Age Limits are Limiting …

Johnny-on-the-Spot … by John Foster …

When I was in high school, I played in a band that used to perform at the Snow Trails Ski Lodge near Mansfield, Ohio.

When we turned 18, we thought it was pretty cool to be able to buy a pitcher of 3.2 draught (draft) beer.

This was in the mid-to-late 60’s and the cry in that day was “Draft Beer not Young Men”, and you can credit that to the Vietnam conflict.

(I don’t like to call it a “war” because our nation hasn’t actually declared war since Pearl Harbor, with lots of Americans dying in these armed conflicts).

At the time, we young “rabble-rousers” could drink three-two brew before reaching the “Minimum Legal Drinking Age” of 21.

“Three-two” was the percentage of alcohol by weight standard.

By the way, Minnesota is the only state where 3-2 beer is the standard.

Most beers today have an ABV (Alcohol By Volume) of 4%-8% with 5% the common.

By comparison, wine has an ABV of 5.5%-23% with most table wines checking in at 12%-14%.

The “Drinking Age Act of 1984” pushed by “Mothers Against Drunk Driving” (MADD) officially established the nation’s minimum drinking age at 21.

That’s the issue I chose to rant on.

Age.

It’s a noun, defined as “the length of time during which a being or thing has existed., USUALLY marked by a certain stage or degree of mental or physical development, involving legal responsibility and control”.

You notice there are no guarantees indicated in that definition.

Many societal standards are based on age.

Driving.

In most states, you have to be 15 years old to have a a learner’s permit IF you’re enrolled in a driver’s education program.

Otherwise you have to wait until you’re 16.

But in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas as well as North and South Dakota, you can get a learner’s permit at 14.

Around the world, you can drive at age 15 in El Salvador, 17 in England and 18 in China, Japan, Italy, Germany and India.

Wanna get married?

The “marriageable age” in America WITH parental consent is 18.

But there are several states where that age is different (either 17 or 16).

When my wife and I were married In Ohio in 1969, my Mother had to sign for me to be able to get married since my wife was already 19 and i was a mere “babe in the woods” at 18.

It’s almost lasted 56 years but, hey! There are no guarantees.

In 1971, the 26th amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave 18 year olds the right to vote but my bride and I were already of the legal age.

My point is we all know people below as well as above those age limits that are totally capable or incapable to handle those responsibilities.

Age is at best, a reference point.

“Oh, you’re 21 so you can buy this liquor.”

Yep!

But consume it wisely?

You’re old enough to get married but at what age are you ready to raise a family, hold a job and be a responsible citizen?

I’m convinced some are ready for that before that age limit while others never reach it.

Remember, age is USUALLY marked by a certain stage or degree of mental or physical development and involves legal responsibility and capacity.

And, I’ve said for years that the world’s most important job, parenting, is largely left to a bunch of amateurs.

Based on the results, the parents my wife and i had did a fairly good job and Neav and I seemingly fared pretty well in the parenting game.

But, from an age standard, we were probably swimming upstream.

I can’t help but think of that Beatles tune, “In My Life”.

From the “Rubber Soul” album in 1965, it’s another Lennon/McCartney song that John did most of the heavy lifting on.

It zeroed in on love, love of life and relationships, past and present, all inclusive of friendships, families and lovers.

“There are places I remember

all my life, though some have changed.

Some forever, not for better.

Some have gone and some remain.

All these places had their moments

with lovers and friends, I still recall.

Some are dead and some are living.

In my life, I’ve loved them all.”

You see, age doesn’t really matter, does it?