Essay On The Pros And Cons Of Lowering The Drinking Age

1464 Words6 Pages
Pros and Cons of Lowering Legal Drinking Age The United States minimum drinking age has been twenty one since the mid 1930’s. During the Vietnam era soldiers were granted rights to drink in uniform, but varied between each states while some limiting which beverages could be bought. As a result car fatalities had a significant increase in young teen drivers that were related to alcohol. Much of this was from driving to other states due to different laws. For example teens in Illinois would drive to Wisconsin simply because you could purchase alcohol at 18, but not in Illinois. Ronald Reagan and his administration declared the Uniform Drinking Age Act in 1984 requiring states to establish the legal drinking age of twenty one with the next five years. Consequences of not enforcing this would…show more content…
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. Not only the cons of lowering the Legal Drinking Age, our country does not support the idea overall. A 2007 Gallup poll showed that 77% of Americans would vote against the act of lowering the minimum drinking age. Through the years Americans have shown support for the minimum age being 21. Bar graph showing 77% of Americans opposed to lowering the drinking age to 18 nationwide, polled July 12-15, 2007. Source: “Most Americans Oppose Lowering Legal Drinking Age to 18”
Open Document