Comments on: N.C. May Changes Driver’s License to Combat Underage Drinking http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com/2008/06/19/nc-may-changes-drivers-license-to-combat-underage-drinking/ Your political road for the Carolinas. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:05:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Press 7 for Celtic http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com/2008/06/19/nc-may-changes-drivers-license-to-combat-underage-drinking/#comment-1854 Press 7 for Celtic Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:24:58 +0000 http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com/?p=1822#comment-1854 Carolina Blue, Not having seen it in action myself, I'll accept your claim that a vertical license will cut down on underage sales. That said, I believe Sam's biggest complaint here (one I share) is that it shouldn't be illegal for under-21's to drink in the first place! In a country full of asinine laws, this might just win the asshat award for the MOST asinine. At or by the age of 18, you can do the following: -Be considered a legal adult for legal purposes -Drive a car -Smoke -See an R-rated movie alone -Get married without parental permission -Hold down a full or part-time job and pay taxes -Go off to college -Buy a house or rent an apartment by yourself -Buy a gun -Join the military and fight in wars -Vote And a bunch more I don't have time to list. But apparently, despite being "old" enough to do all those things and more, you are not "mature" enough to walk into a bar, order a beer, and drink it. Nor are you mature enough to bring home a six pack and drink in the privacy of your home. In fact, you aren't mature enough to do that for ANOTHER THREE YEARS!!!! WTF, America???????? Y'know... I love my country. But sometimes we can just be bone stupid about certain things. This is one of them. Carolina Blue,

Not having seen it in action myself, I’ll accept your claim that a vertical license will cut down on underage sales.

That said, I believe Sam’s biggest complaint here (one I share) is that it shouldn’t be illegal for under-21’s to drink in the first place! In a country full of asinine laws, this might just win the asshat award for the MOST asinine.

At or by the age of 18, you can do the following:

-Be considered a legal adult for legal purposes
-Drive a car
-Smoke
-See an R-rated movie alone
-Get married without parental permission
-Hold down a full or part-time job and pay taxes
-Go off to college
-Buy a house or rent an apartment by yourself
-Buy a gun
-Join the military and fight in wars
-Vote

And a bunch more I don’t have time to list. But apparently, despite being “old” enough to do all those things and more, you are not “mature” enough to walk into a bar, order a beer, and drink it. Nor are you mature enough to bring home a six pack and drink in the privacy of your home. In fact, you aren’t mature enough to do that for ANOTHER THREE YEARS!!!!
WTF, America????????

Y’know… I love my country. But sometimes we can just be bone stupid about certain things. This is one of them.

]]> By: CarolinaBlue http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com/2008/06/19/nc-may-changes-drivers-license-to-combat-underage-drinking/#comment-1853 CarolinaBlue Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:56:06 +0000 http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com/?p=1822#comment-1853 Actually, having lived in other states where they have vertical licenses (which is nearly most of them these days), they do work for their intended purpose. I think you're misunderstanding the reason these laws were passed elsewhere. The idea behind it is based on the fact that many clerks don't actually do the math when they check a standard ID (some of them can't), and a high percentage sell alcohol to minors even after they card them because they're busy, or they just don't pay close attention. The vertical format filters that problem out, and then, young-looking people with horizontal licenses (possibly fake IDs) can take the time and attention of clerks instead. It's not going to stop kids from drinking, but it does reduce sales, and in turn reduce the chance of kids driving drunk. Actually, having lived in other states where they have vertical licenses (which is nearly most of them these days), they do work for their intended purpose.

I think you’re misunderstanding the reason these laws were passed elsewhere.

The idea behind it is based on the fact that many clerks don’t actually do the math when they check a standard ID (some of them can’t), and a high percentage sell alcohol to minors even after they card them because they’re busy, or they just don’t pay close attention.

The vertical format filters that problem out, and then, young-looking people with horizontal licenses (possibly fake IDs) can take the time and attention of clerks instead.

It’s not going to stop kids from drinking, but it does reduce sales, and in turn reduce the chance of kids driving drunk.

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