Hiwote Swann ENG 100C Prof. Nell Drinking Age When one turns eighteen, they are challenged to take on more responsibilities and rights as an “adult.” Turning eighteen entails receiving the rights and responsibilities of adulthood to vote, to serve on juries, to get married, to sign contracts and to join the military. Lowering the drinking age to eighteen from twenty-one is just another responsibility and right they should have as an adult. Being that they are considered adults when turning eighteen, they should be trusted to make decisions with consuming alcohol. From personal experience, I feel as that since it is illegal at the moment for teens to drink that they have to hide consuming alcohol from adults.
Drinking Age in the U.S. When you are eighteen years old you have multiple responsibilities such as chores at home or school, and obey the laws, among others. Most of the young adults who are eighteen are seen as a responsible, and mature young adult. If eighteen year olds show that they are responsible and mature adults, then why can’t they buy or consume alcohol? “In 1984 congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which required states to raise their ages for purchase and public possession to 21 by October 1986 or lose 10% of their federal highway funds.” Even though the reality is despite the law the majority of young people under 21 consume alcohol because they are treated like adults in every way except being able to drink
Teens often believe that if they are able to vote and be sent to war than they should be able to consume alcohol. This is often a huge debate between many people. What most of these teens don't know is that the drinking age at one time was eighteen. However, the government saw problems with teens drinking and they decided to raise the legal drinking age to twenty-one. There are many incentives out there for states whose drinking age is still under twenty-one.
During the 1970’s reports showed that teenage car accidents increased in states where the MLDA had been lowered from 21 years old. This in turn prompted Congress to help alleviate the problem by passing the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. Although the federal government has no constitutional basis for setting a MLDA, it has
People use alcohol for numerous reasons; peer pressure, celebration, anxiety, sadness, boredom, rebellion and insomnia are just a few. to be seen more mature is also one of those alcohol usage reasond and it's pretty common. When people know that only 21 and older people can be mature enought to drink the use alcohol as a tool of popularity. They drink alcohol to seem cooler than others. Also today, a teenager can easily provide himself or herself alcohol.
In 1984 the Minimum Drinking Age Act of 21 was passed and made into a law that you have to be 21 to drink alcohol because the brain was thought to be fully developed. In 2013, a college professor thought that the age should be 18 because during an experiment with alcohol the kids appeared mature. Research shows that alcohol is the cause for 28% of college dropouts and also accounts for an average of 85,000 deaths. The drinking age should remain at 21 due to the fact that if lowered to 18, it could result in more drunk driving accidents and heavier drinking. First off, lowering the drinking age to 18 could result in more drunk driving fatalities.
Riley Bartlett 5/17/11 Every year thousands of underage teens are dying from alcohol related accidents. Around 28% of fatal traffic crashes involving teens are alcohol related. Does the United States keep the drinking age 21, and enforce it strongly or lower the drinking age and teach teenagers to drink in moderation not binge drinking? Even though the Legal drinking age is 21, not everyone believes it should stay that age. Prohibition failed in 1920-1933 which shows that strict regulation of drinking is counterproductive, unenforceable, and leads to an increase in legal underground activity.
There are definitely people who are as young as 15 years old who have more maturity than some 50 year olds. A third right is that a person can enlist into the United States military at age 18. A common phrase heard in my family at gatherings and holidays, is that “If you’re old enough to take a bullet for this country, you’re old enough to have a drink in this country.” Yet another right is that a person can buy a gun when they are 18. An 18 year old can also be called into jury duty, which can be a huge responsibility. Furthermore, teenagers can be tried as an adult sometimes when they are as young 16.
Yet there are sensible solutions in handling this growing problem. Current laws and policies dictate that alcohol is and inherited evil substance and that only abstinence from alcohol should be accepted. While some people do choose to stay completely away from alcohol it should never eliminate the need for honest, open discussion about drinking. Just like anything else in life, drinking responsibly is something that must be learned. We expect teens and young adults to stay completely away from alcohol and never have one drink until their 21st birthday.
With this frame of mindset, it’s extremely important for the federal government to uphold and keep the drinking age at a constant. As teenagers mature into young adults, peer pressure and social influences become factors that may contribute towards irresponsible decisions. Since 1984, the federal drinking age was raised to 21, which tremendously benefited teens and young adults in the United States (Kirszner, Mandell 458). Drinking is among the greatest misleading decisions made among individuals at parties, especially in college, so it’s always necessary to maintain responsibilities. Currently, college students mainly drink due to the convenience of accessibility to obtain substances from older acquaintances or friends who also enjoy having a good time.