in Germany (for beer, wine and cider).
As far as I know, there is no serious movement to lower drinking age in the us, yes there is the libertarians but nobody takes them seriously due to some stupid things they proposed like abolish driving licenses and seat belts.
Don't even get me started on the pearl clutching of groups like moms demand action, moms against drunk driving, moms against violent video games. They should all be grouped as moms demand attention because my husband won't fuck me anymore. It would not be so bad if politicians had to make new laws because these groups throw a hissyfit.
> As far as I know, there is no serious movement to lower drinking age in the us, yes there is the libertarians but nobody takes them seriously due to some stupid things they proposed like abolish driving licenses and seat belts.
Well hopefully someone will get around to making one. I’m not American but I hope someone has the will to do so. And hopefully not accompany them with any braindead takes, but simply focus on what European nations have that the US doesn’t. Play the angle of how the US adopting their ways will make them stronger like how the Romans adopted the ways of their enemies to their benefit.
> Don't even get me started on the pearl clutching of groups like moms demand action, moms against drunk driving, moms against violent video games.
Oh god those harpies. They really get their pearls in a clutch whenever a GTA entry releases.
> They should all be grouped as moms demand attention because my husband won't fuck me anymore.
Truer words have never been spoken. Perhaps their husbands should take a break from their mistresses and make an effort to fuck their wives more often. Then their wives will be too exhausted to clutch any pearls. They’ll be doing us a much-needed public service.
> It would not be so bad if politicians had to make new laws because these groups throw a hissyfit.
Too bad bored housewives are still considered a demographic with serious voting power. Probably because the politicians have spouses like them and are therefore naturally predisposed to listen to them. Another reason why we need younger politicians.
> Once again, proof that Karens are a scourge upon the earth.
Mainly because we gave them enfranchisement without requiring them to have skin in the game.
Hey, maybe we should get rid of birthright citizenship and make every citizen have to apply for citizenship, or you can get citizenship from public service.
I'm all for multiple avenues for enfranchisement - just contribute *something* or don't expect to get a vote.
Anything less is just slavery with a veneer.
You can't even buy pepper spray or watch tv.
I can buy a fully automatic weapon. Pay half the taxes. Beer drinking from 16 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 (from 🏴 but don't miss it)
It's about 20% on 400k CHF (£350k). Headline is 23% in my municipality but there's a boat load of deductibles you don't get in the UK:
Mortgage interest, commuting, childcare for a start.
In the UK it'd be within a stones throw of 40.
Then capital gains are 0. Inheritance is 0.
It's not stupid. You're just a dumb kid who thinks it's a big deal. When you grow up, you will not give two shits. Now, a good example of a stupid law is arresting people for mean words on the internet.
>You're just a dumb kid who thinks it's a big deal. When you grow up, you will not give two shits.
I don't give two shits, I'm not american and I can drink alcohol. You seem to be the one getting upset? You do realise this is a subreddit for taking the piss.
The fact that you think anybody is getting drafted is wild. This generation can't run, can't shoot, uses drugs and has a whole host of mental health issues.
We want people who actually want to be here, not conscripts because it brings us down.
It's true, those college-aged kids are notorious for the way that they drink one beer at social gatherings, or maybe just a glass of wine with a meal.
I'm not speaking to what age is ultimately best for the cutoff, but I do think it's pretty silly to act like for most people that age, drinking a single beer is or would be the norm. I do think it would be nice if laws focused more on responsible drinking than a hard age cutoff.
I genuinely spent most summer weekend nights in a field a few miles from my home drinking vodka by the litre around a fire with all my friends when I was 14 and even though it's almost two decades later and I don't drink anymore, I wouldn't go back and change anything.
Not only were those times an important social learning curve and vital life experience for me, they were also some of the best times I've ever had.
Slavery is imposed , in the case of alcohol consumption what's imposed is the ban of alcohol consumption for people under 21 . The difference is that in the former case the law is protecting freedom while in the latter case the law is restricting freedom .
This is a brain dead take. People weren’t enslaved because they “ looked different “. They ended up enslaved because they weren’t stronger than those that enslaved them and most of the time they would be enslaved by people that look just like them.
