Hacker News Reader

You might reduce the stigma if you lowered the age. People continue to perceive drinking as an act of "rebellion" even after 21, mostly because it was for so long. Besides, it doesn't work. I am literally the only person I have ever known who did not drink in HS.

It makes drinking exponentially cooler. Putting something out of reach elevates it in young people's minds. Crack was cool back when only the rich could afford it, now that it's been democratized through a genius chemistry rework it's affordable enough for homeless people and has a terrible image. Drinking needs to undergo a similar process here in the States.

> Crack was cool back when only the rich could afford it

Cocaine (specifically, powder), sure; crack was always low status. In fact, that was the whole source of the political brouhaha over crack vs. powder sentencing disparity.

This was also the primary reason the drinking age was (re-)raised to 21: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Drinking_Age_...