Freedom is just an empty word

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Carding for booze is outta control. Recently there were some well-publicized underage sting operations in Phoenix, so now everyone who isn't elderly is getting carded. I know the fines are steep if you're caught serving people who are underage, but geez. I guess I'm now past the age where it's flattering to get carded. Now it just pisses me off. Of course, a drinking age of 21 is ludicrous to begin with...

Agreed.

That and the age of consent.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Carding for booze is outta control. Recently there were some well-publicized underage sting operations in Phoenix, so now everyone who isn't elderly is getting carded. I know the fines are steep if you're caught serving people who are underage, but geez. I guess I'm now past the age where it's flattering to get carded. Now it just pisses me off. Of course, a drinking age of 21 is ludicrous to begin with...

Well, some people like to keep their jobs. When I worked retail, you got fired if you were caught not carding when an inspector came through regardless. Dumb rule to begin with, but that is really the motivation behind it for the employees.

[sj5 4]

silly Anna

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Carding for booze is outta control. Recently there were some well-publicized underage sting operations in Phoenix, so now everyone who isn't elderly is getting carded. I know the fines are steep if you're caught serving people who are underage, but geez. I guess I'm now past the age where it's flattering to get carded. Now it just pisses me off. Of course, a drinking age of 21 is ludicrous to begin with...

Well, some people like to keep their jobs. When I worked retail, you got fired if you were caught not carding when an inspector came through regardless. Dumb rule to begin with, but that is really the motivation behind it for the employees.

I'm not faulting people for wanting to cover themselves (especially when you consider the fines), just the system that requires it. A lot of resources go toward enforcing these laws that are essentially discriminatory. Why not have adulthood begin at 21? It makes no sense that one isn't deemed mature enough to handle alcohol until three years after he or she is considered an adult. I know that the argument that someone can go off to war and get killed before legally being able to drink has become something of a cliche, but it's still compelling.

This is somewhat of a tangent, but it's notable that the U.S. has, according to an article I read recently, 25% of the world's prison population but only 5% of the world's population. What to make of that?

[mawilson 2,133]

This is somewhat of a tangent, but it's notable that the U.S. has, according to an article I read recently, 25% of the world's prison population but only 5% of the world's population. What to make of that?

At least it's consistent with our consumption of 25% of the world's resources.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

This is somewhat of a tangent, but it's notable that the U.S. has, according to an article I read recently, 25% of the world's prison population but only 5% of the world's population. What to make of that?

At least it's consistent with our consumption of 25% of the world's resources.

I knew it! It's the prisoners!

[Jenn! 918]

I was at the grocery store the other day and they refused to sell liquor to this little old lady in front of me cause she didn't have ID. She had a cane for crissake.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I was at the grocery store the other day and they refused to sell liquor to this little old lady in front of me cause she didn't have ID. She had a cane for crissake.

Don't underestimate those teens - they'll go to any length to buy alcohol. Even if it means disguising themselves as OAPs.

[morocco4ever 63]

I was at the grocery store the other day and they refused to sell liquor to this little old lady in front of me cause she didn't have ID. She had a cane for crissake.

That is rediculous!

My husband stated just the other day that in America we are slaves.................to our bills. Hmmmm he has a point there. Still this is where I want to live, so you take the good with the bad.

[DeadPoolX 9]

If some of you find the age in order to drink alcohol (21) ridiculous, I'd suggest you take it up with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), not the government. Yes, the government did inact the law, but they were under enormous pressure from MADD and groups like them at the time. Before MADD got its say, the drinking age was 18 and after, it was 21. Interest groups have a lot of power.

Jaywalking is a joke -- unless your police force is so bored and pathetic it feels it has to deal with people "walking illegally" instead of doing something constructive, such as catching murderers, rapists, thieves, etc. Although half the time the police do concentrate more on lesser crimes because it's safer. Maybe that doesn't sit well with the public, but they're vastly undermanned and underpaid. How willing do you really think they are to risk their lives, especially when the media (and the sheep who believe anything in it) love to say all sorts of terrible things about police, no matter what they do.

A store cannot legally sell alcohol (or even cigarettes) to someone unless they have ID. I know this sounds crazy if the person wanting it is old and obviously above the age needed, but it's all legal #######. A store (and the company that owns it) could be sued and possibly shut down if they fail to ask for identification, which the buyer must supply or be refused the purchase. People in the U.S. have a horrible time taking responsibility for their own actions, so when something goes awry, they tend to look for the nearest and easiest place or person to sue. Understanding this, it's not difficult to see why any store would make certain demands and remain rigid about them.

[GaryC 7]

A lot of these nit-picking laws that make the OP feel less free are a result of our slide into a nanny state. Passing laws "for our own good". In the big picture there isn't a freer country but in the details we are getting pelted from all sides by laws that are entended to alter our behavior rather than protect people from harm.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A lot of these nit-picking laws that make the OP feel less free are a result of our slide into a nanny state. Passing laws "for our own good". In the big picture there isn't a freer country but in the details we are getting pelted from all sides by laws that are entended to alter our behavior rather than protect people from harm.

Is Big Brother a relative of Nanny State?

[Sinergy 3]

Carding for booze is outta control. Recently there were some well-publicized underage sting operations in Phoenix, so now everyone who isn't elderly is getting carded. I know the fines are steep if you're caught serving people who are underage, but geez. I guess I'm now past the age where it's flattering to get carded. Now it just pisses me off. Of course, a drinking age of 21 is ludicrous to begin with...

Well, some people like to keep their jobs. When I worked retail, you got fired if you were caught not carding when an inspector came through regardless. Dumb rule to begin with, but that is really the motivation behind it for the employees.

I walked into walgreens yesterday to get ciggies. I had to pay with cash bc i lost my wallet (later found by hubby at home), anywho, i didnt have my DL with me, and is never a prob bc everyone in there knows me as i work at the big company next door and always in there. the cashier was new not REAL new but new at the reg, and she asked for my ID, i told her i lost my wallet and always come in here to get ciggies. she sd she wouldnt sell to me bc i look under 40. i sd but i look over 21, she sd yes but since i look over 40 and she doesnt belive im a day over 23 (nice) she needed to see ID.

as i walked out the door she yelled " IM NOT LOSING MY JOB OVER YOU".

i understood her, ok, but the yelling part i had to report.

she wouldnt have lost her job, ####### b***h

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

A lot of these nit-picking laws that make the OP feel less free are a result of our slide into a nanny state.

That's the moral authority, we-tell-you-how-to-live-your-life-morally-correct-and-tell-you-what-you-can-say-on-TV-and-the-radio religious right crowd's nanny state you're talking about, yes?

[dalegg 143]

This is somewhat of a tangent, but it's notable that the U.S. has, according to an article I read recently, 25% of the world's prison population but only 5% of the world's population. What to make of that?

Some other countries are executing their criminals instead of incarcerating them.

Other than that we have a lot of people in jail for drug possession. I can't really say how we compare to other countries. Russia and China don't let that go do they?