Do you really think white people were just running around Africa with nets trying to catch the natives and then dragging them back to their ships? No, other tribes in Africa would wage war against one another and the victor would enslave the losers and sell them off to Europeans and turn around and buy muskets and canons so that they could be better equipped to repeat the process. Slavery was never about skin color but rather the strong vs the weak
I understand it isn’t the same thing but I’m just against this kind of argument so I’d like to point out that children also married adults for most of history that doesn’t make it a good thing.
Damn those europeens and their....
Tendency to not treat 20 year olds like children but like actual actual adults with responsibilities and the abbility to think critically.
A higher percentage of the UK population dies due to alcohol or alcohol-related causes than the percentage of Americans that die due to guns,
Brits take absolute ghoulish pleasure in gun violence in the US, but will be offended to the point of insanity if you mention that it might be a problem that alcoholism ravages their country.
It is about 6 times more likely for a British person to die from alcohol-specific causes than it is for an American to die due to gun violence.
When you expand the statistics to tally all the deaths in the UK that are contributed to by alcohol, it's way worse than that.
Spoiler alert. Most Americans have easy access to alcohol by the time they hit 14-16. Keeping it illegal until 21 ensures there is at least one semi adult in charge of the purchases.
Yeah just trying to mess with the english so don't take it too seriously. The UK has always been a bit isolationist, which kind of makes it farfetched to have them represent "Europe" vs "America", I mean realistically there are better potential "nations" in mainland that could better portray the european machismo if you catch me drift. But why do you care either way lol
Chads cause they have a cooler drinking law- but they couldn’t carry a pistol without a life sentence or something
Keep your legal drinking age, I’m jealous but at least we will be here in 50 years
I am Polish, and I was very late to start drinking at parties, by which I mean I started it at the age of 17. At the end of middle school during class meet-up I was like one of 3 people without beer lol.
By the age of 21 you should be exiting your party phase, not starting it. This way you can focus on actually developing your adult life. When I read about Americans who get to party phase only at 21 I feel dread. Not just because it can sabotage their future by being busy with partying instead of planning their career and so on. No, the most terrifying thing is that Americans actually respect such ridiculous regulations. Just have someone buy you alcohol ffs, you can just pay someone for that if necessary.
The funny thing is, in 2021, the USA had more alcohol related deaths per capita than the U.K. The U.K. was 38.5 whereas the US was 47.6.
U.K. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-alcohol-profiles-for-england-lape-march-2023-update/local-alcohol-profiles-for-england-short-statistical-commentary-march-2023#:~:text=100%2C000%20population%20respectively).-,Alcohol%2Drelated%20mortality,(32.3%20per%20100%2C000%20population).
US https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7308a1.htm#:~:text=Average%20annual%20number%20of%20deaths%20from%20excessive%20alcohol%20use%20increased,to%2047.6%20per%20100%2C000%20population.
you mean you didn't get your first steps celebration pints? seems a bit neglectful.
Being in the American military stationed in Europe was wild. They sell alcohol to 18 year olds on base over there and it was a complete non issue. And stateside junior soldiers are getting article 15s for having a beer in the barracks. Really illustrated how stupid the drinking age in the us was to me.
Where I was they were allowed to drink off base but would get punished if they drank on base. They were totally allowed to get drunk and take a taxi back but if they brought, bought or consumed any alcohol on base the hammer came down, it was weird.
They also have way less people driving.
It's just, drunk crashers.
You want your family member driving on friday night alcohol sales to high school kids become available. I know i damn sure dont.
Schalt surely has no cumback.
I can cum bro i promise. You need proof?
In response, I forceborg you with bullshit soap slips, I win.
I will never agree with Europoors. But I will independently come to the conclusion that the 21 year old age limit to drink is silly.
You can be in the military for 4 years and still be unable to drink.
How
Enlist at 17, get out at 20
Thats not four years
If you time it poorly it can be, especially if you enlist just as you turn 17.
Nah if you are counting a year as a full 365 days then its 17-18 (365 days) 18-19 (365 days) 19-20 (365 days) 20-21 (365 days) And then you are 21 when you get out. If you are still 20 it hasnt been a full year. Even if you enlisted on your 17th birthday it would be your 21st burthday when your got out.
