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Just a thought
Posted: Dec 30, 2007 in Music
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I really think music venues that are over 21 should lower the age limit to 18 to get in and 21 to drink. Places like the vogue bring young bands to Indianapolis, but some people that are really into them are under 21. For instance, Frogging molly will be playing a show there next year and i wont be able to attend because im not yet 21. I know in some states they have venues but 18 year olds can get in. I'd say give special braclets to those over 21 and for the 18 to 20 crowd they could just let them in. The only venue around here is at the emerson theater and 1. It doesnt have a very good sound 2. its in a bad part of town. I know up north they have a couple music venues that are 21 but 18 to get in. Just putting the thought out there
There are venues that allow those under 21, such as Verizon Wireless Music Center (Deer Creek), Conseco Fieldhouse, White River Park, Pepsi Coliseum and I think even the Murat (?). It sounds like your referring to venues like the Vogue?
Many of us here had to deal with this same dilemma when we were younger and wanting to go to shows at those 21+ venues. I'm not sure if some laws prevent this from happening (anyone aware of any?) or be it the preference of the venue's owners/management.
Regardless, I wouldn't object to 18+ inclusion (as long as they don't get re*&%ded), but venues might charge you more for the tix to make up for what they won't make off you at the bar.
Cheers!
It's a lot easier on the bartenders when the entire crowd is over 21. When you have large crowds, the bartenders just don't have time to check everyone's id or even a bracelet and it's sometimes too dark to get a good look at the person or their photo. By having the door people check id's, there is a little less liability.
We've all been there - wanting to go somewhere but not being old enough to get in. Yes, its frustrating, but it's just one of those rites of passage with turning 21.
You're just in the wrong state... or maybe country my friend ;-)
Don't even get me started on the Indiana curfew enforcement.
I do agree the whole music scene is shooting themselves in the foot playing in 21+ venues. The vast majority of music fiends I've known have been in the 17-21 years old range. They can't drink, they don't have a full time job, all they've got is music.
Well there'll always be the Emerson... Cheers!
It's ridiculous. You're legally an adult at 18 yet you can't buy a beer or get into a bar.
I agree. There should be more 18+ venues in Indy. Lots of bands out there (especially the more independent ones) prefer to play at these venues and have lots of younger fans.
According to this site the only country in the world with stricter drinking age laws than the US is Saudi Arabia, where you can't drink at all. That said, I'm guessing we have some of the greatest problems with teens drinking in excess.
Liquor laws vary quite a bit from state to state. I know that some states have a whole lot more bars that allow you to enter as long as you're 18. I couldn't find a good list of how this varies from state to state. This Alcohol Policy Information System page and this Alcohol laws of the United States by state page have lots of info though. Indiana is one of only fifteen states that ban the sale of alcohol on Sundays.
imagine being in a bar with a bunch of drunk ass 18 yr olds! i remember how my friends and i were at 18. thanks, but no thanks, i'll chill with the older crowd.
I agree. There should be more 18+ venues in Indy. Lots of bands out there ...
I've got a feeling a lot of our problems with teen drinking are partly due to the taboo and mystique our culture has around alcohol. If people in the rest of the world can deal with it, then people here, given time, can learn to deal with it too. It'd be a mess for a good ten years if they lowered the drinking age here. Having said that I still think they should.
Drunk 18 year olds in bars being a problem? Uh drunk 21 years olds can't be much worse. If you ease people into drinking and present alcohol as a social norm rather than a naughty past time, people wouldn't be so dumb.
Wait a second this was originally about music venues :-)
I've got a feeling a lot of our problems with teen drinking are partly due ...
i still disagree my man, as someone who has dj'd 2 both age groups, there's a maturity level difference. don't get me wrong, every 18 yr old isn't a freakin social idiot, and there are some pretty dumb ass 21 yr olds (as well as 30,40,50 yr old etc.) but i still see a difference. it's always been my opinion that mass media has a lil something to do with the problems with alcohol in this country. beer and all the super cool things that go with it are glorified daily on tv commercials. i used to work for nielsen media and thought it was a pretty cool job untill i found out that tv shows are basically 22 minute fillers for the more important commercials. i never used to believe that people do what tv tells them, but if theres so much money being spent to make commercials and air them it must be somewhat true. freakin sheep.
There's definitely a difference in the maturity level, and while there is a certain "i got away with it" feeling wit regards to underage drinking, there would still be a taboo if the age was lowered. Parents would still leave restrictions and kids would still want alcohol based on that.
As for the music scene, with our current laws it would just be difficult for the bars and bartenders to keep up. I'm sure they have thought about it. Probably too difficult to keep alcohol from being shared with minors in their bar and you know how sue-happy the US is.
You gotta FIGHT! FOR YOUR RIGHT! to PARRRRTTAAAYY!
Hey guys, I'm from England and just work over here for the summers. As you know its legal to drink at 18 in UK. We don't have half the drinking problems you USA guys have. I'm 20 now and have seen some interesting parties with fellow peers. Once it became legal for me and my friends to drink, it was no longer a taboo so we were more sensible. Don't get me wrong, we still had fun but did'nt feel the need to get wasted and boast about it to peers the next day the way underage people often do. I'm onnly saying this because I'm going to Verizon music centre this weekend and will not be drinking due to fear of being caught out by a scout and deported! YOU USA GUYS NEED TO LOWER YOUR DRINKING AGE!!! THINGS MIGHT BE ROUGH FOR A BIT BUT STUFF HAS TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT CAN GET BETTER!
I think The Music Mill has lowered the age to 18 to get in...and its a pretty neat venue with a wide array of music....