DRINKING AGE LIMIT On December 5, 1933, the repeal of alcohol prohibition by the 21st Amendment allowed each state to set its own drinking age limit laws. At that time most of the states’ minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) was 21. Later during the Vietnam War era, the passage of the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in July 1, 1971. Following this, thirty states lowered their MLDA to 20, 19, and 18. During the 1970’s reports showed that teenage car accidents increased in states where the MLDA had been lowered from 21 years old.
We cannot legally purchase a handgun, gamble in a casino, or adopt a child until the age of twenty one. These are a high level of responsibility and our leaders and patrons feel they are at equal levels. Our Minimum Legal Drinking Age has reduced traffic accidents and fatalities. 100 of 102 analyses inquired in a 202 meta-study found that a higher legal drinking age associates with lower rates of automobile accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated a 13% decrease in car fatalities in 1975-2008 saving approximately 27,052 lives since then.
This pales in comparison with the $1.8 billion spent on drug abuse prevention for other drugs, the $53 billion in estimated annual costs to society for youth drinking, and the billions spent on alcohol advertising and promotion. And Congress must designate a single federal agency to coordinate the response to this critical public health issue and show measurable reductions in underage drinking.... A Law That Saves Lives I wish today that Congressman Jim Howard, the wonderful chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, was here with us to celebrate the 20 years of saving 20,000 lives. Not long before his death in 1988, Chairman Howard talked about returning home to his district in Asbury Park, New Jersey, after an especially grueling week in Washington. Exhausted, making his way home he noticed the many lights on in the windows of the homes as he drove by, and he wondered which lights just might be burning bright that night because someone's life had been saved by "21" or one of the other highway safety laws he had shepherded through the
The drinking age isn't meant to be a big deal, but the first couple years of lowering the drinking age could cause many students to be reckless. There are many responsibilities that come along with drinking at a low age, most importantly drinking and driving. Lowering the age will reduce all such problems, but at first will seem extremely hectic. Lowering the current drinking age of 21-and-over will allow young Americans, most of who are perfectly capable of drinking responsibly; to no longer drink in private or in short amounts of time, thus alleviating potentially dangerous conditions. Drinking privately is extremely unsafe and when kids are in a situation they can't handle, they can then ask for help.
Those under the age of 21 are more likely to be heavy -- sometimes called "binge" -- drinkers (consuming over 5 drinks at least once a week). For example, 22% of all students under 21 compared to 18% over 21 years of age are heavy drinkers. Among drinkers only, 32% of under age compared to 24% of legal age are heavy drinkers. Research from the early 1980s until the present has shown a continuous decrease in drinking and driving related variables which has parallel the nation's, and also university students, decrease in per capita consumption. However, these declines started in 1980 before the national 1987 law which mandated states to have 21 year old alcohol purchase laws.
One of those that were not happy were businesses that served or sold alcohol, because more Americans were beginning to drink at home rather than a bar or restaurant their businesses were being affected. There was also controversy about what kind of punishment to give offenders, as far as how much jail time for first, second and third time offenders. While some thought the jail time was excessive, to the survivors of those that had lost their lives in these accidents they did not seem like the punishment was harsh enough. Laws have also implemented that those driving under the influence now get their licenses revoked and pay high fines to have this
The American Medical Association concluded that alcohol use during adolescence and young adulthood causes damage to memory and learning capabilities. In a study in the 2006 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found teens who drink before age 14 had a lifetime risk of alcohol dependence of 47% compared to that of those who began drinking at age 21(Roan). A higher drinking age has resulted in lower rates of alcohol consumption and traffic crashes (Roan), and significant reductions in the amount of damage due to drinking (Keen). Still, roughly 100,000 people die every year due to the effects of alcohol (Keen). Why should we lower the drinking age even more and raise that number?
Men are two and a half times more likely than women to have alcohol abuse problems. Due to the accessibility and price, alcohol is also becoming a problem among Australia’s teenage population. In a study conducted in 2004, 25% of those aged 14-19 drink alcohol on a daily or weekly basis. The study also stated that 77% of boys in that age group consume high intensity beers, while 85% of girls of the same group consume liquors. There has been an increase of young people with alcohol problems in youth centers, police stations and hospitals in the past five years.
)?Some teens are peer pressured into drinking while some may drink because of depression. People can be affected by peer pressure in many ways and also by many people. Friends, strangers, and sometimes relatives can peer pressure teens into drinking and that can lead to things such as alcoholism and depression which can be avoided by raising the age to drink. If that isn’t enough teens who are depressed continue to drink which leads to harm to themselves as well as to others.
If the states refused, they would lose money under the Federal Aid Highway Act. (Koroknay-Palicz) Candy Lightneeer is the founder of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), who played a key role in passing the National Minimum Drinking Act of 1984. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration has said that around 18,220 lives have been saved thanks to a increased drinking age. It is said that 41% of all of the traffic fatalities in the United States, in 2001, were alcohol related. Special interest groups like MADD who want to keep the drinking age at 21 always bring up the idea of lowering the drinking age or to keep it at 21.