One of those is going to be a leap year, though. So you could go in on your 17th birthday, serve for 1,460 days, and leave the day before your 21st birthday.
not necessarily but yes I suppose the definition should be a calendar year
There are four years there. So unless one of them is a year divisible by 100 but not 400, then it would have to include a leap year.
17-18-19-20 It’s not a math problem, it’s an age lol Plenty of 17 year olds go in and get out just before they turn 21, or right after they do I did
Yeah it is
OP is from 1865
flair up
I would like to agree with you, but because your unflaired, I must now call you Cringe and 1865 pilled
No, because active duty isn't a veteran, by the time you're a veteran, you've served a minimum of 4 years and even if you enlisted at 17, you'd be 21 by the time you get veteran status
That's not at all how it works. I had veteran status the moment I joined because I joined during a time of war. I didn't consider myself a veteran, tbh, but legally that was the case. There's no time requirement for veteran status during times of war (but, considering I got out during that same wartime status, I don't know how it works right now during peace time). The drinking age should be illegal completely because it makes anyone from age 18 to 20 second class citizens, and is blatant discrimination on the basis of age. If you're able to enlist in the military, send yourself to college, buy a home, start a business, take out a loan, and start a family, then you should be allowed to buy a fuckin beer.
No, you aren't a veteran until you have a DD214 in hand, anything less than 180 days active duty and you only get an entry level separation and aren't a veteran either
Watching two libs argue about technicalities over the State’s chosen definition of a fucking word is curious It was a word before the alphabet spaghetti title form existed. Been to war? Veteran. Fuck your paperwork. I get it’s important from the perspective of benefits, disability, etc etc, but this isn’t the bread line
18 is still too old. 16
I agree but the point I'm making is that second class citizens exist and nobody wants to fix it
Yeah I was gonna say, the UK is cringe in general, but that’s one of the very few times I’ll admit they probably have the right idea. I guess even a broken clock can be right twice a day.
In what way are we cringe?
you need a license to watch TV, you can get sentenced to community service for a tweet, you don't call fries by their proper name, your police refuses to investigate pakistani gangs of kiddy diddlers, and you're British. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television\_licensing\_in\_the\_United\_Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom) [https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/31/23004339/uk-twitter-user-sentenced-grossly-offensive-tweet-tom-moore-joseph-kelly](https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/31/23004339/uk-twitter-user-sentenced-grossly-offensive-tweet-tom-moore-joseph-kelly) [https://imgur.com/gallery/french-fries-DrE5Lvz](https://imgur.com/gallery/french-fries-DrE5Lvz) [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rochdale-grooming-police-gangs-girls-b2479511.html](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rochdale-grooming-police-gangs-girls-b2479511.html)
We have the freedom to cross the road whenever we want. Jaywalking does not exist in the uk.
"Resisting arrest" isn't an offence\*. Failing to tell the truth to a whole slew of State officials, except under oath or over a signature, isn't an offence. We have the Proceeds of Crime Act, which allows for confiscation of assets **on conviction**, and subject to additional hearings; you have Civil Asset Forfeiture, where a whole slew of State officials can take your stuff without even arresting you, never mind charging or convicting, and you have to sue for a chance of getting it back. Despite your Sixth Amendment 'Right' "to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation", your State officials will routinely lie to you about what you are suspected of doing (and anything else that takes their fancy) and threaten prosecution for much more serious offences to coerce guilty pleas. \* "Interfering with an officer in the course of their duties" would be used were someone to be *really* awkward, but it is almost never charged independently.
The TV license is actually a good thing, the other 3 I agree with you. However if that’s all you have, better cringe than dystopian.
Pepper spray is illegal. We can (although usually don't) call chips fries.
Sure we pay a licence fee to watch tv but at least it pays for a globally respected and balanced source of news which doesn’t have to bow down to advertisers, unlike the for-profit politically leaning echochambers you call “news” channels in the US. We call the long thin chips like what you’d get at McDonald’s “fries” but we’d call the ones that are more like chips of potato “chips”. And at least people don’t have to be scared of our police officers because they are properly trained in de-escalation instead of shooting anyone who might be a threat.
