Drinking and driving ages - which combination is better?

I know this varies in the United States due to different states having different laws, but I believe you can drive at the age of 16 in many states, however you cannot buy alcohol until you are 21. So it seems you are granted the privilege of driving as young as 15 in some states on the understanding you will be safer, not buying drink for another 5 years.

Here in the UK though, you can buy alcohol universally at 18. However, you cannot begin learning to drive until you're 17th birthday, and due to the high proportion of accidents involving young people this is soon to be raised to be 18.

So do you think this is generally unsafe or would you sacrifice driving at 16 to buy alcohol legally earlier. Especially as I hear enforcement in the US is stricter, under age drinkers in the UK are often simply told to pour away their beer by the police and recieve no further punishment.

I assume I would have been OK waiting 'til 21 if that was the accepted way - but then it seems strange to think I would have had to go through University unable to buy alcohol legally

Kids find a way to get alcohol illegally anyways.

Yeah they are very harsh if you are caught DUI underage in the U.S. Now I can't speak from experience, but I can speak from looking in the Driver's Manual and seeing what the minimum penalty is. Anyway I'm fine with not being able to drink until 21. I was fine with it before I was 21.

I think a provision should be added that one may have either a license to drive at 17 or a license to drink. You may not have both and those caught drinking at 17 with a driver's license should have that license revoked on the spot

I think the majority of 16 year olds are mature enough to drive. I DON'T think that the majority of 16 year olds are mature enough to responsibly handle alcohol. So I would leave things the way they are.