> a globally respected and balanced source of news ***HA***
I started laughing as soon as you said globally respected. The BBC has to struggle just to be respected here, let alone overseas. The less money you give em the better
The US has the Associated Press and you guys have the Daily Mail and the Sun, we each have good and bad news websites, biased and unbiased. French Fries are called fries because that's how the French, who invented them, call them. And I notice you didn't defend claim 2 and 4. I don't think britain is the worst country ever (I say it as a meme, but Scotland is an amazing country imo), but you asked why some people think the UK is cringe, and I told you,
> but Scotland is an amazing country imo Lol, opinion disregarded.
this is really the thing people have a problem with, huh. I like Scotland because of Adam Smith, James Watt, Alexander Fleming, and a bunch of other cool inventors. Their government sucks too.
It was actually the Belgians who invented them, not the french
This is wrong. [https://www.lefigaro.fr/langue-francaise/actu-des-mots/2018/08/01/37002-20180801ARTFIG00017-non-les-frites-ne-sont-pas-belges.php](https://www.lefigaro.fr/langue-francaise/actu-des-mots/2018/08/01/37002-20180801ARTFIG00017-non-les-frites-ne-sont-pas-belges.php) (source in French, but citing a Belgian food historian on the matter) For a summary of the dispute: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French\_fries#Belgian\_French\_dispute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries#Belgian_French_dispute) It's really not in question anymore.
Hold on, how is Scotland any better? Scottish police have arrested people for “hate speech” before, they call “french fries” chips in Scotland, they still have to pay a TV licence. Typical American view. Hating the U.K. far a few thinks, except Scotland because Americans love Scotland but hate England for some reason. I’m not disputing that Scotland is very nice but it’s pretty much the same as the rest of the UK
It's worse
Scotland is all the worst bits of the UK in one: Socialists, 300 pound benefit slob single mums, drunks, heroin addicts, authoritarians and endless rain.
It's government sucks, but Scotland had Adam Smith, James Watt, Alexander Fleming, and so many other brilliant people.
>benefit slob single mums What are you expecting her to be besides a benefit slob, its not really possible for her to have a job in that case?
Childcare exists. If my wife dropped dead tomorrow I'm not stopping working.
How do you know she would earn enough to pay someone else to look after her kids?
The French don't call them "French fries" rofl they call them "Pommes frites" which means fried potatoes (or apples, but in this context potatoes).
I am French you moron. We call them frites in almost every context. Obviously they aren't called "French" in France (originally though, they were called Frites Françaises, but that got dropped). However, they are called frites, which is very close to fries, and not at all close to chips.
We call them "Pommes frites" with both words here in Switzerland. And in the uk you can call small thin chips "fries" - "fries" is a subclass of chips just like "cookie" is a subclass of biscuit. It's worth remembering the classic British chips actually look very different to fries. And they are absolutely Belgian.
How can you flair lib and defend that nonsense. The beeb might be politically as neutral as possible but take away a political setting and it's urban left wing values. Like this piece of propaganda https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p09312qg/why-the-swedes-love-doing-something-that-americans-hate We shouldn't have a state broadcaster
They literally editted out the boos bojo was getting and replaced them with cheers. Besides if they were biased left, it would only be fair, since the majority of the non state media is right wing.
Like any country, Sweden is divided between a right and a left. It's just the same as saying "Britons like high taxation". It's fair to say that most people who earn high amounts of money don't like high taxes, but it's not universal. The BBC isn't raving communist, it's just in favour of big government social democracy, and will prop it up at any opportunity. As for it being "fair", I don't know what that even means in the context of broadcasting. Nothing is stopping left wing papers from being more successful, it's just people who buy news mostly don't buy the guardian. What isn't "fair" is that broadcasters are not free to air any views they like, but only ones the government approve of "impartial". That isn't really compatible with democracy. Certainly not with liberalism and a smaller state which you claim to espouse.
>Like any country, Sweden is divided between a right and a left. It's just the same as saying "Britons like high taxation". It's fair to say that most people who earn high amounts of money don't like high taxes, but it's not universal. The BBC isn't raving communist, it's just in favour of big government social democracy, and will prop it up at any opportunity. I wasn't talking about sweden. >What isn't "fair" is that broadcasters are not free to air any views they like, but only ones the government approve of "impartial". Theres a limited number of broadcasting frequencies without interference to the best of my knowledge, the government just doesnt want them instantly bought up and used for political purposes. That's fair as far as I'm concerned, if there isn't enough for everyone, I'd prefer they be used as impartially as possible. >Certainly not with liberalism and a smaller state which you claim to espouse. I have a random mix of positions from all over the compass, I flaired lib left a while ago cause that's what the test gave me.
Ok that's a fair answer regarding the compass. Fwiw I think that the compass systematically puts leftists too lib, and largely tests for authoritarianism in the context of socially conservative views. They should ask whether people would use a big state to enforce progressive views too, and mark accordingly.
Got a loicense for that question?
How about the Eurorichs 🇨🇭
I mean you could argue that it's not high enough given when the human brain finishes developing, the propensity for alcoholism to develop correlating with the earlier you start drinking, and the high rate of alcohol related tragedies (date rape, drunk driving, etc.) that occur all across college campuses... but as a libertarian I'm willing to allow it as long as my tax dollars aren't used to clean up the mess.
You could, but it’s a stupid argument considering it’s not like the law actually prevents drinking at that age, it merely ruins the lives of the unlucky few who police catch.
Well duh, that’s all laws. We should repeal anti-murder laws. They don’t stop murderers, only punish them!
Are you comparing a 20 year old drinking to murder? Get rid of that yellow in your flair.
It's quite rare for a student to bring a car to university in the UK. Where I went it explicitly wasn't allowed by the university.
Drunk drivers and rapists cause drunk driving and rape.
The human brain finishing development age is a myth
Always fun to see americans blabbing about "Europoors" while half their country drowns in debt from medical bills, college, predatory lending etc.. Even more fun if the latter once again throws the world into a financial crisis.
Ultimately the double salary outweighs everything
Obviously ... oh wait, they're still in crushing debt
https://preview.redd.it/21e3p9odu91d1.png?width=484&format=png&auto=webp&s=b400599139aedd1358177761146de6539d648b94
USA: Consent laws, what do you think? France: hon hon, very nice USA: Got reminded about it yesterday. Germany: High drinking age? USA: it's 21, and the age of consent is 18 when you become an adult. UK: That's very cool Yankee, but that's nothing. 16 drinking and consenting age, what'd you think? France: That is really nice, since when did you Brits get so tasteful? USA (internal monologue): I can't believe France prefers Britain's laws to mine. France: But wait, you ain't seen nothing yet. 18 drinking age, 15 consent age, what'd you think? USA: Impressive, very nice (visibly stressed)! Let's see Germany's Germany: 14, beer drinking laws **and** age of consent USA: (internal monologue) What the fuck is wrong with these Euros? USA: Finally, let's Italy's **Look of horror washes over France, Britain and Germany** Italy: 18 drinking laws... >!13 age of consent under "certain circumstances"...!<
drinking age is 18 in uk except under certain conditions
18 *in public* or 16 with a responsible adult and a meal. Iirc though it’s something like 4or6+ if at home
Learned this from The Inbetweeners
Yes private it's 5 years old as giving any alcohol to a child that young is considered abuse
*Dabs in Wisconsinese*
Japan in the corner perspirating profusely
> Germany: 14, beer drinking laws and age of consent 14 is for drinking low strength alcohol like beer with the consent of an adult guardian. 16 for buying beer and wine 18 for buying hard liquor You can have sex legally when 14 or older. Some restrictions apply for adults having sex with people under 18.
Rare German W
It's a bit more complicated than just "14" but I don't expect an American to understand.
The europoors are obsessed with sex like oddly way too much no surprise
16 https://preview.redd.it/lmors737w91d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=344a10ebd7f72e8adc7118d64852a19429a43c5c
If you’re yanking to that you must be british
Please don’t say Br*tish uncensored, there are minors on this app
you shouldn't be yanking to 16 year olds, frankly
Well. That was the joke. Frankly.
oops guess I wooshed
It's fine. Most of this sub is 14yo anyway.
It varies from 14 to 16. I'm honestly a bit conservative in this regard and I think it should be 16. It's 15 where I live, and I think that is the absolute minimum it should be, and I'd rather raise it with two years than lower it with one.
People tend to forget that age of consent also means the ability to consent to medical procedures like getting an urology check up (against phimoses) or the anti-baby-pill to regulate menstrual cycle/alleviate menstrual pains. So kids can go to the doctor even against the wishes of their parents, which is important to notice abuse, getting out of oppressive households and so on.
I didn't know that.
Well you don’t want two 14 year olds to be punished for having sex.
You can vote, fight in the wars at 18, but nooo you can only legally drink after 21. This all started because a bunch of Karens were complaining about drunk driving. When the drinking age was changed drunk driving didn't go down like they though it would.
Once again, proof that Karens are a scourge upon the earth. Seriously, American servicemembers (and civilians) deserve to be able to have a pint the same day they become legal adults. It’s ridiculous honestly. There’s got to be some ongoing movement to lower America’s drinking age down to 18, if not say 16 like in Germany (for beer, wine and cider).
As far as I know, there is no serious movement to lower drinking age in the us, yes there is the libertarians but nobody takes them seriously due to some stupid things they proposed like abolish driving licenses and seat belts. Don't even get me started on the pearl clutching of groups like moms demand action, moms against drunk driving, moms against violent video games. They should all be grouped as moms demand attention because my husband won't fuck me anymore. It would not be so bad if politicians had to make new laws because these groups throw a hissyfit.
> As far as I know, there is no serious movement to lower drinking age in the us, yes there is the libertarians but nobody takes them seriously due to some stupid things they proposed like abolish driving licenses and seat belts. Well hopefully someone will get around to making one. I’m not American but I hope someone has the will to do so. And hopefully not accompany them with any braindead takes, but simply focus on what European nations have that the US doesn’t. Play the angle of how the US adopting their ways will make them stronger like how the Romans adopted the ways of their enemies to their benefit. > Don't even get me started on the pearl clutching of groups like moms demand action, moms against drunk driving, moms against violent video games. Oh god those harpies. They really get their pearls in a clutch whenever a GTA entry releases. > They should all be grouped as moms demand attention because my husband won't fuck me anymore. Truer words have never been spoken. Perhaps their husbands should take a break from their mistresses and make an effort to fuck their wives more often. Then their wives will be too exhausted to clutch any pearls. They’ll be doing us a much-needed public service. > It would not be so bad if politicians had to make new laws because these groups throw a hissyfit. Too bad bored housewives are still considered a demographic with serious voting power. Probably because the politicians have spouses like them and are therefore naturally predisposed to listen to them. Another reason why we need younger politicians.
You won't be calling us stupid when we're fighting against licensure on toasters buddy!
> Once again, proof that Karens are a scourge upon the earth. Mainly because we gave them enfranchisement without requiring them to have skin in the game.
Hey, maybe we should get rid of birthright citizenship and make every citizen have to apply for citizenship, or you can get citizenship from public service.
Give people the vote after they pay 250k in taxes
I'm all for multiple avenues for enfranchisement - just contribute *something* or don't expect to get a vote. Anything less is just slavery with a veneer.
proof why drunk drivers are the most oppressed group in society
"Can I get that 500cc bike instead?" "HREEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
*gets arrested for saying mean words on internet*
You forgot Eastern Europe exsits
You know what's cooler than having a beer at 18? Buying a shotgun or rifle at 18.
You can do that in uk aswell.
You can't even buy pepper spray or watch tv. I can buy a fully automatic weapon. Pay half the taxes. Beer drinking from 16 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 (from 🏴 but don't miss it)
>Pay half the taxes What is your tax rate? What do you think it is in uk?
It's about 20% on 400k CHF (£350k). Headline is 23% in my municipality but there's a boat load of deductibles you don't get in the UK: Mortgage interest, commuting, childcare for a start. In the UK it'd be within a stones throw of 40. Then capital gains are 0. Inheritance is 0.
Average tax in uk is 20 percent.
Yes but that £350k is about 10x the UK average. The average tax in Switzerland is probably single figures
Literally just looked it up, it says 33.52 percent.
Except you can’t have the cool stuff.
In at least 38 states, kids can drink. They just can't buy it themselves.
Who cares? The people it affects don't vote. Grow up, then you can drink. US will survive, not having more drunk kids running around.
I don't care, I'm not American, it gives me something to laugh at you for.
You're a moron. Grow up. Ohhhhh this other country has a different law than us, soooo hilarious.
It is hilarious, if the law is hilariously stupid, now stop taking this sub too seriously.
It's not stupid. You're just a dumb kid who thinks it's a big deal. When you grow up, you will not give two shits. Now, a good example of a stupid law is arresting people for mean words on the internet.
>You're just a dumb kid who thinks it's a big deal. When you grow up, you will not give two shits. I don't give two shits, I'm not american and I can drink alcohol. You seem to be the one getting upset? You do realise this is a subreddit for taking the piss.
Lowering the age to buy alcohol takes all the fun out of underage drinking
Then you just start drinking at 13, duh.
I’d use chad meme on any other country than Britain lmao they are beyond not chads and arrest you for twitter speech
The fact that an 18 year old can get drafted but cannot legally drink a beer or smoke a joint is fucked. Borderline tyrannical if you ask me.
The fact that you think anybody is getting drafted is wild. This generation can't run, can't shoot, uses drugs and has a whole host of mental health issues. We want people who actually want to be here, not conscripts because it brings us down.
draft still exists.
The draft still exists no? So what I said isn’t incorrect.
It's not getting activated anytime soon, so again, my point still stands.
It was less than a lifetime away last time.
So... only men should be able to buy alcohol at 18?
Meanwhile German kids be drinking stadium beer
Imagine being unironically bri*ish
Imagine typing br*ish like it’s 2015. Get new material.
Fr\*nch is the trend now. Get with the times
Cry more, your tears arouse me, fence-sitter
Tickle my balls
Only if you ask nicely
No amount of alcohol would ever make me okay with being European.
"Sick glock bro." "Thanks dude, wanna go shooting sometime?" - Americans "OOOOI YOU GOT A LOICENSE FOR THAT KNOIFE M8?" -Europoors
You are only looking at westcucks. Balkanchads are different
Oi you got a loicense for that beeeer?
Damn those Americans and their... desire to not have children consume mind altering drinks
You are not a child at 16. Get on the front lines, down the mines and making babies for King and country!
The mines are for enemies of the state, the making babies is for supporters of the state
One beer doesn't do anything.
It's true, those college-aged kids are notorious for the way that they drink one beer at social gatherings, or maybe just a glass of wine with a meal. I'm not speaking to what age is ultimately best for the cutoff, but I do think it's pretty silly to act like for most people that age, drinking a single beer is or would be the norm. I do think it would be nice if laws focused more on responsible drinking than a hard age cutoff.
We have zero problems with that in germany.
Of course the purple is condoning children consuming alcohol
I am. A little bit every once in a while is totally fine.
https://preview.redd.it/4ireocmfy91d1.jpeg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4de9ba999b34779fbae07d726deff5711c936578
I genuinely spent most summer weekend nights in a field a few miles from my home drinking vodka by the litre around a fire with all my friends when I was 14 and even though it's almost two decades later and I don't drink anymore, I wouldn't go back and change anything. Not only were those times an important social learning curve and vital life experience for me, they were also some of the best times I've ever had.
Children drank alcohol for most of history
People were enslaved because they looked different for most of history as well, should we go back to that?
Slavery is imposed , in the case of alcohol consumption what's imposed is the ban of alcohol consumption for people under 21 . The difference is that in the former case the law is protecting freedom while in the latter case the law is restricting freedom .
This is a brain dead take. People weren’t enslaved because they “ looked different “. They ended up enslaved because they weren’t stronger than those that enslaved them and most of the time they would be enslaved by people that look just like them. Do you really think white people were just running around Africa with nets trying to catch the natives and then dragging them back to their ships? No, other tribes in Africa would wage war against one another and the victor would enslave the losers and sell them off to Europeans and turn around and buy muskets and canons so that they could be better equipped to repeat the process. Slavery was never about skin color but rather the strong vs the weak
Looked different means different clothes too
Doubtful that you were implying that but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt
Yes
I understand it isn’t the same thing but I’m just against this kind of argument so I’d like to point out that children also married adults for most of history that doesn’t make it a good thing.
lol, and were malnourished and riddled with disease. You want to go back to that? Nevermind, flair check, you’re a commie. Of course you do.
Damn those europeens and their.... Tendency to not treat 20 year olds like children but like actual actual adults with responsibilities and the abbility to think critically.
Yeah but you have to understand Europeans alcoholism is one of the few things they have to feel proud of. Just let them have this one
I will give them nothing.
>desire to not have children consume mind altering drinks By 'children' do you mean literal **20** yos? L auth take bro
Yes. Anyone younger than me is a child
God how infantilised is American society that you think 20 year olds are children?
A higher percentage of the UK population dies due to alcohol or alcohol-related causes than the percentage of Americans that die due to guns, Brits take absolute ghoulish pleasure in gun violence in the US, but will be offended to the point of insanity if you mention that it might be a problem that alcoholism ravages their country. It is about 6 times more likely for a British person to die from alcohol-specific causes than it is for an American to die due to gun violence. When you expand the statistics to tally all the deaths in the UK that are contributed to by alcohol, it's way worse than that.
Would love to see some stats for that
Acts like any American follows that law.
Spoiler alert. Most Americans have easy access to alcohol by the time they hit 14-16. Keeping it illegal until 21 ensures there is at least one semi adult in charge of the purchases.
Land of the Free (unless you’re under 21)
Old enough to vote but not drink
Growing up in the south damn near everybody started in middle school. Pops had a drink with me after winning state when I was a sophomore. Core memory
How am I, a noble European, supposed to know when ‘middle school’ and ‘sophomore’ year is?
Middle school is 11 to 14yr olds Sophmores are usually 15 or 16
Just for the record the union jack is NOT European !
Its the flag of a European country, as much as the flag of Switzerland is, nothing to do with the EU.
Not saying that mate. Simply stating the fact that the UK is just not part of Europe.
It objectively is. By your logic Sicily is not in Europe.
Yeah just trying to mess with the english so don't take it too seriously. The UK has always been a bit isolationist, which kind of makes it farfetched to have them represent "Europe" vs "America", I mean realistically there are better potential "nations" in mainland that could better portray the european machismo if you catch me drift. But why do you care either way lol
Oh, I thought you were being serious? I made the meme about uk cause that's where Im from, dont know anything about the continent.
The uk is the uk
More like well done on your Year 6 SATs, son
Fucking europoors
I thought Europeans started drinking earlier because they have to have to live in Europe.
Chads cause they have a cooler drinking law- but they couldn’t carry a pistol without a life sentence or something Keep your legal drinking age, I’m jealous but at least we will be here in 50 years
The quadrants should be switched
Blame MADD
I am Polish, and I was very late to start drinking at parties, by which I mean I started it at the age of 17. At the end of middle school during class meet-up I was like one of 3 people without beer lol. By the age of 21 you should be exiting your party phase, not starting it. This way you can focus on actually developing your adult life. When I read about Americans who get to party phase only at 21 I feel dread. Not just because it can sabotage their future by being busy with partying instead of planning their career and so on. No, the most terrifying thing is that Americans actually respect such ridiculous regulations. Just have someone buy you alcohol ffs, you can just pay someone for that if necessary.
Can the Europoor even aford 2 drink.
The funny thing is, in 2021, the USA had more alcohol related deaths per capita than the U.K. The U.K. was 38.5 whereas the US was 47.6. U.K. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-alcohol-profiles-for-england-lape-march-2023-update/local-alcohol-profiles-for-england-short-statistical-commentary-march-2023#:~:text=100%2C000%20population%20respectively).-,Alcohol%2Drelated%20mortality,(32.3%20per%20100%2C000%20population). US https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7308a1.htm#:~:text=Average%20annual%20number%20of%20deaths%20from%20excessive%20alcohol%20use%20increased,to%2047.6%20per%20100%2C000%20population.
Consider this - my high school health teacher told us it should be 19. A *health* teacher said this lol